Silly Jilly: Jesus talks!

With Easter coming up, Silly Jilly has been extra silly and extra into Jesus!  Every night this week, her nite-nite book choice has included her Bible for Little Ones.  I also know that they have been talking a lot about God, Jesus, and Easter at school (another reason I love her school!).

Along with hopping around like a little Easter Bunny, she has been filling eggs for her school Easter egg hunt, decorating cascarones (confetti-filled eggs), and asking for things from the Easter Bunny (like  he's Santa Claus).

Jilly: (during her prayers) Fadar (Father), Son, and Holy Spit (Spirit) Amen...And Easter Bunny bring me more bath crayons...

Jilly: (while reading her Bible, on the story of Jesus' birth) Baby Jesus, Happy Birtday!  You want to come get crayons wit me?!

Silly Jilly...we are so blessed to see you getting into the Easter spirit!

A Roll-Acosta Gender Reveal!

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I immediately knew I wanted to have a gender reveal party.  I know that they are trendy these days, but what great fun to let everyone in on God's little secret...the gender of our baby!

Though I had started planning it myself, two friends offered to take the reins to throw this for us.  And they came up with a genius theme based on the title of our blog!  From a Roll-Acosta Life, they dreamt up a circus theme.  

And what great party doesn't start with a great invitation!  This definitely set the tone, color scheme, and theme for our personalized gender reveal party!

The party details were handled with care, with everything going with the party colors of blue, pink, and pops of yellow.  What gender reveal party would be complete without a place for people to officially write down their guesses.  

It was a landslide 14 votes for a boy to 6 votes for a girl!

We My mom made all the food for the party to go along with the theme.  It was a delicious spread of hot dogs, potato salad, chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, chips, and cupcakes!  We had raspberry water and blueberry water to also match the color scheme!

Of course the hostesses provided all the party details, from the bakeware to the streamers to the balloons.  They also added treats like caramel popcorn (because I'm going to "pop") and jelly beans (a little homage to big sister Jilly bean), and even a letter A that we can use in the baby's room!

 There was also a gender predictor sheet and blue cotton candy party favors for people to take home!

One of my favorite details was the photo station for our guests to act silly at!  The hostesses provided photo props, a frame, and a backdrop too!

And one of the most important details was the box that held either blue or pink balloons.  Some people think Julian and I are crazy that we did not know until we opened that box...

 ...but the look on our faces and the sheer joy at the news of our baby boy will forever be imprinted on my heart as one of our happiest moments ever!

We are so blessed to have had so many people with us to share in our great news!  These special people came all the way from El Paso to see whether it was a new granddaughter/niece or grandson/nephew!

And for those who couldn't be with us, we were happy to FaceTime or text them to let them in on our news!

In all my wildest dreams about our gender reveal, I never imagined that it would be as much fun as what we had!  Leave it to party planner extraordinaires, Katy and Cindy, to come up with this!

It started out as an off comment by my friend, Katy, that she was interested in planning our gender reveal as a part of her new business idea.  Together, Katy and Cindy are wanting to start a business in which they will do just this...come up with an amazing party concept, buy all the supplies for the party, set it up, take photos at the event, and even clean up after!  We never would have had all of this if it weren't for these two!

So there you have it...an amazing way to reveal the gender of our new baby boy!  Julian, Jillian, and I cannot wait to welcome Bubby to our Roll-Acosta Life!

It's a...

Julian and I went to our ultrasound on Tuesday and they sealed the results in an envelope.  That envelope quickly went to our party planners so they could set the stage for A Roll-Acosta Gender Reveal (more details on the party to come later!)

Excited to find out Bubby's stats and gender

I wanted to rip it open!

What's it going to be?!

Either way, we'll be happy!

Big Sister Jillian is excited too!

Talking to her baby brother/sister

And kisses too!

Jillian, Bubby's Big Sister

Are you ready?!?!?!  It's a...

BOY!

Clearly, Daddy is so excited!

And Baby Boy makes 4 Acostas!

18/19 weeks!

How far along: 19 weeks, 4 days

I look/feel: I am popping out a lot these days.  During week 18, while I was in St. Louis, all my ACUI friends started rubbing my baby bump.  Guess I'm at that point where people feel comfortable rubbing your belly (to be honest, with such good friends, I did not mind one bit).  

These past few weeks have flown by, but I had a great time in St. Louis.  I was just the right amount of pregnant during this trip...big enough to show, but not so big I was uncomfortable!

Hugging the Arch

Boy it was cold in STL!

Reuniting with friends, old and new!

The baby is: Well, we had a big ultrasound on Tuesday and the baby was measuring just right.  They predict that the baby weighs 12 ounces and is about 6 inches (about the size of a coke can).  We were able to get some good shots of Bubby baby...I think he/she looks just like Jillian (of course, they all look alike in the ultrasound pics)!

Julian is: Glad I'm back, though he had a good time with our girl!  And now he's anxiously awaiting the gender reveal!

Jilly Bear and Daddy while Mommy was away!

Jillian is: bringing up the baby a lot on her own and she even calls the baby Bubby now too!  She says that mommy has a boy baby in her belly, but that she is having a little sister...so either way she's right (and a little wrong too).  Guess we'll have to fix that once we know the baby's gender!

Silly Jilly Monkey Girl while Mommy was away!

Crazy pregnancy moment of the week: Took a few risks in St. Louis, but Bubby baby is ok!  I had to have some beer with all the people drinking at the conference so I had 3 sips of beer while I was there (whoa, 3 WHOLE sips...and not even in the same night)!  And then we went to the City Museum in St. Louis, where they have a 10-story slide!  The thrill-seeker in me could not resist (and my boss convinced me I'd be ok).  So I climbed the 10 stories of stairs, decided that I was not going to walk back down the stairs, so I took the plunge!  10 stories later I was giggling like a school girl!  

A picture of the slide (that I did not take)

I am craving: Well, I bought a big box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch at Sam's the other day (but really more as a reminder of my food cravings from having Jillian).  And I did make Julian go to buy me Ben & Jerry's ice cream the other day (such a good husband, he obliged)!  

Gender prediction: This is the last gender prediction I will do since we find out on Friday!  So I had been pretty set on this baby being a boy, but on the plane back from St. Louis, I woke up from a deep sleep and I had this overwhelming feeling that it is a girl!  It is the craziest thing that my heart has developed a deep set conviction that we are having a girl.  And the feeling has not let up since then so I am going to make my final prediction as a GIRL!

On the to do list: Open a box of balloons to find out the baby's gender at our party!!!  Who's excited?! This girl!

Rules for Daddy

Since I am out of town again, Julian and Jillian are getting some more quality time together.  And I can say that I have lightened up on the lists and prepping that I do for them since Julian is a seasoned pro at this.  

More importantly than "Mommy's Out of Town Guides for Daddy," these "Rules" are far more important and relevant for his time with her.

Julian found these the other night and we spent some time reading them over together.  And we both shed a tear or two thinking of how important these Rules are to live by.  We agreed that it was all stuff we already knew, but the remind of how to live these day in and day out was refreshing.  

Hope you enjoy these Rules too...and grab your box of tissues because you're going to need it!

Life to Her Years: 50 Rules for Dads of Daughters

Jilly Bear adores her Daddy!

Sweet baby cuddles from Daddy

Quality time together feeding the ducks

Silly Daddy plays hide and seek with Silly Jilly

Watch up Julian...she'll grow up quicker than you know!

17 weeks!

How far along: 17 weeks, 5 days

I look/feel: good, for the most part.  I have started to notice the little ache in my abdomen/hips if I sleep the wrong way or if I spend too much time on my feet.  All part and parcel of the experience of growing a life inside you!

The baby is: the size of a turnip...which to be honest, that doesn't help me much.  I can't remember the last time I saw and held a turnip so I'm gonna take their word for it.

Julian is: So glad to be done with the GRE...now it's just a matter of finishing the application and submitting it.  After that, what happens is no longer in his hands, and I am sure he will be relieved.  I think I'll give him a few days before we get back to life as normal (AKA - I bug him again about taking out the trash, we have more intense life conversations about this baby, and I start spending all that money to get stuff for this kid).

Jillian is: saying that she has a baby in her belly too.  She'll lift up my shirt and see my baby belly and then she'll lift up her shirt and stick out her belly as far as she can.  It's super cute...until she tries to do this in public!

Crazy pregnancy moment of the week: Well, with Jillian playing pretend about having a baby in her belly, I couldn't help but think of the day (hopefully 25 years from now) when she actually does have a baby in her belly. Let's just say that I held her a little longer and shed a few lots of tears the other night as I was rocking her to sleep thinking of what a blessing and miracle it will be to see my daughter experience the joys of becoming a mommy!

I am craving: I have wanted a lot of things, but my nose is so stuffed up that I can't taste anything anyways...and not being able to taste my food makes me crabby.  No fun at all!

Gender prediction: Still feel like it's a boy.  More importantly than anything else, I don't know how I will be able to have the gender in an envelope and not look in to see it!  The suspense will kill me!

On the to-do list: Pack again to be out of town...sorry Jilly Bear and Juli Bear!  But on an exciting note, invitations to the Roll-Acosta Gender Reveal got sent out.  Less than 2 weeks till we find out Bubby's gender!  And knowing Katy and Cindy, this party is going to be amazing and so cute!  

A Little R&R

Julian was in desperate need of some R&R.  For the past month, he has been preparing to apply to graduate school, and most importantly, taking the GRE.  He spent many late nights up studying, and most of those nights were after long days at work and helping me with Jillian.  

Yesterday was test day.  Contrary to his demeanor in the past, he seemed calm, cool, and collected the morning of.  And that, in and of itself, deserved praise.   

I knew that no matter the outcome, he would be in need of some well-deserved relaxation after the stress of the test.  Julian joked that either we would go to a bar to commiserate or go to a bar to celebrate.  But I arranged to be off half-day in order to spend some quality time with him.

I must admit, I was a nervous wreck waiting for him to finish.  Finally, he was done and he called with the results (the GRE gives you initial results immediately).  

He did great!  It was a tremendous improvement from when he took the test 4 years ago.  And though there is no guarantee, he gave himself a fighting chance, and that's all we could ask for!

But enough about the test...we didn't quite start the afternoon with a trip to the bar, but Julian did get the beer he deserved...

We ate lunch at Olive Garden and our friend, Franco met up with us to celebrate too.  It was delicious and we were stuffed.  But with 2.5 hours till we had to pick up Jillian, there was more R&R to be had.

So I thought about what I would consider to be a relaxing afternoon and the first thing that came to mind was a mani/pedi.  But I am thinking, "why in the heck would these 2 guys go for that?!"  

I timidly suggested it, remembering that when Julian was with us for Jillian's first mani/pedi, he mentioned that he would like to try it someday.  

Much to my surprise, they both agreed!  

These 2, I swear!  They sat down for their pedis and of course, they chose the "indulgence pedi" (read: one of the expensive ones).  I have never even had the expensive one before!

They loved it!  Julian also got a mani.  Hey, there's a first time for everything...

Since I got a mani and a chair massage out of this, it was great for me too!

Looking back on it, of course Julian and Franco both agreed to this!   Just another thing to add to their long list of bromance activities...

I hope this is just the R&R that Julian needed to recharge his batteries and finish his application.  Only time will tell what the results will be, and our future may change as a result.  Either way, I am sure his hard work and dedication paid off.  For now, he'll finish strong and we'll leave it up to God's plans. 

16 Weeks!

How far along: 16 weeks, 5 days

I look/feel: pregnant.  I think my baby belly finally popped out this past weekend.  And it is getting increasingly harder to lug Jillian around because she loves for Mommy to "hold you."    

How is the baby: Holy guacamole, the baby is the size of an avocado these days.  Good thing I LOVE guacamole!!!

Julian is: glad he survived his Daddy/Daughter weekend while I was in Dallas.  He did such a great job and here is a little bit of the fun I missed while I was away from them:

- Jillian peed in the potty 4 times in one day!

- Julian got a promotion and a raise (always a good thing!)

- Bonding over bath time

- Julian and Jillian spent a lot of time at the Chick-Fil-A playground 

I realize that her socks don't match...what can I say?!  I was out of town, Julian is color blind, and Jillian is insistent...and that, my friends, is the reasoning for this winning outfit!  She sure is cute, even if her socks don't quite match!

Jillian is: talking a lot about her new baby brother/sister.  She told me the other day that "baby brother sister is gonna get out of mommy's belly...on Tuesday."  She is learning the days of the week at school and she thought that Tuesday sounded like a great day for the baby to arrive!

Crazy pregnancy moment of the week: I finally had my first dream about the baby.  I will spare you the details, but I will say, it was a healthy, beautiful baby girl!  Of course, I had a dream that I gave birth to a baby boy while I was pregnant with Jillian so clearly my dream radar can be off...

I am craving: Those of you who know me well know I don't eat red meat, but while in Dallas, I just had to have In n Out Burger!  It was delicious!  And last night, we went out to dinner to celebrate my friend, Katy's, birthday.  I had a steak for dinner...it was by far the best steak I had ever had (even if it was $30).  Guess this baby is making a carnivore out of me!  

Gender prediction: Who knows?!  There are officially 18 days till we find out and put the results in an envelope to be unveiled at our gender reveal party, which is in 3 weeks.  It is going to be agonizing not knowing for those 3 days in between!

On the to-do list: Set out a guest list and budget for our gender reveal party!  My friend, Katy, and her friend, Cindy, have offered to throw the party as the first of their "Over the Rainbow" party productions/new business venture