Gender Reveal/ Elijah's First Birthday Party

For sake of time, I am combining both events on one blog post. Being a mommy doesn't allow for a lot of down time so I take what I can get :)

So because this is our last baby, we decided to have a gender reveal party and not find out the sex of the baby until we could find out with some family and friends. We TOTALLY missed our family from all over, but especially in Texas. If I had several computers, I would have figured out how to get everyone on Skype to share the moment but my technological skills only go so far :) My bestie Ness, helped set up the entire thing and filled a box full of balloons so when we opened the box we would see either blue or pink balloons fly out. Everyone made a guess as to what Baby Saenz was going to be, ate dinner, and anxiously awaited the news! 

It's a BOY!!!!

 So blessed and happy!!!

 There is the proof!

 So much fun and so cute!

We already love you so much Luke!

We are so thrilled to be having another little boy!!! I couldn't imagine our family turning out any other way honestly! There is something so special about little boys and their relationship with their mamas. I know it is so cliche, but its true. Is it kind of strange not knowing what it will be like to have a girl? Sure, but that feeling is so minute, so insignificant, that it has literally crossed my mind only ONCE. I can't wait to take my boys to their soccer games or their football practices (I am totally speculating here but if its ballet they want, I can't wait for that either!). Being the mom of two amazing, precious boys is such a gift and miracle (and yes, tiring). Let the adventures of dirt, bugs, and gooey things begin!

P.S. By date the grossest thing Elijah has done is put a cockroach in his mouth. Half alive. And I had to dig it out. Oh. My. Gosh. PUKE.

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For Elijah's first birthday, we had our wonderful family and friends over and really just drank and hung out (I didn't drink although I wish I could've!). It was such a fun day of celebration and love, acknowledging that our son had already been with us for one whole year! It has been the best, most life changing year of our lives. Our love for our little man is unsurpassable and it is amazing in such simple, little ways. Everyday I don't think it is possible to love him any more and the next morning comes and I am proven wrong once again. How big can one heart possibly get??? 

His birthday theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar and it was so cute (if I do say so myself). When he was a newborn, his amazing Godparents (and photographers) photographed him in a Very Hungry Caterpillar swaddling cloth and hat...it was such a neat connection to his party and the the picture of him in that outfit was featured front and center! To think he was ever that small...:(

To make it simple (being pregnant with a one year old is not easy) we had Jimmy Johns sandwich platters, sides, and cupcakes. I wanted to have some outdoor activities but it was way too hot. Even a pool in 110 is a little much for all the little ones who attended. Needless to say we had a blast and one day it will be so neat to share all the pictures with Eli. For the sake of everyone involved, I will not post even remotely 1/4 of the photos we took that day. Here are just a few that get the point across :)

 Our big boy!

 Made by mommy:)

 Right before opening gifts!

 Elmo!

 Where has our baby gone??

 Smash cake time!

 Ah! This is so fun!

And now I am so over it.

Shortly after this photo, he went down for a nap. :)