Liam's 2nd Birthday Party

Our sweet Liam boy turned 2 on January 16th, 2015. 

I can't help but feel a little ache in my heart when I think about him growing up, but by now this has become a familiar feeling. It pays me a visit whenever he does something new, repeats a grown up phrase totally out of context, looks at me with adventure in his eyes, or grabs my face and tells me he loves me. 

I am so thankful for the way God has grown and sustained our family this year, and especially thankful for the way's he is allowing Liam to flourish as a big brother! He has transitioned so well into loving on his little sister, making her laugh, and playing by himself when I need to give Bennett my full attention. The guilt I felt about having to divide my time has faded as I've seen little glimpses of Liam and Bennett becoming friends...ok it's faded and been replaced by my heart and soul feeling like it will explode out of my chest with love and cuteness overload! 

Even though the sibling thing is wonderful and so sweet, it was so exciting to tell Liam we were having a party just to celebrate HIM. And if there's one thing Liam loves, it's a birthday party! 

To celebrate this year, we had all of his buddies over for a cowboy party complete with s'mores and a "Wanted" photo booth. Liam was decked out in some vintage cowboy gear thanks to Zuzu saving Uncle Joe's favorite chaps and vest :). 

It was a crazy night with lots of friends and family who helped make Liam's 2nd birthday a special night to remember! Happy birthday precious boy, we love you so much!

:: Sprinkling Baby Bennett ::

Baby number 2 has brought a lot more questions than I thought she would.

Clearly I am a seasoned mother veteran with my perfectly behaved 21 month old; so I should have all the answers and be highly prepared this time around. But a few things have stumped me:

1. how do you dress/shop for a girl?
2. do you register for baby #2?
3. is it annoying to have a shower for a second baby?
4. do i even bother to decorate a nursery?
5. what do i even need for an infant?!
6. how do you pack a hospital bag?

I could go on and on but I think those are pretty revealing of my mom brain that has forgotten everything and my lack of understanding of social norms when it comes to multiple children.

Thankfully, my sisters took charge and decided they would throw me a small shower with my closest family and friends so that baby Bennett was celebrated and I was a little more prepared for her arrival!

 It was a beautiful night with lots of girls I love the most in this world. I am so thankful that my baby girl will have all of these women to love on her for the rest of her life! We're ready for you, Bennett!

summer 2014 : part 2

- Shower for Shannon and Baby P! -

- Labor Day Weekend at the Lake - 

- Mountain Week - 

it's a...

I can't believe it's Gender Reveal party round 2 for the Wright family! 

My sisters were both able to be in town this time so they spoiled me again and planned an awesome, low key pool party for my family and fellow mom friends :) 

However, it wouldn't be a Branch family function without some sort of hiccup or incident that would make a funny story later. 

The morning of our big doctor's appointment, I woke up so excited, anxious and ready! My sisters met Liam and I at Brueggers for breakfast to get the day going around 8am and as I pulled into the parking lot, I got a phone call from my doctor. 

I knew that probably wasn't a good sign, but I was NOT prepared for what this lady was about to say. This poor messenger was calling a pregnant woman - with a party planned - to relay that the most exciting appointment of the entire 9 months was cancelled due to the ultrasound tech being sick. Well, I had a full on hormonal SPIKE and unloaded tears, frustration, anger, confusion etc. on this lady. 

My sisters walked up to my car window as I was hanging up and I dramatically flung open the door and sobbed "Well, the party is ruined!" I continued my emotional train wreck into the next lucky caller - my husband. Luckily he knows how to deal with this by now and calmed me down and assured me that he would call the doctor and figure something out. My hero. 

While Ben worked on the doctor's office, Caroline started calling ultrasound places that pretty much exist to reveal the gender. Miraculously, an angel woman from a place called Baby Bump 4D answered her phone before business hours and agreed to take me that morning before she even officially opened if I could meet her there in 45 minutes. What!? 

The day was saved, I snapped back to reality and thanked my sisters and Ben for helping me work through my diva moment and headed to meet Ben while Caroline and Jamie took Liam for the morning. 

Baby Bump 4D was the best experience! It felt more like a spa than a doctors office and the sweet owner made the entire thing feel so personal and exciting. We got multiple pictures of our little one and got to celebrate the news together before sharing with everyone else. Such a special morning! 

After calling Ben's family and telling them the news, Ben headed back to work while I went to the party. 

After some swimming, pizza, and play time we headed to the yard for the big reveal!

Liam and the Albritton girls helped me open the box that revealed we are having a...

GIRL!!!! 

I am honestly still in shock. I was convinced from day 1 that we would be having another little boy! Ben has been on cloud 9 since we found out the news, he has always wanted a little Daddy's girl and I am so excited to get to see him be a father to a baby girl. 

The party was so sweet and special. I was not expecting to have another gender reveal party...hello already living up to the stereotypical second child jokes...but my family and friends were so gracious to us and it was sweet to feel them celebrate this baby girl's life. 

Ben and I are overwhelmed by God's grace in giving us another healthy baby and we cannot wait to meet HER!! Lets just all start praying for prince Liam's transition. Help us Lord :)