The Thrill Of The Reveal!

Today was the big day! Our appointment was at 8:00 this morning for an ultrasound and if all went well the reveal of boy or girl!?! I don't know if I was more excited or anxious to find out but definitely ready to know!

Of course it was 8:05 before we got there because I can never be on time for anything... On the elevator ride we eagerly gave a thumbs up and anxious smiles into the mirrored doors. Hopefully there were not cameras capturing our dorkiness!

To prepare for the big day I had handed out packages marked with a one and a two to share the news with our family and friends!

The Packages

Package One

Package two

The first thing she did was check the baby for the organs that should be developed, take measurements, and check for the heartbeat. Several people had told me to drink a Coke before I went to make sure the baby was active! That was not an issue Baby Hovatter moved the entire time. She had to try five times to measure the heart beat because there was so much movement!

I have to say it was so neat to see! Our last ultrasound was at 7 weeks so it was basically a cell mass that you could only make out the heart beat. I know for people with children this isn't news but for us it was amazing. You could see the spine, ribs, hands, feet, chambers in the heart, and face it was just the neatest thing! Like looking at a human you could see through! 

After the ultrasound we met with the doctor who discussed a few things with us and sent us on our way! We then got to start calling everyone and telling them to open package number two!!!!

It's a boy!!

I was convinced for the last 12 weeks it was a girl! When she was checking the bladder I thought and Sonny told me afterwards he also thought he saw what looked to be a little boy! When she finished she said "Well I don't think there is any question what we have here" all I could say was "are you serious" which is also what I said when Hovatter proposed! Excited was an understatement and made it a little easier to finally give up my hope that another baby was hiding out =(

We had about fifteen minutes to call everyone before I had to be at work. Lucky for me I only had to cross the parking lot! I took a pink and blue shirt to work with me and drug Kalyn into a room with me before I walked out to make the reveal! 

Overall it has been such an exciting day! I've always heard for ladies  you feel an instant connect with your baby. Well, for me that's not true! I feel like today is the first day of our pregnancy and in about 20 weeks we will meet the sweetest baby boy! 

Now only to name him...

We'll Take Care Of You

On February the 15th I hung this in Sonny's room and waited on him to find it!

The caption read "Dear Dad..."

He was in and out of the room at least ten times and spent an hour sitting in there working on building a rod before he saw it!!! I just sat in the living room with the T.V. and light off just waiting for him to find it! I was so anxious for him to see it! I think the three days I waited to tell him was less nerve racking then the hour I waited for him to find the onesie! 

When he finally found it  he came into the house holding it. All he could say was nuh-uh, nuh-uh, nuh-uh.... I'm pretty sure he said it 15 times before I ask him if he wanted to see a test because I had three of them!!   We spent the rest of the evening googling pregnancy week by week! 

With the exception of my sweet friend Lindsey who gave me tons of advice and clothes! 

We kept baby Hovatter all to ourselves for 12 weeks! Before we decided to share the good news!

The Friday before Easter we went to dinner with Erica, Jordan and D.J. (We missed Whitney he was coming home from out of town!) After dinner I gave them a picture of Baby Hovatter that said "Will You Be My Aunt?" They were so excited and Erica immediately called Mrs. Jan!

I also send my sweet friend Julie in Birmingham the same picture!  Baby Hovatter will have the best Aunts! 

The next day I had arranged for my Aunt Michelle, brother, sister, and nieces to celebrate Easter at my parents! Sonny and I brought eggs filled with candy and one "special egg" that they just assumed had money in it! Shelby found the egg. After hunting the eggs we were all on the back porch and no one was really studying the eggs. Krista pulled the egg out of Shelby's bag and opened it! Her face was priceless! She said "Are you serious?" I assured her it was no joke and she read the egg out loud. I don't remember a whole lot after that because everyone attacked me. Except that my mom (who was recovering from hip surgery) screamed and I swear she jumped! I really thought she was going to pop a stitch! 

On Easter Sunday we told Sonny parent's once they got into the car to leave Mamaw's. There were about 50 people there for Easter and I could just couldn't tell that many people at once! 

I chickened out on Monday but on Tuesday I shared our news with my sweet work family! Well actually I told about three people and Kim told everyone else for me!! 

Up until this point I have been cool and calm as the weeks fly by! 

The big reveal is next Tuesday the 29th at 8:00! As of today I am officially beyond ready! 

Less then a week now! 

Stay tuned as we prepare to add another Hovatter to the mix!!!

Always Strive To Excel, But Only On Weekends

Over the weekend we babysat Clara Kate and Aidan while their family hosted a brunch. We went to the park. I love the park I used to take Shelby and Maggie all the time when they were little! I'm pretty sure I enjoy it as much as the kids! 

 Mr. Aidan on the Monkey Bars

 Her hair is a hot mess from pulling her bow out but she was determined to climb that ladder. Sonny scooped her up before she had the chance! I must add Hovatter was so sweet and so helpful!! 

The Seesaws 

We made it out of the park just before the rain started and enjoyed some yummy McDonalds and the play-place before taking them home! 

After our play date we rush home, showered and got ready for Nikki and Chris's wedding. We made it to Laurel just in time for the ceremony and a quick stop for sweetarts! The ceremony was beautiful! Spending the evening with some of my favorite people was just the icing on the cake!

I only love them a little! =)

The Beautiful Bride

Congratulations guy's! Here's to a life time of happiness!

Jambalaya And A Crawfish Pie And File' Gumbo

Jordan is once again getting older! She had a crawfish boil to celebrate the occasion! 

I think the pictures speak for themselves good time was had by all!

I captured them playing with the crawfish! 

Trying the Oysters!

The Hovatters

The Welchs

Sweet Max

It was a random end of April cold day so we ended up with a fire!

 Present Time

The funny Card from Erica

 

 

How cute is this cake from Kay'ce?

My my my my my boogie shoes! hahaha

The Crawfish boil was at her parents house. I went in her room to rest for a minute and look what I found! 

Sweet Memories! 

I'm Just Dreaming Counting The Ways To Where You Are

I would like to start by saying this particular blog is way over due! Now that I have put that on the table I feel better! 


My sweet friend Julie is getting married! The engagement occurred on Valentine's day and she not only got a ring but a puppy now how fair is that?

I must say Jules is one fast planner she had all the big things decided and booked very quickly. They are getting married in September on the beach. I know the ceremony will be gorgeous!


Julie currently lives in Birmingham. In March while I was in Atlanta for a SIPT course she came to visit me one night and took me to dinner. I was so excited to see her and her beautiful ring. After dinner we decided to do some shopping but the mall was closed already since it was Sunday. We decided to go to Home Goods and some other stores. We got in the car and she had brought her planner with her and showed me all of her plans. She then pulled out an envelope and said  "I kinda already got my dress you want to see it?" My heart sank for a second because as I have mentioned before I'm a little obsessed with dress shopping! However, this is what was inside....

How precious is this? I was so excited and so surprised! 

This also meant she didn't have a dress and dress shopping was on!!! Several weeks later I traveled to Birmingham for the big shopping day! Jules looked beautiful in everything she put on. I was so sad both of the stores we went to only allowed you take pictures once a purchased was made! Her dress is so gorgeous and is perfect for the beach wedding!

Now remember I said she is super on top of thing? She also picked our bridesmaids dresses the same day! 

Julia and Julia Modeling the dresses that will be pool blue! 

I can't wait to for her to say I do and have all the happiness she deserves! 

i almost forgot to include a picture of Lexie!

The One That Got Away

We headed south for a weekend of Sun, Fun, Fishing, and a Picnic. Sonny got up before dawn to go fishing. I choose to sleep until 10ish before Amy and the twins picked me up to head to the pier picnic.

The water was gorgeous! The pictures don't even do it justice!!

The picnic is an annual event but this was the first one I attended. The food was so good and it was fun being with Sonny's fishing family. After the picnic there was a raffle that came to a screeching halt when 3-4 Cobia were spotted. As rods were snatched off pier carts and people started running. I took a seat on the cooler waiting for the run to be over so the raffle could be finished and I could head to the beach. 

Within two minutes Hovatter was on the rail surrounded by what felt like 700 people to my non-crowd loving self. He hooked up with a Cobia that was approximately 60 pounds or so they tell me.  I have to admit I was a little excited to watch him fight a big Cobia!

      Photo By FinChaser

I took a video of him fighting the fish after he had been fighting it for about 20-25 minutes. 

Please excuse the little yelling man I don't know him

The video cuts off before the fish broke off and swam away to freedom. Hovatter was such a good sport! I just love my fisherman! 

After the commotion the raffle was finished and I headed to the beach to meet up with Amy and the Twins who couldn't stand it any longer and had already head down. 

Overall it was a wonderful day! So ready for a fun summer!!!