It's going to BEE a BOY!

Everyone voted as they walked in - BOY was the winner from the get go!

Nick + I hosted our families this morning for a Gender Reveal party!  You are pry wondering why we did this + the main reason was to show appreciation to the ladies (grandmas + aunts) that will be hosting the little babe's showers in the near future.  Also - Nick + I thought it would be neat to share one of life's greatest surprises with them!  However . . . it was a little tough on me . . . I might've teared up a bit - happy to have this little baby boy + a little bummed the cake wasn't pink!  I'm sure many people know how much I wanted a girl, but I'm still VERY happy that we are having a healthy baby BOY!  All mama's have told me that little boys just love + adore their mom's so much -- haha Nick!  Looks like Nick + Mitsy will still be best buds!  

The theme of the party was "What's It Going To BEE?" + Katie Langel helped me craft some decor for it!  Originally I wasn't really going to have a theme + then I started to google around + found some cute decor on etsy for a BEE themed gender reveal.  Katie told me "don't buy that - we can make it" - so we headed out to four different stores to buy all the necessities + started to craft!  Also - since it was BEE themed we had BEE cake pops made with the color of gender inside!  Check out the pics below:

Here's some pictures of the decor before digging in to eat + to find out the gender:

Left side has the envelope with the "goods" ultrasound pictures + confirmation of gender along with the invite to the party!  Right side of the fridge has a banner Katie + I put together! 

Another banner in the entryway!

Treats!

Treats!

Treats!

These bees were hiding the secret!!

Food!

Food!

Nick + I had our anatomy ultrasound on Thursday {23rd} + we ended up having the BEST ultrasound tech you could ask for at Iowa Radiology for this little gender reveal.  As we were walking into the room with her, I was asking her if she could give us one envelope with just the gender so I could give it to our cake lady, Naomi @ Cache Bake Shoppe, + if we could have another envelope with the actual "goods" pictures + the gender.  She was totally on board + made sure that we didn't see the gender during the ultrasound.  So, since Thursday we had this envelope hanging on our fridge that we could've just ripped open anytime to see what it was, but we held off until after we ate our cake pops!

Here's some pictures of the reveal:

Getting ready to bite in to find out BLUE or PINK! 

BLUE = BOY

Laughing because I'm starting to tear up . . . :)

Oh still laughing . . . 

Trust me - I'm tearing up for two reasons - one because we are so thankful for a healthy baby BOY + two because I was a little bummed it wasn't pink - the strawberry flavor from Naomi/Cache is so good ;)

Nick being a good husband + telling me it's ok :)

Seriously . . . I promise, I'm happy!

The two Grandmas + I checking out the confirmation of boy ultrasound pictures! 

The two boy ultrasound pictures + the detailed description the ultrasound tech gave us!  Hilarious!

The above probably makes me seem like a terrible mom, but come on, I'm pregnant + emotional + really wanted to buy American Girl dolls!  BUT . . . I'm so thrilled that now I can watch a Father/Son relationship grow + Nick can share his love of baseball with the little one.  

Just a few more pictures from the day . . . 

What we have to look forward to: a superhero running around with his gun making sure the house is safe!  This is our nephew, Noah, + he guessed boy the entire time + gave us Brody + Jake as names to use + was so excited he would have a boy cousin! 

This is our niece, Zella, coloring a picture for us!  Guess I'll just have to continue buying her American Girl stuff.  She also really wanted it to be a girl, but didn't seem too upset about me buying her more AG stuff!

Cake pop + gun in hand!

Nick's sister, Lisa, + our niece, Zella

It's a Boy!

A tuckered out MitsyBabe + Zella

Pretty Snow!

This weekend was great + much needed!  Nick + I started out Friday by renting The Ides of March + laying low.  

On Saturday we woke up to snow!  I do seem a little more excited than normal about this snow, but it was so pretty to watch out the window - the snowflakes were HUGE!  Nick + I ate lunch at CJ's Bagel Basket + picked up some groceries for the week.  

*Side note on CJ's:  this place is a great replacement to my favorite lunch spot in Owatonna, the bagel shop a.k.a. Old Town Bagels, BUT they have failed at making my super easy sandwich every single time I've been there.  I order a chicken salad on the everything bagel (chicken salad on the kitchen sink bagel in OTown) with no veggies/toppings.  Well, everytime they ask what I want for toppings and I say none, ONLY the chicken salad and everytime they put the toppings on. The toppings include mustard + so I can't just take the veggies off - I always have to feel awkward taking it back up to the counter to show them once again they screwed up.  They haven't even apologized for this either -- anyways, I won't stop eating there because it is really good, but come on get an easy sandwich right!  (ok, sorry for the rant)

Whoa - back to Saturday . . . so after we got groceries we rented another movie, The Lincoln Lawyer.    We then went home + hung out for the day until dinner . . . I spent a good part of the afternoon watching the snow fall.  Here's a pic of Mits running around outside on Saturday - check out that beard!

For dinner on Saturday night we met some friends, the Meints', at the local Chili's in Ankeny - super fine dining . . . kidding . . . it was good + I was craving it!  After dinner, Nick + I went home + watched the movie we had rented earlier in the day.  I was half paying attention to this movie, but from what I got, it was pretty good.  I enjoyed seeing Josh Lucas, who is now on the new t.v. series The Firm, in the movie - love him + the new t.v. show.

On Sunday morning I baked a few treats to take to my brother + sister-in-law's Super Bowl party.  I found a recipe on Pinterest: Butterfinger Blondies!  Let me tell 'ya -- they were tasty, but oh so unhealthy!  

Ingredients for the Butterfinger Blondies 

Mitsy watched from the top of the stairs - she doesn' t love the sound of the mixer + Nick was on the treadmill

Ingredients for the frosting of the bars - super healthy . . . 

Nakey Butterfinger Blondies

Complete!  My frosting skills are terrible, but they were still yummy - and that wasn't just me saying they were good - lots of compliments at the SB party.

Also made some cupcakes - Patriot sprinkles - too bad they lost!