A St. Valentine’s Day Surprise

by | Feb 15, 2019 | Baby News, Cake Decorating, Gender Reveal, Precious Moments: 09, Pregnancy | 20 comments

I made a special cake this year for St. Valentine’s day! 
Didn’t it turn out cute?!

I actually received the good news that everything came back normal and healthy on my QNatal pregnancy blood test on February 8th, just after we accepted one of two offers that came through that same day on our home in Oregon after putting it back on the market a few days before. It was a very good day! 

I didn’t think I had a preference on whether our new baby would be a girl or a boy… I have just been praying that baby was healthy and that I’ll be able to carry the baby to term, preferably without as severe of nausea and other complications as I’ve had in the past… but I couldn’t stop grinning when the nurse told me that we’re having another girl. It will be so nice for our littlest to have a sister just two years younger, especially since there is such a big gap between her and the rest of our children.  

I wanted to come up with another fun way to tell our children so we kept it a secret until St. Valentine’s Day. Last time we filled a box with balloons for them to open on Christmas Eve. This time I decided to just bake a cake using the same idea as I used for one of our Escape the Dragon’s Lair birthday, just pink and white this time!

The night before I had stopped at Hobby Lobby and Party City (it’s so fun to have these stores near our new home – I had never been to them before our recent move) and bought the little pink or blue cake topper, sprinkles and some pink candy.

I used two boxes of white cake mix and baked three 9″ layers of cake, using the last of the batter to make 8 cupcakes, 4 pink and 4 blue. I cut a circle out of the center of two of the layers using a circle biscuit cutter. After stacking the first two layers, I filled the center with the pink candies and then topped it with the final layer of cake. 

I finished frosting the outside of the cake, adding sprinkles to the sides (There is probably an easier way to do it, but I just filled the palm of my hand and then angled my hand so that my palm was almost touching the cake and they started falling onto the side… and every where else… It didn’t turn out as nice as I had visioned, but thankfully some of them stuck!) and then topping the cake with the little sign.

It was pretty much the quickest party I’ve ever hosted!

I planned it at the last minute, trying to figure out a time when everyone could be home at the same time… Sean said he’d be able to get off work early and be home by 3pm. The girls needed to leave by 3:45 for Irish Dance and then they’d go straight to Choir Practice so they wouldn’t get back home until 8:30 (which is pretty much my bedtime this pregnancy)… I sent my husband’s brother, Father D. Gordon, a text asking if he could join us too. He had a meeting from 2-3, but could come right after that. I told him we’d wait, if he thought he could arrive by 3:30! He arrived at our home at 3:32 and we asked him to cut the cake for us! 🙂

We had a few other last minute guests too, since our friends who were giving the girls a ride arrived right at 3:30! I ran out and asked if they could come in for 10-15 minutes for a quick for a piece of cake! 😉

It all worked out perfectly and our 15 minute party was so much fun!

Here are a couple videos of the cake cutting. In the first (taken by my husband) you can see the cake and in the second you get a better view of some of the reactions.

The girls now out number the boys for the first time ever in our home!

20 Comments

  1. Gemma

    Wonderful 🙂 so pleased to have a new blog post to read. What a fun party!

    2019-02-18 20:56:43

    Reply
  2. Tracy Bua Smith

    So happy for your family! Your cake was super cute! I love when last minute parties and ideas come together! Congratulations again!

    2019-02-18 21:17:59

    Reply
  3. Mary

    Congratulations!! I have 9 children too. My youngest 2 are 23 months apart, but they are boy and girl. The boys out number the girls in our house. 6 boys and 3 girls. The girls are 1st, 5th and 9th in order and the boys are sandwiched in between. Mine are almost 26 down to 61/2. I miss having babies around. Our biggest gap is between 6 and 7 a month short of 4 years. So exciting for your kids. Glad you are feeling good.

    2019-02-18 21:31:00

    Reply
  4. Karen

    Congratulations! I was hoping your little one would be a girl. The cake is really cute, too.

    2019-02-18 22:14:35

    Reply
  5. eileen

    So HAPPY for all of you!!! Girl power!!! Love it:):)You and babes will be in my prayers. Congrats sweet Jessica.

    2019-02-18 23:31:10

    Reply
  6. Rosalie

    Congratulations and many many Blessings! 🎈🎉🎀

    2019-02-18 23:37:03

    Reply
  7. Bernadette

    so exciting and so much fun! What a great looking kitchen. God Bless and congratulations, all those cute pink bows and pretty dresses for the new baby will be so much fun. Congratulations and praying for you at this time.

    2019-02-18 23:44:31

    Reply
  8. Billie Jo Stoltz

    Congratulations So happy for you all!!

    2019-02-19 01:40:31

    Reply
  9. Sonja C.

    "Have I ever told you about…….?" 💗💗💗😆😂 So happy for you all!!!! Many prayers, Rosaries, and sacrifices offered up for a healthy pregnancy and delivery for both mom and daughter. (I can't wait to hear what her precious name will be.) 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

    2019-02-19 05:20:44

    Reply
  10. Penelope

    Such happy news 🙂 and what a fun way to tell the kids. I hope your nausea is easing up!

    2019-02-19 11:12:46

    Reply
  11. Karyn

    Congratulations! We're due with baby number nine in June. I asked them to give the gender results to my husband and he brought home a cream pie with a colored M&M in it but it took forever to find it and I ended up mushing the pie up pretty badly trying to find the M&M, lol. Ours is a tie breaker as well but is Team Blue 🙂

    2019-02-19 12:39:23

    Reply
  12. Mary Pinheiro

    YAY!!! How exciting!!! What a beautiful cake, too =)

    2019-02-19 18:24:35

    Reply
  13. Marilyn

    Congratulations. Glad that your pregnancy is going well. God Bless you and yours. Marilyn

    2019-02-19 22:54:00

    Reply
  14. Joan

    How nice a little girl to best buddies with Grace. Blessings to you and your family. Joan

    2019-02-19 22:55:18

    Reply
  15. Marion

    Congratulations. The cake turned out great and looks delicious. Vanilla is my favorite. Will keep you in my prayers. God Bless. Marion

    2019-02-19 22:56:52

    Reply
  16. Guest

    A prayer of thanksgiving for her was placed at Our Lady’s Altar in Knock Parish Church in Ireland and will be prayed for during Mass!! Deo gratias! I had a dream a few nights ago and there was a bracelet laying on a table and written on the golden name plate was the name Gabriella Rose (so sweet) and then I saw Sean next to the bracelet. I thought I would pass that along in case it feels from Him! God be praised for your “little angel”

    2019-02-20 17:31:42

    Reply
  17. Joy

    Praying for your healthy pregnancy and safe delivery of this new little lady to your family. God Bless y'all.

    2019-02-20 17:39:54

    Reply
  18. Grace

    I read this tonight and thought of you. "I see the Lord is giving you the light and the courage to consider the sacred work of motherhood from the correct point of view. Your sufferings are the surest pledge of the divine blessing on the child which you near, and a plentiful source of merit and sanctification for you." Suffering with Christ by Dom Marmion

    2019-02-21 03:37:41

    Reply
  19. Debbie

    So nice to see your posts on your blog again. HAPPY CONGRATULATIONS on your WONDERFUL BABY NEWS! And a baby girl will be joining your lovely family this summer! Such a Beautiful Blessing for all of you. And a new playmate for little Grace. Such a special event to capture in photos. Darling cake. I enjoyed your photos. I pray that you are feeling well. Praying for precious baby and her Mommy and a healthy pregnancy. Your family is such an inspiration!

    2019-02-24 21:56:11

    Reply
  20. Kristina

    Congratulations! Prayers for a healthy pregnancy and little one! I loved all your childrens’ reactions!

    2019-03-04 19:38:18

    Reply

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


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