Gender Reveal #2

                                

We had so much fun during our first gender reveal party we thought we had to do it again! I called up my good friends at Pops by Kristina to see what we could do this time around; and quickly decided on cupcakes filled with either pink or blue frosting. We sent out email invites, picked up some blue and pink party essentials and waited till August 6th for my ultrasound. Baby Murray #2 was extremely cooperative during the measurement process (unlike Mason who the tech called stubborn) until it was time to determine the sex of the baby. After some time the tech wrote the sex in a envelope and sealed it up saying she was 95% certain she was correct. Whoa whoa whoa, we are having a party based on what's in that envelope not to mention decorating a nursery around it. I went back in the waiting room waiting for the doctor portion of the appointment and the tech came back out.  She said she wanted to take another peak...just to see if she could get a better look. Long story short the sealed envelope wasn't unsealed until I dropped it off at the baker. 

As Saturday got closer my excitement for the reveal grew stronger. We kept it simple with pizza and salad and hung outside with our guests and the ever growing kiddos running around. After we all rushed through our dinners it was time for Mason to eat the first cupcake and reveal the gender of his sibling.  

Gender be revealed we are having a girl (totally had a hunch we were)! Matt was absolutely thrilled, all our guests cheered and Mason thought we were celebrating him. A big old yay!!!  Here are some pictures of the big reveal. A big thanks to those who came and celebrated with us.                                                                      

Yay, its a girl!

       

                

               

Auntie Mimi and Marc

Oh and I'm 20 weeks! That means I'm 1/2 there. The hardest part about being pregnant this time around (besides chasing after Mason) is that there isn't much unknown and I am fully aware that I'm just going to get bigger, slower and more uncomfortable. I find myself cherishing my time with Mason (snuggling him a bit more at night) and feeling blessed about our healthy growing baby girl in my belly.  I started feeling some flutters right after I hit 19 weeks and I was happy when the doctor announced the baby was moving around a lot in there.  I'm looking forward to sharing baby kicks with Matt and Mason as the baby grows and the flutters become stronger.   It is hard to remember what's it's like to have a baby in the house and it will be all new to us with a girl this time around. We plan on taking the next 4 months to prepare ourselves and our house for the changes in store for us.

1/2 way there|Size of an banana 

Welcome Baby Luca

My cousin, bridesmaid and friend, Michele along with her husband welcomed baby Luca into the world about a week ago. Baby Luca is handsome and healthy and the new mom is doing great! It is so exciting to welcome another baby into the family. I'm excited for Mason to have a cousin to play with at family events and during the holidays. I'm excited to watch their relationship grow into a friendship like Michele and mine has and I'm excited to be an Aunt for the first time (yay).

                                             

Visiting Michele, Jonathan & baby Luca in the hospital brought back a ton of memories of our experience with Mason. Wow, we are so far removed from those first days of bringing him home. No one could of prepared us for those first few days (ok maybe weeks). It is amazing how your motherly instinct kicks in and your pre baby life suddenly seems like a lifetime ago. The love you have the moment you set eyes our your child is indescribable. That love I have for Mason has only grown with him and it is hard to imagine loving anyone more. 

My advice to my cousin or any new mom is (not that I'm an expert by any means):

- sleep when the baby sleeps (you don't know tired until you have a baby)

- embrace and enjoy this time; things change so quicky and get easier but snuggle that baby now (the laundry will always be there)

- lean on other moms. You will find that that's where you will find your biggest support on your worst days. Plus, they always seem to know something you don't. 

Being a mom has been a true blessing for me and I have a feeling the bond of motherhood will only bring my cousin and I closer. I couldn't be happier for her and their family of 3!