IT'S A....

Before, I spoil the ending let me explain. 

Over the weekend we had a gender reveal party-  

 prior to the party we went to the Dr. Office to find out the gender of the babe inside. But instead of finding out at the office they wrote it on a paper and stuck it in an envelope so we wouldn't be tempted to look.

We handed the envelope off to a friend, and she created a cake where it was either dyed pink or blue inside. We invited friends and family to come to our little gender reveal party and we all found out the gender together.

We played a game of old wives tales to see if the tales were true- they weren't.

And we had everyone guess before the cutting of the cake took place.

We were so surprised with the results but we are so excited to have this little one come into our family!

Here were a few of the people who were there- the top couple created the beautiful cake for us- 

thanks again Laurel and Trevor!

Highlights

From my Birthday to Valentine's Day here are a few highlights:

1. Making XXL Valentine's Cookie to top the night off with my sis cassidy and her hubby.

2. These gorgeous flower that Brandon gave to me- just look at the way he bundled it- true man.

3. Finding Daxton eating this snack. We got a good laugh

4. Brandon making up for being gone for my birthday(not one of the highlights) and taking me to dinner.

5. Refer to #4

6. Amazing friends who surprised me on my birthday to go eat. 

Great company and great chats= a girls perfect night.

Hope you had a great week/Valentine's and it continues into the weekend!

Happy lovers day

Gifts.

For todays count down, I have one word.

gifts.

Now, let me ask you, 

don't you get just a little bit, if not really excited, when someone comes up to you and says I have something for you. 

You immediately start to think, "what for?" or "What could it be?" "why me?"

And there is an excitement that comes into your life, for that brief moment.

 And we all know, that a little gift whether big or small can let others know you are thinking of them.

Most of the time, the gifts I think about aren't big things. 

Nor should they be.

A gift could mean:

-a sincere letter

-a coupon for an hour massage

-A favorite candy

- a favorite meal

- A finished task

- A clean house

-Laundry completed

-a planned date

- an organized closet/drawer

-a favorite movie

- pictures that were actually developed and framed

- a poem

and the list goes on and on.

When you actually think about what you can do for your significant other. You have just stepped into the realm of selflessness.

When you think about what they would like, what would surprise them. 

What have they been griping about that you can fix.

This is selflessness

Once when I was competing in a beauty pageant eons ago

(what Shelby in a beauty pageant!??? yes i know I know, i made a fool of myself- but thats beside the point)

I was asked in my interview questions, something to the effect of:

"What is the common problem that you see within marriages that has changed the world?"

And my immediate response was selfishness. 

Too many times we are caught in that snare of 

'whats in it for me'

'why me?'

'their not doing it the way I want it'

So what helps me to learn from my own mistakes is to take time to give small gifts to Brandon weekly if not daily. 

(I am defiantly not perfect but I try)

Again, the gifts are not big ones, but small thoughtful gifts to him. 

And sometimes it is fun to splurge and bring home a gift bought from the store and package it up nice and neat for him to see when he walks through the door.

These gift just show him I love him and that I was thinking of him. 

So today find a small gift you know they would love... 

Go ahead and make them feel special and important.

Photo from when we were first married.

Confidence

Day 3 of our Count down to Valentines Days:

What builds marriages? What builds relationships?

While contemplating this thought I realized what builds our marriage...

Confidence. 

In a marriage you face like together- 

And when the other has strong confident in your abilities life is sailable.

Now don't misunderstand confidence- it is not pride, it is not vain;

but the pure selfless thought of confidence is what we all need.

Whether you like it or not- your spouse knows you the best.

They know your weaknesses and your strengths. 

And confidence can diminish quickly if the one who knows you best says something degrading or sometimes nothing at all.

We all seek for that approval, that confidence and who better to give it than the one who know you best.

And who better to receive it from the one you love the most.

Brandon is terribly good at giving me confidence, 

he will talk to me, till he's blue in the face and tell me I can do what I want to do.

That my ideas are wonderful, and to not let others discourage for that means I've lost.

I've gain a lot confidence from my marriage and I've realized how important it is. 

So, I challenge you to say those warm words to your spouse.

Tell them their wonderful, notice the SMALL details they do, go to their level and think selfless thoughts about them. 

It will build your relationship and bring joy to their life as well as yours.

Here are are few pictures from our wedding that I'd thought i'd share.

25 in review

I really need to get use to this getting older fact- Because its kinda an annual thing and I squirmish every time I think about getting older.
(I know, i know I'm not that old. but still)
Last year, I created an overview of my 24th year and it really made me feel better about this getting older stuff. So i'm going to continue on with that one year tradition and do again for this birthday...

To first start off we'll start with the cutest one of our family. And his obsession over fruit.

I tried to filled the year with figuring out new crafts for my home, From painting a hutch, making old fashioned paper, making a book wreath, rusting metal, etc...

Then in the month of March, we allowed the teenagers inside us come out as we dressed in our best to make it to "Prom night"

One of the highlights of the year; in the beautiful month of April, we were remarkably lucky to travel to Amsterdam,

Paris and Scotland.

Next, I stole my husband sweater and asked him if he noticed anything different when I showed him the final project..

In march, i unforeseeably became a High School ASL teacher.

Then with the true beauty of women in mind, I proceeded to create a series of "Because She Does"

In June, my little sweetheart- turned one (way to fast) and we had an Explorer Birthday party for him and his little friends.

We took Family Pictures both here and here.

Summertime brought Family reunions, both here and here

And in the exciting month of August, I was truly honored to be apart of a Bloggers Day Out.

With my lil' sis we took Maternity pictures and enjoyed the always longed for sister bonding time.

October we got to get dirty(well at least the boys) as we dressed up as  Mary Poppins, Burt and Michael Bank

During Thanksgiving, we flew to Texas to hang out with family and to be apart of a very special day.

In December we enjoyed Christmas with family and we were given the surprise of a life time.

Then to close the year we soon learned of a blessing and announced our news with a touching video my sweetheart husband created.

Count down till Valentines Day

So there is 5 days left till Valentines Day, and I thought about doing something fun/loved filled each day-till the day of... 

(this idea was inspired by my mister who had a 5 day count down to my birthday-which is tomorrow :)).

So with these five days left- I thought about sharing some favorite pictures of when we were first newly weds and a lil'-bit of marriage advice. Even though I do not proclaim to be a connoisseur of marriage or relationships.

So here we go.

Day #1

Whether you are married or not, relationships take effort. 

And within a marriage- there might be extra effort and care put forth to keep a strong relationship.

I remember our first year of marriage... oih... lets just say i wasn't exactly a perfect spouse.

I had many faults and through it all Brandon was patient and understanding. 

He had to put forth effort to; understand, be patient and to communicate. 

Communication takes a lot of effort. Did you know that? 

yep. I had to figure that out.

In fact, Brandon and I were talking last night and  saying how our communication

 and the effort we put into understanding each other has double since our first year of marriage.

 We came from completely different backgrounds and to meet in the middle ground we had to learn to give and take.

I'm so grateful for his background-  I've learned a lot about myself and have become better myself as I've learned to change my differences and learn from him.

It effort to love and want to change for a person-out of  true love.

So we keep putting forth effort to strengthen our relationship.

And its so worth it. 

These were some of my favorite engagement shots...