Baby Evan's Shower

After my shower on Saturday, I got the car all loaded up with the gifts and went back for a mid-afternoon lunch with Liz and Louis. It was just the three of us at an outdoor cafe in the heights and they (of course) paid for my lunch. She was always doing that when we went somewhere, so I had to battle for the check most of the time. We talked about the childbirth classes they would be going to the next week.

We went back to their house and hung out on the couch all afternoon and evening. Jess came back over and us girls watched bad TV and we all ate pizza and drank mini Dr. Peppers. I gave Jess and Liz the hostess gifts I'd ordered for them, and I remember Liz seemed a little emotional about the necklace I gave her with an 'E' charm and our favorite color stone. I told her the 'E' could be for her or Evan.

The next morning I was up bright and early- before anyone else in the house, dressed and at Sandhya's house to help cook a ton of french toast and set up for the party. She and Ivy did an amazing job putting together the shower for Liz, and I'm so glad I was able to help out a little bit.

This shower was fun because there was a more specific theme: Boy!

The prize goody bags had neckties on them.

One of the games was who can chug a bottle of champagne the fastest. I wish I could have played! It was a lot of champagne too- like 2+ glasses in each bottle!

The amazing brunch spread. Ivy does sweet tables for weddings so she really knows how to put together a great looking display.

Tons 'o' gifts!

Another activity was making scrapbook pages for Evan that went straight into a book for Liz to take home at the end of the party.

Then there was the game where the guests answered different questions about Liz's pregnancy, and she guessed who said which answer.

One answer in particular she knew instantly was me!

Then the most fun group game: make a diaper out of toilet paper and the most fashionable and useful wins the prize.

Then of course it was gift time. I wanted to share this particular picture so you can see the cute decorations on the mantle. There are flowers, a few maternity pictures, and a banner.

I made these little baby dolls as part of my 'bathtime' themed gift. They are depends with socks for the hats, and washcloths for the diapers. They were too funny to make.

The part I remember most about this day was at one point, Liz was sitting in these chairs all alone, just eating her food. I felt like I hadn't talked with her in a long time (even though I stayed at her house!), so I went and sat with her. We talked like we would if it was just the two of us on the phone. She told me about some book that Louis' friend had given him about how to deal with a pregnant wife and how she thought it was ridiculous. It was the last 'secret' she shared.

And these pictures were even more proof. We were just drawn to each other. 

When Jess and I needed to hit the road to get back home, I remember Liz walked part of the way out the door and we got a hug with our bellies in the way and I said "Next time I see you, we won't have these in the way anymore!" I really couldn't wait until we had our babies so we could get back to 'normal' and have conversations about what it was really like to be a mother. Neither of us had any idea it would be the last time we saw each other.