If you missed my big announcement back in July, we're expecting! We've got a new little O'Quinn scheduled to arrive in late January and we're thrilled. I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to do a gender reveal party. It kind of feels a bit silly to be honest but, after talking to my friend Haley, she convinced me that I should because, like she said "it's better than just finding out in an office". Which I definitely agree. I can now say, after the fact, I'm super glad I did it.
I didn't want anything big, just family (and of course my bestie Danica, who is basically family). Since this is the first grandchild on both sides, we've got some excited grandparents which, truthfully, is a big part of why I decided to do a reveal after all. So once a date and location was set, even though I wanted a low key affair, some crafting was of course in order!
I created maybe my favorite DIY ever with this welcome sign. It was surprisingly easy and yet made a great impact as soon as you walked in. I simply used some plywood that I had on hand from a previous project and some iron on vinyl (yes... iron on! It works SO great on wood!). The triangles were a last minute add to match the party decor, but they are removable vinyl so they can be removed and the sign can have a more modern look too!
And here are a couple of other DIY's that I cooked up. I created a guess the gender sign that read "What do you say, Little Sam or Little Shea". I used baby pictures of each of us for people to cast their vote. This was another piece of scrap plywood that I used some iron on vinyl and removable vinyl on. I also created badges for each guess to wear their vote (also adorned with baby photos of each of us). My favorite thing is how similar our first Christmas pics look to each other.
Apparently there weren't a whole lot of poses to put babies in during the late 80's haha.
The votes were surprisingly mixed.
I also had to make come custom drink koozies for Sam and I.
We also got an array of mini cupcakes from Miss Priss... I won't tell you how many I had but I will tell you, they were all delicious!
Sam and I both voted that we thought baby O was going to be a boy. 
Team Boy: Grandpa-to-be Gregg, Uncle-to-be Josh, Great Grandma-to-be Charlotte, Daddy-to-be Sam, Great Papa-to-be, Great Gram-to-be, Cousin-to-be Cade, me and Great Uncle-to-be Dale
Team Girl: Grandma-to-be Sandy, Bryan, Cousin-to-be Brynn, Great Aunt-to-be Christine, Grandpa-to-be Kevin, Maribel, Grandma-to-be Julie and Jamie
For the big reveal, I decided to order some Confetti Cannons. Since no one except Danica knew what baby O was going to be, I ordered both pink and blue and it was up to her to set aside the right ones. (They are very inconspicuously labeled so you really have no idea whats inside of each cannon until it goes off.)
It was so suspenseful! (Plus there was the added fear that someone was going to take your head off with a confetti cannon haha.)
And just like we suspected... baby O is a little boy!
I had a feeling from early on that baby O was a boy, and all the old wives tales pointed to boy and yet I still teared up a little watching the confetti flutter in the air. I think it just made it that much more real... we really are having a baby!
In this moment, Sam is probably already planning out what little league he wants him in.
Sams dad was clearly excited for a little boy.
We of course had to get some photos in the confetti.
(Note: the confetti is totally biodegradable, I'm no litter bug)
This pic cracks me up because it's the ultrasound pic that proves he's a boy, if you know what I mean. Haha.
The dogs weren't too amused to learn about their little brother.
My mom, Sam and I spent the entire next day baby shopping since we now knew what we were having. I had previously refrained from really buying anything... a little secret though, the only baby thing I had bought before finding out was for a boy... apparently my mothers intuition has already kicked in! Just waiting for my eyes in the back of my head ;) Haha.
