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carnival gender reveal


Did you hear? Last week when we went in for the anatomy ultrasound, we heard three glorious words–“It’s a girl!!” I had been hoping and dreaming of a baby sister for Evangeline. And though I absolutely love my boys and would have been happy and content with another boy, I’m so thrilled to be adding another girl to our family. 
 
I did warn the ultrasound tech before she started that I would have a big reaction if it was a girl. However, even I did not expect the high volume of the scream that I let out when we found out. (Don told me that everyone in the room jumped and the tech almost dropped the wand–oops!) Then the happiest of happy cries just poured out of me. I feel so blessed and so undeserving.

 

girl maternity shot with pink cotton candy
girl maternity shot with pink cotton candy

Moving on to the gender reveal. When I was pregnant with Desmond last year, I had the idea of a cotton candy reveal–but that was in February when no carnivals are in sight, for obvious reasons. When I saw that the carnival was coming to town just 4 days after our ultrasound, I knew this was my chance! I was dying over the wait but I think it was worth it! The only thing that bummed me out was that they didn’t put the cotton candy on a stick–which would have made it look a lot better. But I still love the way the pictures turned out.

carousel
carousel
The pictures turned out exactly how I wanted them to thanks to Rachel Gunby of Apricot Studio. I told her my vision and she captured it perfectly. If you are in the St. Louis area and are looking for any kind of portrait session, check out her website or instagram and contact her! 
carousel in background
pink cotton candy
pink cotton candy maternity
 I had to get a few mother/daughter pictures while we were there to celebrate adding another member to the “girl team.” And once again, I’m in love with these pictures! (And I didn’t even add all the ones I love–just too many good ones!)mommy and daughter at carnival

 

mother and daughter at carnival
carousel fun with family

Cotton candy is the perfect bribery tool but we still managed to never smile all at the same time. Haha–so is the life with 7 people (including 5 young children) in a photo together.

carousel fun

 

My boys were all “guessing it’s a boy, but hoping it’s a sister.” So the whole family is pretty excited!
liam and kai
And in that picture on the right with me is my sweet, lovely friend, Rachel, who took all these pictures for me! Thanks again, Rachel!
carnival fun
Thank you all for your sweet words and excitement for us. We’re looking forward to meeting this baby girl in October. And in case anyone is wondering, we do have a couple names in mind that we are discussing as a family, but I won’t be saying them for now!
birthday, Blog, evangeline, Family

happy birthday, sweet girl


Today is Evangeline’s 3rd birthday. It seems so crazy to me that I have had a daughter for 3 years. And though I can see her dramatic attitude taking shape, I absolutely love having another girl in the house. 
young girl in yellow dress in yellow flowers
I wanted to take her to a field of yellow flowers to take some birthday pictures. We were on a time crunch and she was more interested in the flowers than taking pictures. But I did get a few that I’m in love with. I think I need to enlarge a picture or two. I couldn’t get over how pretty this little place was. We plan to go back very soon to get a few more shots when we’re not feeling so rushed.
young girl in yellow dress in yellow flowers
young girl in yellow dress in yellow flowers
young girl in yellow dress in yellow flowers
young girl in yellow dress in yellow flowers
Sometimes I feel bad about not doing anything big or exciting for the kids’ birthdays. I would love to dream up a perfectly themed party. But our lives are already so full right now. That just doesn’t work for us at this point in life. But in the meantime, I try to do little special things to let them know they are loved. 
For Evangeline, that meant adding some color to the day. Last night I blew up 36(!!) balloons to fill up the living room floor and surprise her when she woke up. 12 for each year of life. I planned to video her reaction when she first saw the balloons but she and Kingston were awake before I even woke up—way too early! 
evangeline birthday balloons
I also made a colorful cake for her. And all I have is this phone snap that looks way overexposed on the laptop.
fun birthday cake ideas
 
So after our traditional birthday trip to Mcdonald’s (and the worker was so kind to give Evangeline her meal for free when she heard it was her birthday!) we headed home to eat cake. And wouldn’t you know it? She fell asleep right before we got home. (Probably because she was up at the crack of dawn…but what do I know?!)
birthday nap
She was not a pleasant birthday girl when she woke up–it’s her party and she’ll cry if she wants to.
But the sparkler candles that I bought her, that wouldn’t blow out too easily, put a smile on her face. And cake. She is so my child. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like dessert. 
birthday girl
birthday girl
birthday girl
birthday girl
birthday photography
I love this girl and her love for all things colorful. Her insistence on wearing a dress…every single day. Her obsession with “Frozen.” Her requests for an “Elsa braid” or “Anna braid” every day. I love the fact that every time she notices my growing belly, she starts referring to the baby as “baby Elsa.” Her giggles. Her love for her mommy and her friendship with her best friend, Legacy. I love that you can see how caring she is when she talks to Desmond and tries to give him bites of food. And that even though it drives me crazy, that she’s strong willed and determined. I love everything about her. I keep selfishly praying that we will be blessed with another baby girl. Because nothing would make me happier than giving her a baby sister, a built in best friend.
birthday girl and mommy

 

birthday girl and daddy

That’s all the sappiness for now!
Happy 3rd birthday, sweet baby girl!