It's a BOY!!!

We decided it was time to celebrate this pregnancy, so we threw ourselves a gender reveal party. We went for our ultrasound at 1:30 and asked the nurse to write the gender down and seal the envelope. She took it a step further and put a picture of the baby's little area in the envelope. She said the baby was perfectly healthy and had big feet like his sister! Then we met with our doctor who changed our due date to August 26th.....Donny's birthday!



After the appointment, we met my friend, Bonnie, in the parking lot and handed over the envelope. She went straight to Party City and bought blue balloons to wrap in a box. So many people asked, "So she's going to know before you do?" People who ask that don't really understand our relationship. Who better to let handle such a special time in our lives and walk around with such priveleged information for 3 hours than my best friend since 2nd grade? Another reason she was the perfect choice, unlike my own dear mother, is that she is a vault. She can keep a secret like no one I've ever known. She walked around that party with a stone face and didn't so much as let on one way or the other, no matter how much she was asked. It was great.

The kids waited patiently for the "present" to be opened.



Bonnie left a special message for Aly under the paper.



True surprise and excitement on our faces!

Donny immediately started texting and calling our friends who couldn't make it.



Our Candy Bar, which was actually more of a centerpiece


My mom brought up a cake from my favorite Fort Smith bakery. Yum!



Bonnie and her sweeties, Caroline and Thomas
I can't believe we both have a boy and a girl!


Me with Becky, Bonnie's precious sister


My beautiful sister, Sara, and my new niece, Sadie Grace


My girls and my teaching buddies, Hannah and Amanda


Aly called the party her "Big Sister Party". She had so much fun with her friends that I don't think the whole brother thing sunk in until everyone left.



We had everyone wear pink if they thought the baby was a girl and blue if they thought it was a boy. Caroline was decked out in her pink.


Team Pink


Team Blue


This was truly one of the most exciting things we've ever done! Our friends and family made it so special. They were all so excited and so supportive. I can't wait to meet my baby boy! I love him so much already!

Aly's Favorite Things

It's been a long time since I have posted about Aly's favorite things and since they change so often, I thought this might be a good time for an update.

"Lip Chap"

Aly just discovered chap stick when Nana sent her some in the mail. She loves putting layers and layers of it on at a time. I even recently picked up Elmo to find he had received some "lip chap" of his own.

Pink Ice Cream

Aly loves ice cream as much as her mommy and daddy do. Any time she has her choice of flavors, she chooses "pink with sprinkles". She is also amazingly neat for a three year old.

Helping Mommy

I can't clean the house or cook a meal without Aly offering to help out. She loves being given any kind of responsibility.

Princesses

I fought the urge to expose Aly to the Disney Princess culture for a while, but she is a girl after all. She loves them all, even though she has decided that the Snow White and Sleeping Beauty movies are too scary and refuses to watch them anymore. She loves Cinderella and loves to sing the "Cinderelly" song in her squeakiest mouse voice.

"Kitty"

Kitty is Aly's favorite stuffed animal and you can tell she is well loved. We don't leave town without her, she sleeps with Aly every night, and comforts her when she is sick. We took her to gymnastics for Stuffed Animal Day and on our way there, I heard Aly giving her a pep talk in the backseat. "Kitty, don't be scared. I will keep you safe. My friends are nice."

Playgrounds

Aly is ready to drop everything and go to the park at any time.


Markers

They get all over her face and all over her hands. We are continually working on the "put the lids back on the markers" rule. They are a pain, but she loves them.

Blankie

Blankie has been the only blanket Aly has wanted to use since she was tiny. It's not warm or necessarily soft, but she loves it. Actually, she calls it a "her". She even told me that Blankie was a girl. I can always tell she is tired or in need of comfort when she asks for Blankie and Kitty.

Macaroni 'n Cheese

I don't know why I ever ask her what she wants for dinner because I know what the answer is going to be. Sometimes she even asks for it for breakfast.

Silly Faces

About 80 percent of the time when you try to take Aly's picture, this is the face you get. She cracks herself up.


Museums

Museums with dinosaur bones are her top pick, but Aly she's not too particular. I never would have imagined a three year old could stay so interested and excited as she does in such a quiet, educational environment.


Cupcakes with Sprinkles

Making them and eating them. Not much makes her happier.


Picnics in the Playhouse


This is one of my favorite things to do with her too. Donny built her a beautiful playhouse last year and if the weather is nice, that's where we eat.


Bubbles

What kid doesn't love blowing and catching bubbles? It makes her laugh every time.

"Mergily-Rounds"

We used to go to the "mergily round" at the mall almost weekly until we went one day and it was gone! We were so disappointed. We didn't even get to tell Cherokee Blue (Aly's favorite horse) goodbye. Every now and then she will randomly say, "Why did they take the mergily round away?" It breaks my heart.

My favorite Aly Quotes:

• Her latest funny prayer was, "Dear Jesus, please make me not for to be sick anymore every single day when I'm in Africa. I love my mommy. Amen."
• "Mommy, are you thinking what I'm thinking? You're the best."
• "We are a happy family."
• "Daddy, you make my heart super happy."
• "Mommy, I don't want the baby to make a hole in you when it pops out."
• When I told her I was going to take a shower she called out, "Don't forget to wash your bottom!"
• Donny asked her who she was going to marry and she replied, "I'm going to marry God." He told her that was sweet, but then asked her what boy she was going to marry. She said, "Daddy, God is a boy!"
  
• "God wants us to have a GIRL!!!!"
• "I've changed my mind. I want a brother."
  

I couldn't possibly love this girl any more than I do. She is amazing.

Chicago

Rewind...We went to Chicago with my brother Jeremy, his wife Kristi, and their daughter Holly over New Year's this year. Chicago is one of our favorite places to go, so we were so excited to take Aly there.

A very early flight makes for one very grumpy girl.


Aly had flown once before, but she didn't really remember it.
Getting there truly was half the fun for her.


Public transportation was a whole new experience for Aly. She loved riding around town without a car seat! Buses, taxis and trains are also a great place to catch up on some sleep.



Having a delicious breakfast in the city was such a treat every day!
The Corner Bakery is our favorite breakfast spot.


The Adler Planetarium


This was definitely Uncle Jeremy's favorite stop, but we all had fun there.



The Planetarium Cafe was right on the lake and had an incredible view of the city. Months later, when Donny asked Aly where she wanted to go to lunch she said, "The star museum by the water!" I'm surprised he didn't buy plane tickets.


The Lincoln Park Zoo
Fun and free!


The American Girl Place was a definite highlight for all us girls. Holly and Aly picked out dolls and then we took them to a tea party and had their hair done at the salon. The boys went and did more manly things while we had our girly day.


Aly, "Little Aly", "Rose", and Holly


We went to the top of the John Hancock building. The girls got their own audio tour, which they thought was pretty great.

We are strong believers that you can't go to Chicago and resist having pizza at least once a day.

The girls' first carriage ride

The Field Museum
Aly was looking forward to the "dinosaur museum" more than anything.


This is Sue, the most complete T-Rex ever found and Aly's favorite thing about Chicago.



Shopping at Macy's to replace some of Mommy & Aly's lost luggage
We got it back the same night thankfully.


Garrett's Popcorn
Another must have in Chicago.


Ed Debevic's
Intentionally rude service, dancing on the tables. The girls loved it!



Aly was fascinated by the tall buildings. I have to admit, they never get old for me either.



We had a beautiful view of the city from our hotel room. This is where Aly liked to play and where we watched the New Year's Eve fireworks to avoid the cold and the crowd.



We had an amazing time as a family on this trip. Donny and I really want Aly to realize that there is a whole big world out there to enjoy, outside of our little comfort zone. I think this trip was a step in that direction. Little did we know until the day we got home that we were expecting a new addition to our family! I can't wait to go back with our new little angel!