It's A...

GIRL!

We held our "It's a...Party" Friday night to make our reveal to the family over dinner! The invitation announced the "Question Mark" theme for the event with a fruitful mix of bold and pastel colors (including blues AND pinks, of course!).

I was so glad I was feeling better this week...had some weird-feeling night (& some day), but it was just the little one moving around! Much better now and glad I was able to go through with everything~ God is good.

Welcome to the "It's A...Party"....

Excitement in the air. My friend Erin texted me earlier today and said her excitement was at an 11. Yes! She gets me.

The Blue Man Group

This was my little helper that made all of this possible! I owe a BIG thanks to Josh's mom, Jane and my sis, Kayla (Aunt Kayla). Whoa! What a whirlwind ... but we got it all done in time!

Veggie appetizer: Carrot, Celery and Pepper Medley tied with String Cheese

Lemonade with floating strawberries:

Josh surprised me with these from Party City when he came home from work ;)

We had to tell everyone first thing...I mean, how COULD I wait any longer. But first, I had the guests sign their names in pink or blue on a scrapbook page. Then we took a pic. Although the theme was question marks, Josh said it turned out to be a Smurf party! Lol. Practically everyone voted BLUE!

Jane is showing off her blue AND pink bling! She couldn't decide for sure ; 0

BTW...we sure missed the family who was not able to come!

We played a game to give our news....We had "baby songs" playing on the iPod--- The Supremes "Baby Love," Steve Tyrell's Disney version of "Baby Mine," George Strait's "Baby Your Baby," and Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby"....just to name a few!

We passed around this box filled with little white boxes.

Everyone sat in a circle and passed around the big box while the music played. The person holding the box when the music paused had the chance to open a box. Each box was filled with gender neutral-colored items...except one! The family was told ahead of time there would be one box containing something either pink or blue...and that is how they would know! I wasn't sure if this would be a very quick game or not...but we gave it a try...

And after about 5 rounds...Josh's mom opened this box.

And she began to tear up. My mom sat beside her smiling, eyebrows raised, but quiet! She waited---somewhat in shock I think until I said..."It's a Girl!" (A, L and K.....you were right!)

So, this summer we will have a 4th generation "Jo" girl.

~Welcome Paisley Jo~

Be Kind and Let Me Rewind...Details About Our Current Life!

As I write this post, my mind drifts to Martin Short, Steve Martin and two "Vasnicks"---- after George Banks takes the two sleeping pills, falls asleep for quite some time, Frank (pronounced "Fr-onk") greets his out of his drowsiness as he stumbles into the living room....

"Look who's back from the dead!!!!!!!!!!"

Well, yes, I am in fact, back from the dead. As far as the blogging world is considered. A lot has happened since my last post:

I turned down one of my favorite annual pig-out foods: giant corn dog from Santa's Wonderland in College Station.

I cried when I watched the rerun of Regis leaving Kelly, as she gave her tribute to him with Uncle Kracker's "Smile" song playing in the background.

I cleaned out my closet...purses, clothes...I even took everything out that was on the floor and swept. A real deep clean.

These three items are three of many. Three of many weird things that my body has undergone since we found out I was expecting. :)

This pregnancy has been different. I think many people are shocked when I tell them I am this far along---to be honest it has gone by so fast. I'm shocked myself. It probably has gone by so fast because I am the proud mom of a tot who can't walk. He just RUNS everywhere. Which, I am hoping results in lower weight gain and awesome muscle mass for me this time around :).

Before I go any further, we need to travel back to Christmas morning....It was a cold morning when my parents knocked at the door. My fun-loving parents drove in all of the way from Brenham Christmas morning to watch Hunter open his gifts...even though this Christmas was on a Sunday and they had to be back for church!!!

We walked Hunter down the stairs, and they thought this was the most magical moment. But the magic was still to come! At 7:30 Christmas morning, the doorbell rang. I was upset...who would come to the door today of all days? Surely not those solicitors!!!!!

Josh opened the door. It was Santa. He bounced in with excitement. Passed out Veggie Tales books for Hunter out of his bag. Then the really weird part happened. Santa came up to my mom and said, "Well, if it isn't Little Jamie Grayum (mom's maiden name). I haven't seen you since you lived on Georgi Lane (the last house she lived in as a kid)." Twilight zone? What was going on.

He said he had something for my mom and handed her a small box with a shiny red bow. She opened it up (a little timidly, I might add). First she read a note from Santa which included a line that read, "You'll need this item this time next year." At the bottom of the box was a tiny stocking, which matched the color scheme of the stockings at her house.

Mom squealed. Dad wanted in on the surprise, but quickly got it. The rest of the day, my dad kept saying over and over again that he wanted a "do-over." He said it happened so fast and it was so magical with all of the lights off in the house except the Christmas lights...he felt like he didn't quite get to soak it in!

Then we got the thrill of telling Josh's mom. On the way to Belton, I just had to call Kayla. I think she about fell over. It was a fun conversation. Well, they all were! I know my other "sister" Leslie was just as excited when I told her :).

Back to Josh's mom. She has been upset with me for years (semi-joking, but you know) that we did not tell her we were pregnant with Hunter while we were on vacation with her in New Mexico in early 2009. We wanted to wait until we were a bit further along...and yet, in NM, as she reminds us, there was a perfect Nambe baby feeding set she would have gladly bought had she known there was a little mouth to feed! :) Well, this time around, we searching literally all over Houston to get her one-- and there was ONE left at a store called Surprises on Westheimer. We were so relieved to find it that we treasured it all the way home, wrapped it up, and then that is how she found out our news Christmas day!

So, as of tomorrow morning, "M" (as Hunter calls the baby) will be the size of a mango. This should be fun. I like mangos. Think I'll eat some in honor.

XOXO~