One thing that helps this GREATLY (more than I can express, quite honestly) is the love and support of family and friends (you all!). Jeromy and I are blessed beyond blessed with a rockstar group of supporters. One thing we've been so thankful for these last few months are all the showers that folks were so generous to throw in Sweet Pea's honor. Having that emotional support has been so valuable for Jeromy and I.
Aside from the support that we so greatly need, there is also a lot of stuff you "need" for a baby (need in parenthesis because some things are legitimate needs...and some things are not needs, but certainly make life easier!) Equipping for a baby is certainly a challenge too! With the showers came LOTS of amazing gifts as well...cute clothes, helpful gear, books, stuffed animals, blankets, and lots more!
We've been lucky to have more showers than we could ever expect, so here's a post to summarize them all! Special thanks to those of you who attended or hosted any of these...your support is AWESOME!
June 12th - Church Shower: The first shower was back on June 12th, and hosted
by Lynette and Pat, two special ladies from church. It was an open house style, held in Lynette's BEAUTIFUL backyard. It was a delightful afternoon... nice desserts, and tasty lemonade...poolside conversations...and wonderful support from our church family! As the pastor's daughter, it is particularly overwhelming to be so well supported by people you feel like you barely know. Because they love my mom, they love me, and they love Sweet Pea! It's so wonderful to know how many people have us supported in love and prayer.Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: conversations with multiple generations of church women, a fun box full of books and story telling props from Joyce (who I've known since I was a little girl...), cupcake set from Harriet (knit cupcake hat, and soft blanket), and lots of cute dresses! (Picture: me and my mom from the shower)
June 18th - Family Shower: On June 18th, my "cousin-in-law" Sarah and aunt Barb threw a family shower for both sides of my family, as well as Jeromy's mom, my sisters-in-law, and nieces. It was GREAT to have both sides of the family together...including my grandma (soon to be great-grandma to Sweet Pea!).
June 18th - Family Shower: On June 18th, my "cousin-in-law" Sarah and aunt Barb threw a family shower for both sides of my family, as well as Jeromy's mom, my sisters-in-law, and nieces. It was GREAT to have both sides of the family together...including my grandma (soon to be great-grandma to Sweet Pea!). The shower was so fun. Sarah used a book theme, encouraging people to each bring a personalized book instead of a card. It was so fun to see what books people brought...lots of good ones! Sarah also put her sewing talents to work, with lots of fun personalized touches. She made gifts for game winners, and everyone got a handmade bookmark as a gift as well! In addition, she made some gifts for Sweet Pea...blocks, a teether toy, and a cute book bag (I can't WAIT to use that for trips to the library!).
Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: the sweet, personalized book from my grandma (she is a soft-spoken Swede, so it was wonderful to see her grandma handwriting delivering such a heartfelt message to her future great-granddaughter), my goddaughter Claudia poking my belly and asking, "Is that your baby in there??!", lots of fun, personalized books, and a game where we had to draw Sweet Pea on paper plates. The tough part? We had the plates were on our heads and we had to draw without looking! I'm so thankful for all the amazing women in my family! (Picture: the whole group, ranging in age from 10 months-89 years!)
June 18th - Faith Group Shower: You're seeing the dates correctly, we had two showers in one day! This one was a surprise to us! We had a Faith Group gathering scheduled, but when we showed up, it was shower in Sweet Pea's honor! Our Faith Group has been such a special group for us for the last four years. We have grown together, and been through a lot. Sweet Pea will be the fourth Faith Group baby!
We enjoyed a delicious dinner with our group (it was fancier than usual because it was an "adults only" dinner, meaning the other little ones of the group were with babysitters). They decorated with fun baby decor, balloons, and fun stuffed flowers. They even got a cake made (see picture). They generously gave us a bouncy seat and a book of prayers. As I said, Jeromy and I are so grateful for this group. They have really been a special part of our life. It's been fun to grow closer as a group, and be with each other in through these big changes in our lives!
June 18th - Faith Group Shower: You're seeing the dates correctly, we had two showers in one day! This one was a surprise to us! We had a Faith Group gathering scheduled, but when we showed up, it was shower in Sweet Pea's honor! Our Faith Group has been such a special group for us for the last four years. We have grown together, and been through a lot. Sweet Pea will be the fourth Faith Group baby!
We enjoyed a delicious dinner with our group (it was fancier than usual because it was an "adults only" dinner, meaning the other little ones of the group were with babysitters). They decorated with fun baby decor, balloons, and fun stuffed flowers. They even got a cake made (see picture). They generously gave us a bouncy seat and a book of prayers. As I said, Jeromy and I are so grateful for this group. They have really been a special part of our life. It's been fun to grow closer as a group, and be with each other in through these big changes in our lives! Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: time for great conversation with wonderful church friends, the fun, personalized cake, the book of prayers, that will be so special to read to Sweet Pea. What a blessing our Faith Group is to us! (Picture: me and Jeromy with our awesome cake!)
June 24th - WOWZA Shower: For those of you who don't know, the WOWZAs are another group of very special people. The WOWZAs (Women of Wild, Zany Adventures) are my dear group of college friends (plus Sarah, because she's awesome like that). There's 7 of us total, and have been with us through thick and thin. As we began to get married, we added the "MANZAs" to the mix, and now we are even expanding to "Lil' MANZAs" and "Lil' WOWZAs." Gavin (friends' Jackie and Tom's little guy) was the first Lil' MANZA, and Sweet Pea will be the first Lil' WOWZA. These friends are my best of best friends. They are each so special to me.It's become a tradition to have a cabin weekend with the WOWZAs/MANZAs up at Sarah's family cabin each summer. The weekend is filled with conversation, pontooning, and lots of fun! This summer we planned the traditional cabin weekend - but with a special event in the mix - a intimate little shower with the
WOWZAs! I requested something low-key - just some time to spend together, no games, but maybe a fun craft project. And man, did these ladies deliver!Friday night of cabin weekend we had a shower. The ladies planned an awesome craft of handmade bibs and burp cloths! So cute! We also had delicious desserts - chocolate fondue with cupcakes and strawberries (do they know me, or what?).
Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: seeing and reconnecting with old friends; long conversations with Brooklyn Park neighbor, Kelly (it's funny because growing up, Kelly was my sister's friend - she was closer to Beth's age than mine...so we hadn't really been close or had a lot in common now, I suppose, until now! She's got two little boys, and we had tons of fun talking about all things parenthood!); favorite gifts include: an adorable windbreaker and overall dress from Marva and some Sweet Pea things from Lynell. What a fun time! (Picture: the whole group, minus my mom, who was taking the picture)
The WOWZA "aunties" also generously showered Sweet Pea with amazing gifts! We had such a good time celebrating together. (We missed you, Rachel!!) What fun it will be to add another little one to the mix.
Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: SO many beautiful handmade gifts: the burp cloths and bibs we made, a wonderful quilt from "Auntie" Kirstyn, a "hooter hider" from "Auntie" Bethany, and a painting that says "Sweet Pea" from "Auntie" Jackie; we had fun time doing crafts together (I get rather proud when I can be "crafty," and I definitely have good role models in this group!) So blessed to have these women in my life! Sweet Pea is blessed with lots of "aunties" to love her. (Pictures: the WOWZA ladies, and our Lil' MANZA enjoying a pontoon ride; Bethany and I hard at work on the bibs and burp cloths)
July 9th - "Last Supper/New Years Group" Shower: July 9th brought another shower for both Jeromy and I. The "Last Supper/New Years Group" is a group of life-long family friends who have known me since I was a baby. They are some of my parents best friends, and together we have really long, fun traditions with one another.
July 9th - "Last Supper/New Years Group" Shower: July 9th brought another shower for both Jeromy and I. The "Last Supper/New Years Group" is a group of life-long family friends who have known me since I was a baby. They are some of my parents best friends, and together we have really long, fun traditions with one another.
Mark and Linda hosted the shower, and pretty much the whole group was there! It's extra fun, because Darcy and Jared are expecting their second baby just a few weeks after Sweet Pea is due! Yay babies! :-)
We enjoyed a delicious feast of brats and sausage, and all the typical BBQ sides. We even enjoyed finger Jell-O, a staple for our gatherings when me and the other "kids" were younger. Yum! The evening was wonderful...low-key, catching up with old friends, celebrating all that we've been through together.
Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: catching up with old friends, enjoying our enduring traditions, sharing the excitement of pregnancy with Darcy and Jared, the group got us a high chair and a Boppy pillow. A very special gift also came from Linda...the completed quilt for Sweet Pea's nursery! I got to choose the pattern and fabric, so it was EXTRA fun to see it in its completion. This will be a treasured possession for MANY years to come, and really made the nursery feel complete!
July 23rd - "Brooklyn Park" Shower: Last, but certainly not least is the shower from this past weekend. This was another shower filled with friends I've known my whole life! How blessed I am (and Sweet Pea will be) to have these dear friends in my life!
July 23rd - "Brooklyn Park" Shower: Last, but certainly not least is the shower from this past weekend. This was another shower filled with friends I've known my whole life! How blessed I am (and Sweet Pea will be) to have these dear friends in my life!
Our super neighbor when we lived in Brooklyn Park, Holly, and my "Mom #2," Marva co-hosted this lovely lunch time shower. I was delighted to be surrounded by friends I hadn't seen in a long time, but knew me and my family so well. We did a great job picking up where we had left off!
We played a few games, enjoyed a delicious lunch, but most of all, just relished in each other's company and conversation.
Some favorite memories and gifts from this shower include: seeing and reconnecting with old friends; long conversations with Brooklyn Park neighbor, Kelly (it's funny because growing up, Kelly was my sister's friend - she was closer to Beth's age than mine...so we hadn't really been close or had a lot in common now, I suppose, until now! She's got two little boys, and we had tons of fun talking about all things parenthood!); favorite gifts include: an adorable windbreaker and overall dress from Marva and some Sweet Pea things from Lynell. What a fun time! (Picture: the whole group, minus my mom, who was taking the picture)
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