It's a......

Yesterday I woke up and consulted Pinterest for outfit inspiration — a tradition when I can’t decide what to wear.  Little did I know that my choice would match the inside of the cupcakes at our gender reveal party held later in the day by my friend Ashley Pasons, author of the sweet blog A & O on the Go. Throughout the day friends and colleagues took bets on what they thought I was having. At five o’clock I was pacing in front of the ultrasound office, impatiently waiting for my husband finishing my orange juice hoping that would make our baby move around. 

Finally 5:20 was here, the moment we had been waiting for since December 4^th... is it a he or she? However, our baby had a personality trait neither Travis nor I posses: shyness! This little one was lying down and hiding everything! After two trips to the ladies room and some serious poking and prodding, the tech who said “I think it’s a girl, but I want to be 100%” sent me into the waiting room with a full bottle of water. Finally it was time for round two! After three trips to the ladies room, and five tries with the 2D and 3D ultra sound, we had solid proof…..IT’S A BOY!

I immediately called my friend Ashley, who had been on standby with food coloring. 

My first words where, "I hope you didn't tint that icing pink... because IT'S A BOY!". In Martha Stewart record time, she piped nine cupcakes and got rid of all the evidence. 

A few of our friends showed up to find out what Baby Kight would be. After enjoying some snacks and wine, they had to “pin” their guesses, the majority of which were spot on!

We went through a few old wives tales that had us at almost a dead heat for if the inside of that adorable cupcake was going to be pink or blue. Knowing Ashley’s mad baking skills I couldn’t wait to take a huge bite and share our news.

The party was the icing on the cake so far, but my sweet friends had another surprise: a beautiful Kate Spade bracelet adorned with a perfect blue bow — the first “something blue” gift I’ve received.

We feel so blessed that God has given us this miracle, a supportive family and amazing friends who continue to exceed our every expectation. We also know our little buddy, as Travis called him this morning as he kissed me goodbye, will have a ton of playmates to grow up with!

Thanks again to Ashley and all our sweet friends who helped us celebrate our growing family!

Rocking my new bracelet & blue maternity top,
 from my sweet mother-in-law Melody!

Love you all!

Extra, Extra! Read all about It!

Sharing our baby news was one of the most enjoyable parts of my first trimester. We found out three weeks before Christmas, so I was able to put my creative thinking cap on and brainstorm fun and crafty ways to share our news. Additionally, the holiday season gave us opportunities to tell folks in person, instead of via cell phone, email or social media. Let’s be honest, there is a good and bad way to tell people you are expecting. I did not want to tap a fork on a water glass and say, “Can we have everyone’s attention please?” That doesn’t include people in the process, and I like to think outside of the box. Below are my favorite stories of how we shared our news:

·      

   Family: My husband comes from a big,sweet and involved family. After knowing these people for 10 years, I was so excited to share our news but needed a little help on the how. Pinterest was great for ideas and found something brilliant: Share your news photographically. For example:

• You two in front of a sign that says “bump ahead”
• Holding hands/kissing with the ultrasound pic (if you have one done internally)
• A pic of you two, Photoshopping in a plus sign and “equals three”
• (My favorite) A photo of your feet with a pair of gender-neutral baby shoes in between

The next step for us was to blow the pic up and turn it into a puzzle. I actually went to Walgreens on Christmas Eve, found an 8x10 toy story puzzle and glued the a piece of the picture on top. Then I wrapped each piece for members of Travis’s family. To throw everyone off, I told his step dad Dean what was going an hour before dinner so he could help me “lead the game,” giving Travis a puzzle piece to not raise suspicion. I truly wish we have video of this, because watching everyone scramble together to try and put the pieces together was the funniest thing! Half of the family members didn’t have their glasses on, so only my savvy sister-in-law Kerri and her husband Chris knew what was going on before the puzzle was together and someone said after a moment of silence, “Oh… Congratulations!”

·      

   Expecting friends: When you are with child, it’s nice to have others around you who are experiencing the same things. Especially if you have questions. I have been VERY lucky to have a group of friends that are all experiencing the same things. One of my closest friends, Audra, is due in May and expecting a beautiful baby girl. Since she and her husband had just found out it was a girl, I wanted to get their baby something and share my news at the same time. I took a quick trip to Babies R’ Us and decided to try my hand at the mock cupcakes made of onesies and baby socks. I wrapped them up in a girly cupcake box, and in the card congratulating them on having a girl, I wrote “P.S.: She will have a playmate three months later.” I remember her reading the card and doing a double take at me, then looking up and saying “Really!?!?”

·  Big groups: During the New Year holiday we were able to tell our friends in Denver  our big news as a couple. Not wanting to make a spectacle, our sweet friend Mary helped make the announcement for us at her party. Although it should have been obvious, since I am a huge fan of champagne and was noticeably empty handed. 

·  Colleagues: If you have ever worked with me, you know I enjoy baking and sharing the results with my colleagues. To share my news with co-workers, including four other moms-to-be in the office,  I simply sent an email:

• Subject: Baby Cinnamon Rolls…..
• Message: ….Because if you haven't heard…..There's another bun in the oven

·  Social Media: Having a news go viral was the last step in this process. I simply posted our news, added the photos my friend Abby took of us with the baby shoes and launched the newest version my blog. This way people could choose how much detail they wanted.

One last bit of news: We find out the gender of baby Kight tonight. My sweet friend Ashley has offered to throw us a gender-reveal party after our ultrasound.

Check in tomorrow for last piece of our puzzle… if it’s a boy or a girl.

Thanks for coming on this journey with us, we look forward to sharing more news with you tomorrow!

Treenah, Travis & Baby K!

Bump Pics!

How sweet, 15 weeks on Valentines day! 

We find out what baby Kight will "bee" in less than a week!

Bump Pics!

Baby Kight is 14 weeks! 

Love this flowie top from the Gap outlet, 

paired with my favorite woven belt and cardigan! 

Love Is in the Air!

My new towels, thanks to Travis’s grandmother!

Since today’s holiday has a different place is everyone’s heart, I will make this short and sweet. I have an unjustifiable addiction to holiday hand towels and other kitchen/dining room décor. Under my steps, each holiday’s decorations are in clear shoebox containers, labeled and stacked neatly (not "Monica's" closet). I am sharing this because I am sure there are others of you out there that have to resist the urge to change your dining room table out for every Hallmark holiday. 

I love you a latte! Goes great with our new tile backsplash.

Last year, I kept it to four changes: spring, summer, fall and Christmas. But this year I couldn’t bear the sight of my holiday decorations after the New Year, so I put some of last year’s decorations with a few new additions on the dining room table, and voilà, my sweet décor! 

My sweet dining room table <3

Cupcakes dish (one of three) from Kohl’s last year, hearts from Pier 1 and rose petals.

Our sweetheart (a.k.a., breakfast table). Tip,  re-used some of your red and silver décor from Christmas!

I am sharing this publicly so I resist the urge to change it again for Saint Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, etc, etc. 

My new favorite fruit and candy dish.

What will be joining all this festiveness: the beautiful flowers that arrived at work this morning. Thanks, hubby!

Regardless of your plans, your "status,” or where you find yourself tonight. I hope you have a heart warming and sweet Valentines.

With love –