It's a... gender reveal card

So we came up with this idea on our own... I know, no pinterest inspiration. CRAZY. We are super excited with how they turned out, so I want to share it with you. Most of our family lives outside of our state. So we couldn't have a gender reveal party, just like last time. We decided to make a fun card to share the suspense, because last year it was a hoot.

Last time we made scratch-off cards to share the news, super fun. I don't know that we topped that idea, but at least it was a blast to do.

We had to do a little prep work, because as soon as we found out our tater tot's gender...we had to move fast. We were vague to our family/friends about when the ultrasound was to buy us a little time to get the cards in the mail.

We chose tie dye...because we love it. A kid in a tie dye? Adorable. Grown-ups in the same exact tie dye outfit? Hilarious. We chose to do a family tie-dye event for our Tour de Fat costumes last year- so fun. This Christmas I think we are doing a tie-dye Christmas for Christmas morning. Cheesy. I love it.

Prep work:

so sad, pink tie dye shirts. so long.

- make tie dye clothing- a set of pink and blue for matt, cora, and I. This is easy. A bunch of cheap white shirts from Old Navy, and a tie dye kit from Jo-Anns.
- make a pom pom garland in blue and pink. Fun excuse to make crafts.

make your own washi tape... cut pieces of fun paper into strips

apply removable tape adhesive- done!

- Make colorful DIY washi tape. I chose to make our own washi tape, because real washi tape is see-through, which doesn't look so hot on black envelopes. I wanted a bright strip of rainbow paper as the first color seen in the card.
- pre-assemble cards. I bought 30 sheets of grey 8 1/2"x 11" paper, then cut them down to be 5"x7" cards.

 

- I chose to cut down normal end-opening 4 1/2" x 9" envelopes to fit a 4x6 photo. Then just sewed up the ends to close them off. Then used permanent spray adhesive to attach the fronts of the envelopes to the card.

- do the photo layout on photoshop elements- " its a..." So that I could just throw the photo in after taking it Monday afternoon- make a black and white photo version and then the "little sister/brother" versions for the color photo.
- pre-address the envelopes and stamp them.

Day of the Ultrasound:
- go to the appointment. YAY!! Hold in the excitement and resist urge to call EVERYONE.

outtakes. many of them.

 

- go home, take a photo on a quilt in our backyard with the appropriately colored clothing/pom poms.
- at night, upload photos and edit in elements with text and color/black and white.
- upload 4x6 photos to 1 hour photo at Costco.

Next Day:
- pick up photos from Costco

- assemble cards, gluing, stuffing.

 

- admire and get excited that the secret is almost out.
- send off in the mail!


Then just wait for some phone calls...

Oh yea...and a little boy?! Eeeesh!!! CRAZY. We expected a little sister for Cora. I think we have about 20 weeks to let it sink in. Right now our minds are blown.

week 20

Hi y'all. So we have a little something in the works this week... So I'm keeping you in the dark or rather black and white for a few days. Stay tuned my friends, a gender reveal is coming.

And week 20 has been awesome!! Little bit more kicking, pretty fatigued by the summer heat and moving houses. But it has been amazing. 1/2 way completed already? Time flies too fast.

We had our 20 week ultrasound, and our little tater tot is healthy and vibrant. I was actually expecting a ..."oh... looks like your baby isn't quite developed, better luck next time" because the kicks are a little less frequent than I remember with Cora. Well, good explanation- tater tot's placenta is on the outer wall, closest to my belly button. So the kicks are just muffled, and attacking my organs at this point. Once tater tot gets bigger I should be able to feel them regardless. But, phew! Healthy baby...

BOY!!!

 

moving!!

Floor/counter top shopping...this place was like a playground to her.

I love moving. When I tell people this, they think I am being sarcastic. But I really do. I love it. I love cleaning house, starting over fresh, getting organized....and decorating. A clean slate. So we are in the middle of moving, and it's exciting even being pregnant and having a 14 month-er. I get to design a boy/girl nursery and vamp-up Cora's turquoise room decor. I am so excited. So excited I haven't even had time to blog post.

My pinterest pins have been sky-rocketing...and lots of list writing. Until I have something else huge to plan for...like my sister's wedding (oh my gosh, that will be fun...so get engaged already kel) or I guess the arrival of tater tot. I am in the moving-mode. So I will return with blog posts... like camping with a toddler, 20 weeks pregnant- next week, gender reveal after that. Oh my. Big things are happening in the next few weeks.

Projects to tackle (with matt's uber helpful parents):

• painting Cora's room dark grey, with her turquoise accents
• painting the baby room: (I promised matt no more turquoise) either yellow or greens with light grey walls
• decorating the baby room
• painting our bedroom.... um grey. Sense a theme?!
• new flooring, to include the dinning room- so that we don't have two kiddos eating over a carpeted area.
• new vanities in the bathrooms
• plants outside (aka remove the rose bushes)
• de-wallpapering the bathrooms
• matt to build a new bookshelf in the living room
• two dutch/half doors- one at the top of the stairs, one at the bottom.
• design a kid's playroom/loft
• new lighting throughout

Yup. That should do it. See you all soon.

(oh yea, happy fathers day!!)

week 18

Week 17 started off with kicking! I was hoping that I would feel baby movements a little sooner this time so I have been hyper-sensitive. And this past week I felt the first flop/kick. So much fun. I couldn't sleep I was just so excited to feel this (it's my favorite part of pregnancy.) The kicks are random, just waiting for our little tot to get stronger.

Now, at 18 weeks I find myself walking by the mirror and just...oh shit, I'm pregnant. There is a belly now. I love it. Depending on the day it looks like a few too many white mochas...but others it looks like a real pregnant belly. I am continually shocked that we are doing this again, baby #2.