Warning: Huge onslaught of baby-related pictures to follow. If you don’t want to see somewhere around a zillion baby shower pictures, click out of this window now. Thank you for your cooperation.
AND, moving right along.
Saturday was the day of a beautiful celebration of the quickly approaching arrival of our new baby boy, Merritt Will, given by my cousin Tiffany and my mom, with help from lots of other people–my cousin Laura, my Aunt Sheri and my sissy Bethany. It was held at the greatest, fancy schmancy restaurant in a private little room… perfect for our party of family and a couple like-family friends.
The difficult part of the day was the fact that my Mama wasn’t able to be there–after all her hard work and planning. She is still in Alabama, caring for my Gram, and while we’re thankful that she is able to be there, it was pretty hard on everybody to be together for something like this and not have her there. For me, she’s often the life and light of our family get-togethers, and though we still had oodles of fun on Saturday and the shower was amazing… we just missed her terribly.
Thus, the 500+ pictures and two hours worth of video tape we have waiting for her return.
Ahem.
So. Brace yourself for, um, a few pictures…
Lions for the bebe, bought by his Grammie while she’s been in Alabama and overnighted along with other shower supplies to be here for this day… even though she herself wasn’t here. And recognize that picture used as a decoration? Thought so.
Handmade cards to along with the gifts~~~favors–tiny boxes filled with candy hugs and kisses and topped with tags made by my mama. (Part of the overnighted supplies!)
Family~~~Tiffany and Laura~~~Aunt Sheri and our newest little addition to the family, Isaiah
Misty and baby Elisa~~~my Aunt Kathe and cousins Sara and Emalee (here with Misty–who still lives down here–and Elisa) surprised me by driving from Northern California to be here for the shower. And surprised I was!!
Sweet Olivia Joie and Mrs. T~~~Emilie and Emalee
Precious Isaiah…
A picture cannot even hope to do this cake justice. I have honestly never in my life seen such a perfect cake for any occasion. It matched the hand-made invitations exactly and looked like it should have been in a Southern Living Baby Shower edition magazine. It was completely… perfect.
The cake tasted just as awesome as it looked… not that I would know, of course.
Games, games… “Who has the heaviest purse?”… “Baby Word Scramble”…”How Much Do You Know About Ashleigh Trivia”… “Baby Items–A to Z”… finished off with prizes such as Longaberger teacups filled with tea bags, Yankee Candles, and Bath and Body Works body splash~~~Tiffany loving Misty’s sweet little Elisa
Having lots of fun~~~Olivia capturing all of it on tape
The basketball bump
Giftie time!
Quilt from Aunt Kathe~~~crocheted sweater from my sissy, Auntie Bethy
Tiffany, ever thinking of the “little things” that mean so much, had a basket for the mama… filled with–what else??–Sweet Pea lotions, body wash, body butter, bath pillow… ahhhhh.
We had a little too much fun with the present opening~~Who knew that Johnson’s would have baby cucumber melon products?? The new little man now has his very own set of yummy smelling bath products…. and a bib that I think is just perfect.
Aaaaand… I kinda freaked out when I saw these. Three bumGenius cloth diapers. Mmhmm. You all knew I was crazy about cloth diapers, weird as I may be, but I kinda went a little more crazy…. because I really didn’t expect my cousin to go to my favorite cloth diapering site and order some of these diapers I’ve been wanting. But she did. And I shouldn’t have been so surprised… she pays more attention to those kinds of details than anyone I know.
And, I also went a leetle bit nuts when I saw what looked like a box of plumbing supplies…. very specific plumbing supplies. A diaper sprayer. For those of you who use cloth and even those who don’t… just try to imagine how wonderful a diaper sprayer that attaches to the side of your toilet would be. My thoughts exactly… for the past 18 months.
Made by my cousin Laura–the same one who made the invitations and the centerpieces (don’t have a pic of those yet)… saying in a card what they all had shown throughout the day.
And all these pictures? Along with the other 400+ taken over those three and a half hours…. all courtesy of my beloved sissy. We managed to get one picture with her in it, just so we knew she was around, you know. I wuvs her.
And the things not shown in pictures here:
(Not because we don’t have them, but, you know, I thought these, uh, few would be enough for now…)
The group gift–an Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper bassinet (woohoo!)~~the centerpieces that matched the invitations (also not shown) and the cake, with scripture on one side and a quote about little boys on the other~~the food, which was indeed picture worthy in and of itself~~the personalized menus with “Shower of Best Wishes for Merritt” printed on them by the restaurant~~the rest of the gifts~~Troy’s big brother gift, which I “helped” him open at the shower, though he wasn’t there, and then he opened again when I took it home~~my one-shoe-on look and the ace bandage on the my left foot due to a trip down the stairs, which thankfully resulted in a sprained and swollen foot and a hobbling gait instead of a bruised-or-worse tummy~~the picture of me shoving a bite of cake into my mouth, or the one of Aunt Sheri doing the same with a piece of the cheese bread, ahem.
And if there were words to express an adequate thank you to my mom and Tiffany and everyone else who made the day unforgettable, they’d go here. But there aren’t. So it’s no use trying. All I can say is that I am incredibly blessed by such wonderful friends and family… and they make me cry just by thinking of them.
BooMama says:
That cake? PERFECTION.
And you look beautiful. I’m trying not to be bitter about the fact that you still have your rings on and aren’t swollen within an inch of your life. :-)
[Reply]
October 1st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Tiffany says:
I definatly agree that it wasnt the same without your mom I had to bit my lip a few times to hold tears back. Im so glad that you had a great day! I had so much fun doing it all for you and would do it again in a heart beat. I love you so much and Im so happy you got all the goodies you wanted!!! Thats what Im hear for!!!
Love you,
Tiffy
[Reply]
October 1st, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Julie Fink says:
Glad you enjoyed such a happy time shower!
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October 1st, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Tammy L says:
Oh, I’m glad you had such a fun shower! :) And yay for such nice useful gifts. :) I’m sure you’re looking forward to your mom coming back from AL… :)
Thanks for sharing pictures with us, and I think you look beautiful! :)
[Reply]
October 1st, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Susan says:
Absolutely beautiful! Loved the cake and the handmade cards and tags. I’m glad you had such a great time, but sorry your mom couldn’t be there.
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October 1st, 2007 at 8:16 pm
JakesMom says:
What a beautiful shower!!! I’m dying to hear how the diaper sprayer is… I’ve been wanting to get one but haven’t known anybody who has one. You’re right, that cake looks amazing, love the polka dots and bow! Thanks for sharing the pix!
[Reply]
October 1st, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Beth says:
I’m using cloth diapers for the first time with my third (due any day now). I got some of those bumGenius onesize-fits-all diapers and one of those diaper sprayers too (although I bought them myself). I can tell you that I was just as excited about getting them in the mail as you were about getting them at your shower! Preggo Mamas get excited about the strangest things.
BTW, I LOVE the name Merritt!
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October 1st, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Sileena says:
Looks like loads of fun! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to see the new little guy, I can’t imagine that you’ll hold back? :-)
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October 1st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Robin says:
What a beautiful expression of love. I’m sure your mama had a difficult time not being there. Everything DID look like a Southern Living spread!
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 am
Leah says:
Aw, all the photos from the baby shower for baby Merritt are so lovely. :)
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October 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 am
Anonymous says:
What a beautiful, perfect day! I really wish I could have been there. :( :( :( But I love you tons and am soooo glad you got such fun baby stuff!!!
~Nicole
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October 2nd, 2007 at 10:28 am
Katie says:
You look lovely! And what a beautiful shower! (I don’t even have a baby to cloth-diaper yet, and I’m STILL jealous of the cute bumGenius diapers you got!)
There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by that kind of love and support. So glad you had a lovely day!
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October 2nd, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Heather says:
Precious pictures! AND YOU LOOK GREAT!!! By the way, I love his sweet name…I’ll keep you & Baby Merritt in my prayers!!!
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October 2nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Happymama says:
Looks like you had a wonderful time. I am so sorry your mom missed your good time. I know she was crushed not being able to be there with you.
~Kristi
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October 2nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Heather says:
I LOVED the pics as usual, you beautiful thing you. Wow, your precious Mom and Tiffany *really* did this thing to perfection -I tell ya! Beautiful! I don’t know where these ladies get all their creativity! Thank you for sharing this with us!! Love you!!~heather
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October 2nd, 2007 at 7:14 pm
brittleigh says:
well dear, what can I say? My connection just plain gave up on you :). I loved the pictures… That top of yours is so adorable!!! I hope I look like you when (if) I get pregnant :)
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October 2nd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Rebekah says:
Miss Ashleigh —
Looks like your shower was a lot of fun! Wish we could’ve been there to help celebrate. We can’t wait to see pics of Baby Merritt!
– Rebekah
[Reply]
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:27 am
Pam says:
Awesome shower and you are just a doll! My niece recently gave birth to her second baby. I always loved it when she would post or email photos of her belly!
May God bless these final days before your little guy says hello!
[Reply]
October 10th, 2007 at 10:33 pm