Our Baby Shower

Though I DID write this, it is shamelessly stolen from the blog Angela and I have been keeping about her pregnancy and our daughter's soon-to-be birth. If you're interested in that blog go to: http://truerthantrue.blogspot.com

Yesterday we had our Boise baby shower, hosted by Tiffany and Bjorn, and put on by Jen, Kathy and Tiffany all in conjunction. It was AWESOME! To give the out of towners an idea of how the place looked, I'll walk you through the house as if you were coming yourself (this is my first shower...well, my first one with women. George threw a man-shower for me, but that was more like a bachelor party. Anyway, if this is all standard, forgive me):

As you drove up to the place, there were several large signs with balloons that not only told you where to park, but directed you to the house itself (Thanks Janessa and Carstensen clan for helping out!). As folks walked in, there was a little box to write a note to Eleanor for her 2nd birthday. I thought that was a really fun idea, since we will be able to share with our daughter how loved she was before she was even born! Then you walk into TnB's pad, through the living room set up for lots and lots of folks to sit in, into the kitchen... Or should I say, the food lover's paradise! There was so much food, and it was all SO good, that I think I may have to start crashing baby showers. We took a bunch home, and that may just be the best gift we got (at least, that's what my tummy tells me). Speaking of gifts, I won't go into all of them, but we were awed by the fact that our friends are ALL good at gift giving. Not once did we have to fake smile and murmer about taking things back. Give yourselves a hand! Oh, and one last thing about gifts. Thank you to Tricia for finishing the quilts that Angela's Grandma Betty started, but was unable to finish. That we will be able to have a physical token of her love that we can share with Eleanor means more than I can say. That Betty was so sick, and yet would work on this gift regardless of the pain, and that you would then finish that gift for her means a very great deal to both of us, and especially to Angela. Thank you.

This was a co-ed shower, and nearly all of our local friends and relatives were there to make it a very special day. It isn't often that we get to gather together with folks from so many different areas of our lives. When I look back on our wedding, what made it so overwhelmingly meaningful (beyond binding Angela and I together) was the fact that we were surrounded by so much love and well wishing from people from every circle and corner in our world. This shower was very much like that. With the exception of my family (who live too far away, and so threw us another super cool shower of their own! We really lucked out on having great families), we were surrounded by almost everyone who loves us. It was humbling to have this new chapter in our lives be welcomed in with love by our own personal community. I have to admit that I teared up a little when trying to thank everyone for coming and for all their kindness. Thank you Jen. Thank you Kathy. Thank you Tiffany (and Bjorn too). You three not only put on a very successful event, but you've given us an experience that will forever shine with love and fondess in our hearts. What better way to bring a life into this world can there be?