It started a few months before when several of our friends suggested that Liz and I have a joint baby shower since our due dates were so close together. We announced our pregnancies to our friends together, so why wouldn't we want to have a shower together? And besides, at least half of the guest lists would overlap.
I don't think she would have objected to it, but my opinion was that since she knew she was having a boy, and I didn't know what I was having that would make it hard to come up with a theme that did both of us justice. Plus I had been married for awhile and hadn't had any parties thrown for me in awhile and in the interim it seemed like parties went crazy- details and special touches really became important. I think she agreed with me on that point, so she wanted to be the one to throw me a baby shower since she was helping with my bridal shower from afar while she lived in Boston and couldn't attend. I think she saw it as her way to show her stuff after I had done her bridal shower and bachelorette party. We decided we would plan our showers on the same weekend so that the out of town guests that we shared could come to both.
It was incredible the thought and details they put into it. Books and Brunch- my favorite things and they really worked hard on it. I also loved spending the drive down and back home with Jess at the wheel and my swollen cankles propped up on the dash! The cankles were so serious, my socks would leave an indention. Its sad now that the nurses in the room were worried about my swelling when I knew it was because I had worked my full 48 hours that week and jumped in the car right after so I didn't have time to rest with my feet up. And all along, Liz was just as, if not more swollen but nobody knew because she hid it underneath jeans and tennis shoes.
We arrived on Friday night pretty late and when I saw Liz she really kinda freaked me out. She was really puffy and seemed out of it. I figured she was just pregnant and tired like me. (She was that too!) I dropped Jess off and stayed with my mom who gave me specific symptoms I should call the midwife about. She said when she saw me she was worried I might be pre-eeclamptic since I was so swollen. The major one was a headache, luckily I didn't have any symptoms other than tree trunk legs.
The next day was the wonderful shower! Part of the reason I haven't written about it is I hadn't seen the pictures Liz took that day with her new fancy camera. She documented everything and was going to send me the pictures the next week. I have those pictures now and they are mixed in with ones Connie took.
Liz and Jess were up late and then early in the morning getting ready for the party.
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When you got to the top of the stairs at the living room level, they had this table set up with a place to put the library books for Buck.
On the entertainment center they hung white onesies with custom-made stickers to use for the baby's monthly growth progression photos. We use these every month!
The living room was set up with some extra chairs. Bud was really concerned about the number of guests and having enough seats for everyone.
On the dining room table was the delicious brunch spread!
The bar had various coffees, teas, and flavored water.
The breakfast nook had a mimosa bar set up! There were both regular and non-alcoholic options since this party had 4- yes 4!- pregnant ladies attending.
*Side note: I'm obsessed with the bench from World Market and the hutch from an antique store near their house that Liz put here. The style is perfect, and I love that Louis let her get a pink hutch, and sometimes when I miss her and think about her house, I picture this area.
Connie made a special punch that looks like a bassinet.
One of my favorite details is the thought that went into each of the different foods and the cards and books that went with them. I have all of these books too with personalized messages from Liz and Jess!
Green Eggs and Ham: Quiche
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Pancakes, Pancakes!: Mini Stacks of Pancakes
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If You Give a Moose a Muffin: Blueberry Streusal Muffins
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: GoldiLOX mini sandwiches
I was particularly excited about this one because I was really missing sushi. Bean wasn't exactly comfortable with me eating things like this so I'd held off. Bud and I finished off quite a few more of these sandwiches later that night!
More detail/artsy photos of the table...
And this one gave me a wave of love.
Love You Forever: Aunt Donna's Monkey Brains
Donna's favorite book and breakfast right there for me and Buck. Liz said the goal of the shower was to get me to cry, and this was a big step toward that!
All of the details were amazing. I don't know how many more times I can say that! The one maternity picture I shared with only Liz got framed, and they framed the invite. I have both of them here at the house to display in the nursery.
Homemade cupcakes and cute tags.
One of the two game we played was to Guess Baby Bell's Due Date and Gender. I guess technically it would be arrival date, but whatever. Lauren won the game! She got the date and the gender correct!
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The moms wanted to take a look at my belly before they made their guesses.
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We look huge.
Connie did a good job of getting photos of the guests.
Good guessing Lauren! It must have been baby Verity in your belly giving you the hints.
The moms of the wonderful shower hostesses.
I'm not including all of the gift opening because that's just boring, but I wanted to put in a few.
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This was the funniest thing I've seen. A gerbil feeder for babies! It was just an empty box but it had all kinds of important tips on how to leave your baby while you go out for a date night.
Connie's friend from Canada sent Liz and I a joint gift.
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And then the girls really made sure their goal for the party came true with this book.
Liz contacted Bean and asked him what his favorite childhood book was. She ordered it and had it sent to him, he made sure I didn't open the mail, wrote a message to Buck, and told Jess where it was hidden in the car before our drive down to Houston. They gave it to me last of all the gifts.
I couldn't finish reading it out loud so Ms. Mary took over.
Then I said Hi to baby Dylan.
My best girls on the couch
The moms of my best girls- all of them, even Donna and Brittney who couldn't be there.
This was one of the nicest afternoons. I'm not sure I can describe how it feels to be utterly and completely loved. I felt like I was getting a huge hug all day. Liz gave the best hugs. And then at the end of the pictures from her camera, there was this.
The proof.
The proof that we love each other, and that we have a connection like no other. The proof that I really was a best friend- just like I've always wanted to be.
If she were still alive, the comments about this picture would be just something about us doing our usual thing, sitting on the couch, using the same footrest, and letting everyone else clean up.
I don't think she would have objected to it, but my opinion was that since she knew she was having a boy, and I didn't know what I was having that would make it hard to come up with a theme that did both of us justice. Plus I had been married for awhile and hadn't had any parties thrown for me in awhile and in the interim it seemed like parties went crazy- details and special touches really became important. I think she agreed with me on that point, so she wanted to be the one to throw me a baby shower since she was helping with my bridal shower from afar while she lived in Boston and couldn't attend. I think she saw it as her way to show her stuff after I had done her bridal shower and bachelorette party. We decided we would plan our showers on the same weekend so that the out of town guests that we shared could come to both.
It was incredible the thought and details they put into it. Books and Brunch- my favorite things and they really worked hard on it. I also loved spending the drive down and back home with Jess at the wheel and my swollen cankles propped up on the dash! The cankles were so serious, my socks would leave an indention. Its sad now that the nurses in the room were worried about my swelling when I knew it was because I had worked my full 48 hours that week and jumped in the car right after so I didn't have time to rest with my feet up. And all along, Liz was just as, if not more swollen but nobody knew because she hid it underneath jeans and tennis shoes.
We arrived on Friday night pretty late and when I saw Liz she really kinda freaked me out. She was really puffy and seemed out of it. I figured she was just pregnant and tired like me. (She was that too!) I dropped Jess off and stayed with my mom who gave me specific symptoms I should call the midwife about. She said when she saw me she was worried I might be pre-eeclamptic since I was so swollen. The major one was a headache, luckily I didn't have any symptoms other than tree trunk legs.
The next day was the wonderful shower! Part of the reason I haven't written about it is I hadn't seen the pictures Liz took that day with her new fancy camera. She documented everything and was going to send me the pictures the next week. I have those pictures now and they are mixed in with ones Connie took.
Liz and Jess were up late and then early in the morning getting ready for the party.
When you got to the top of the stairs at the living room level, they had this table set up with a place to put the library books for Buck.
On the entertainment center they hung white onesies with custom-made stickers to use for the baby's monthly growth progression photos. We use these every month!
The living room was set up with some extra chairs. Bud was really concerned about the number of guests and having enough seats for everyone.
On the dining room table was the delicious brunch spread!
The bar had various coffees, teas, and flavored water.
The breakfast nook had a mimosa bar set up! There were both regular and non-alcoholic options since this party had 4- yes 4!- pregnant ladies attending.
*Side note: I'm obsessed with the bench from World Market and the hutch from an antique store near their house that Liz put here. The style is perfect, and I love that Louis let her get a pink hutch, and sometimes when I miss her and think about her house, I picture this area.
Connie made a special punch that looks like a bassinet.
One of my favorite details is the thought that went into each of the different foods and the cards and books that went with them. I have all of these books too with personalized messages from Liz and Jess!
Green Eggs and Ham: Quiche
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Pancakes, Pancakes!: Mini Stacks of Pancakes
If You Give a Moose a Muffin: Blueberry Streusal Muffins
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: GoldiLOX mini sandwiches
I was particularly excited about this one because I was really missing sushi. Bean wasn't exactly comfortable with me eating things like this so I'd held off. Bud and I finished off quite a few more of these sandwiches later that night!
More detail/artsy photos of the table...
And this one gave me a wave of love.
Love You Forever: Aunt Donna's Monkey Brains
Donna's favorite book and breakfast right there for me and Buck. Liz said the goal of the shower was to get me to cry, and this was a big step toward that!
All of the details were amazing. I don't know how many more times I can say that! The one maternity picture I shared with only Liz got framed, and they framed the invite. I have both of them here at the house to display in the nursery.
Homemade cupcakes and cute tags.
One of the two game we played was to Guess Baby Bell's Due Date and Gender. I guess technically it would be arrival date, but whatever. Lauren won the game! She got the date and the gender correct!
The moms wanted to take a look at my belly before they made their guesses.
Connie did a good job of getting photos of the guests.
Good guessing Lauren! It must have been baby Verity in your belly giving you the hints.
The moms of the wonderful shower hostesses.
I'm not including all of the gift opening because that's just boring, but I wanted to put in a few.
This was the funniest thing I've seen. A gerbil feeder for babies! It was just an empty box but it had all kinds of important tips on how to leave your baby while you go out for a date night.
Connie's friend from Canada sent Liz and I a joint gift.
And then the girls really made sure their goal for the party came true with this book.
Liz contacted Bean and asked him what his favorite childhood book was. She ordered it and had it sent to him, he made sure I didn't open the mail, wrote a message to Buck, and told Jess where it was hidden in the car before our drive down to Houston. They gave it to me last of all the gifts.
I couldn't finish reading it out loud so Ms. Mary took over.
Then I said Hi to baby Dylan.
My best girls on the couch
The moms of my best girls- all of them, even Donna and Brittney who couldn't be there.
This was one of the nicest afternoons. I'm not sure I can describe how it feels to be utterly and completely loved. I felt like I was getting a huge hug all day. Liz gave the best hugs. And then at the end of the pictures from her camera, there was this.
The proof.
The proof that we love each other, and that we have a connection like no other. The proof that I really was a best friend- just like I've always wanted to be.
If she were still alive, the comments about this picture would be just something about us doing our usual thing, sitting on the couch, using the same footrest, and letting everyone else clean up.
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