This has definitely been the hardest thing to keep quiet about but we had several sets of family and friends that we wanted to tell in person before sharing the news here! I also thought it would be fun to share a couple of things that have happened in the past few days that I never want to forget.....

Peter peeked at the ultrasound // yup, the ultrasound tech told us to look away when she got to the bottom area so we wouldn't see anything important because we wanted the answer to be placed in an envelope for us to open together, just the two of us. She was talking through what she was looking at and measuring without mentioning "the goods" and Peter looked up and saw our little man in all his glory. He even thought to himself, that's not what I thought it was, was it??? Once we opened the envelope together and saw the photos printed to prove we in fact did have a boy, he realized it was EXACTLY what he thought it was.

Telling our Moms together was wonderful // the day we found out we invited both of our moms over for dinner so we could tell them together. This was a big deal for me, I couldn't imagine telling one before the other. So we bought a little outfit that said "off to grandmas" with a car and let them open the gift together. It was so fun, especially since almost everyone, including our moms, thought we were having a girl. Peter's mom even brought us a pink rose because she was feeling lucky with her decision. It was so fun to surprise them!

The conversation between my girlfriends on the group text announcement // once we told our moms I had the go ahead to send a photo to all the girls but I didn't realize it would be so confusing. I sent a picture of me holding a shirt with an orange car on it. Apparently the phone made it look pink....this is the conversation that followed:

MW - YAY! YAY! YAY! I'm so happy for you!!!!

LC - No way!!!!!!!!! Wait.... I need clarification!! Your'e wearing blue.... But it's a pink car!!!

KA - Is that a pink car? Me too. I'm confused with Laura lol

MB - Yippee!! You called it! So exciting to meet HER!

Me - BOY!!!!!!

LC - Haha is this a sick joke???

Me - Hahaha!!!

MW - Wait, what?

LC - Gah!!!!!!!!! CRAZY!!!!!!!

MW - I thought it was a girl too!

MB - Oh lord! I thought it was a girl too from the pink car! LOL

KA - Is it really a BOY?!?!?

LC - Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!!

My mom - YES!!!!

KA - Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Wyatt is going to have a best friend!!!!! I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!!!!!!!!!!

LC - I'm so excited!!!!!!!!

Me - YES!!!! Boy! Sorry, it's not a pink car, orange!

It was pretty hilarious!!

My Dad's confidence // We used the same box and another little boy outfit to surprise my Dad's side of the family and when we walked in the door I gave the box to my dad and said he could do the opening. He said he didn't need to because he already knew what it was, a boy. HA! I thought it was so funny.

Telling our Small Group last night // There were only a few votes for boy with our group so it was really exciting to share the news with them. I gladly used the left over cupcakes from my friend's shower since they were blue for baby Wyatt. Just seeing their faces and excitement was priceless!!!

And now we get to enjoy the excitement and prepare

for our baby boy! I can't wait to meet him and love on him!

Pregnancy Post // month five.

So hard to believe that we are already half way through this pregnancy, and on to month six!!!

Weeks 17 - 20

Some questions we've been asked

when did you feel the baby for the first time // we were at our church for a parenting class and we were listening about establishing authority at a young age when I felt the first little thump. Then around 2 minutes later I felt another in the same spot... I leaned over to tell Peter because I was so excited and he just smiled and chuckled. Later he said that the baby could hear what the pastor was saying and didn't agree. HA, a fun memory for sure!

how did you tell family and friends the sex // We will announce the sex and fill you in on all the fun stories, tomorrow!!! We still have our church community group to tell tonight before the secret is officially out!

do you have a "babymoon" planned // we have several summer trips planned that we will call our babymoons! One weekend trip to Charleston in June for some time away, just the two of us. Then we have the family reunion in Niagara Falls in July, which I am so excited about!!! A new place I've never visited before and I get to see all the Eliya family plus celebrate at an Eliya wedding for a cousin!

Friends and Babies.

One of the best parts about growing up so far is going through seasons of life with your friends. Katie was always above the curve for our group. She has always been a year older than us, she got married first, and now she is having the first baby in our group of friends. It is so exciting to look back over the many years of friendship and see where the Lord has brought us. I'm so thankful for these women and I know we will be thankful for all the babies in the future. I can't wait to meet baby Wyatt and love him just as much as I love his Mommy and Daddy!! He's going to be a lucky guy, that's for sure!

Super sweet gift from Katie's mom that made us all tear up a bit!

I can't wait for all the future play dates between these two babes!!

We all love you, Katie, and I know Wyatt will be loved so much!

Now come on baby boy, we want to meet you!!!

Little Lady or Little Man.

Tomorrow is the big day. The day that we find out what our little one is!!!
It makes me laugh that I thought I could wait till their birthday to find out,
I have no idea what I was thinking.
I'm so excited to find out and spend the day with Peter, just the two of us.
I thought it would be nice to write a little letter to our babe before we know for sure what
we will be having. One last letter without a name, just our little peanut!

April 20, 2015

little peanut,

I can't believe we will know what you are in just four days. It is so crazy and exciting. You already have so many people who love you, and they don't even know you yet. They ask about you and talk about you all the time. You are so cherished.

I've always been the one to believe that I will be a Momma to boys. That's just what I have pictured and what I have dreamed about. That is until you came along. I can't quite explain it but I have felt with most of my heart that you are a sweet baby girl. This took me by surprise since I never expected that to happen. Sometimes I go back and forth but at the end of the day I'm still settled on the fact that you will be our little lady. Of course if you turn out to be our little man, that will rock my world, but also make me so incredibly happy. YOU make me happy no matter what.

No matter what you are, I know one thing for sure, you are LOVED. You will be our baby and we can't wait to see what God made you to be for us and for His kingdom. We know that His plan is good and we are so thankful to be a part of this big and important plan. You are so important and you will make us more significant just by your first breath. My heart almost hurts because it is so excited to know you more and hold you in my arms.
September will be such a sweet month!

Can't wait to see you soon and find out if you are our little lady, or our little man.

Love, momma.

Sights + Seats // Egg Harbor Cafe

While in Atlanta we went to get some breakfast at our families favorite spot! I was excited since breakfast is this new and amazing love of mine during the past few weeks of this pregnancy. My sister-in-law, Joy, kept talking about how amazing Egg Harbor Cafe's biscuits were and I couldn't wait to try them. The restaurant was a big place but you still got that cozy feeling thanks to the sweet staff and quiet nooks for seating. And the food, it was wonderful. The biscuits were really, really good... possibly one of the best I've ever had. Oh, and their breakfast potatoes. I may have almost ordered a to-go order for later. Almost.

^^^ & these two, I love it!

nephews are the best.

Our weekend was full of love and kisses thanks to the sweetest nephews. One is 2.5 and the other is only 4 weeks old! Yes, there were a lot of kisses. I love these ages for completely different reasons. One is saying the funniest things and using his imagination, it's so fun to watch him play and learn. Then the little arm full of love is needing bottles, diaper changes and lots of rocking which is also wonderful. Of course it made me think about the exciting changes coming for us in just a few months. I can't wait, and I'm so thankful to have these two boys to give me a little taste to just how sweet it will be.

Before we left for the weekend we stopped by this adorable little coffee shop

for desserts and sweet goodbyes. Can't wait till the next time we see them!

Favorite Charleston Spots.

One of my favorite weekend vacation spots has to be Charleston, SC! I'm so glad that we live so close by and a quick trip is only a 3 hour drive (or 2.5 if you drive like my husband!). I thought it would be fun to highlight my favorite Charleston spots for all of you today, because it is a pretty amazing place to visit. I'm going to split this up into four categories and share my most favorite spot for each!

eat // Circa 1886

this is by far the best food in Charleston. I know that is saying a LOT for one of the best cities for food in the south but it is our favorite. The prices are great, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is perfect. This is definitely our best date night spot and we try and fit it in every trip we make to Charleston.

drink // Edmund's Oast

this section is all Peter. Not only because I can't partake in sipping those delicious beverages right now but because he is the expert in this department. He always finds the best spots in every city we visit and his favorite place to sit and relax with a cold drink is most definitely Edmund's Oast. They have a great variety of beers (even sours!!!) and the dinner menu is amazing. Just make sure you have reservations, unless you are comfortable at the bar.

play // Isle of Palms

a day trip to the beach or a full week of sand and sun, Isle of Palms is the spot to go. Great live music, cute shops, yummy beach food, they have it all. I have spent many girls weekends on this beach and loved every second, but is is also great for a family vacation!

shop // King Street

the infamous King Street in Charleston is lined with some of the best shopping you could imagine. Name brand, antique shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, everything! And of course I have to mention the most beautiful Forever21 store I've ever shopped in, it's huge also. Anything you are looking for can be found on King Street.

What are your favorite Charleston spots, please share!?!
Check out some past times in Charleston, HERE
& come back next week for more Charleston fun from our weekend visit!
I can't wait to have a little weekend getaway with my hubby!!!

Taking Stock 006

Making // fresh cobb salads a lot lately.
Cooking // all of the yummy leftovers from Easter. 
Drinking // a little bit of coffee again, like 1/2 a cup a day and I'm loving it!
Reading // so many books, I've realized that friends love to give you their favorite pregnancy books and I'm so thankful for it. I love all of the different information.
Wanting // more long walks outside.
Looking // for the best rocking chair, comfy and great price is key! Send me your favorites, please!!!
Wasting // post-it notes at work, it's the only way I can remember anything these days.
Crocheting // maybe I should remove this question....? 
Wishing // weekends were longer than weekdays.
Enjoying // a clean house and I'm determined to keep it tidy this busy month.
Liking // These things way too much. It's dangerous!
Wondering // if the clothes in the dryer will ever fold themselves?
Loving // lunch dates with friends!
Hoping // that the cloth diapering system will work for us. Any advice is very much welcomed from those Mom's that have done it and loved it!
Marveling // at how amazing LOFT maternity jean's are! I mean, wow!!! 
Needing // energy to clean out the junk room AKA future nursery.
Smelling // rainstorms. April showers brings yada yada, I'm over it.
Wearing // comfy dresses. They make me happy! 
Following // through James with my Church and loving it. My favorite book in the bible!
Noticing // how surprised I am to REALLY love all of the Lilly Pulitzer line at Target, because I normally don't like their designs at all.
Knowing // this Summer is going to FLY by, but I'm ready for all the fun events.
Thinking // about what I'm going to pack for our Charleston trip this weekend!
Bookmarking // things on pinterest, like always.
Opening // my dressers and closet to purge. For real this time....
Giggling // at the little flutters in my belly this week! It is incredible and so surreal. 
Feeling // energized.

Easter 2015.

It's definitely not the first time I've said it, and most definitely not the last time I'll say it, but... Easter is my favorite holiday. I just love a whole weekend that celebrates what our Savior did for us. How He showed His power and His promise to His people and defeated sin and death. I love to celebrate what He did for us and spend time with family around the table eating delicious food and being thankful for Jesus. 

I'm pretty bummed we didn't get a big family photo but I know next year will be a completely

different story since we will have our own little bunny with us!

Hope you all had a beautiful Easter weekend!!

Friday Five.

This week has been a long week compared to last week's short vacation week with friends. But, it has still been a good week. Spring Break is happening right now for most of Greenville so work has been steady but quiet. The nights have been filled with relaxing and cleaning so we can prepare for Easter this weekend. I'm so excited to host the family at our house! Hope you all had a great week and that your Easter weekend is wonderful. Here are a few things that made me smile this week....

fresh blooms on the plum tree + fresh eggs in the coop. 

Spring is the here!

Solo lunch dates on sunny days are wonderful! 

The best cream for my belly...

(And the rest of my body!!)

enjoying the bright colors in the guest bathroom,

even after our guests have left.

Cobb salads, my latest obsession!