It's Shower Time, Baby Shower Time!

A weekend ago I had the best time! What was I doing? Well, if you can read (and I am assuming you can, since you are reading this now...aren't you?) then you already know the answer from the title of this post. It was my baby shower! My wonderful friend Brynne (aka Brynne-a-lynn) hosted it and she did a fantabulous job. What qualifies as fantabulous? I will tell you! Just calm down! Don't rush me, I'm pregnant! (I love playing the pregnancy card.)

1. The Decorations. They were so great! Everything was so gosh darn cute. I loved

the baby shower sign and streamers. And the very creative baby gate across the front door. Very multi-purpose. Cute baby-themed decoration and interesting obstacle for those guests who decided to wear skirts. Hee hee!

2. The Friends. I was very happy to see everyone there! It has been such a blessing to have so many people support us as we take that next leap into grown-up land. I admit that I thought there would be people who questioned our decision to start our family now. While there has been a few, the vast majority have overwhelming smashed, smooshed, and obliterated those fears. Everyone is just so darn excited, it's hard for me not to be (which I am anyway!)

3. The Food. How can I be me, especially a pregnant me, and not think about food!?! It was yummy, but more importantly also baby-themed. And no, we did not eat baby food. Thank goodness! (although I admit I am curious about what it tastes like. Keith says all in good time!) Some of my favorite foods were there: spinach dip, hummus, pita chips. Some of my cravings: fresh fruit! Baby-themed: mini vanilla wafers, teddy grahams. The piece de resistance*? A fantastic cupcake cake decorated with Runts candy. Get it? RUNTS! How I do love that not only was it super cute and yummy, but so damn creative!

4. The Games. I am usually not a big game person. Especially forced social games. But these were so super fun! My favorite games? "Chocolate Poop Diapers" and "Guess Liz's Circumference". Wanna know how to play? Of course you do, because all the cool kids are doing it!

"Chocolate Poop Diapers" is when you have to figure out (or guess if you are like me) what chocolate candy is melted into the diaper**. These diapers looked disgustingly real...at least they did to all of us who don't have babies. But they smelled so yummy...something I don't expect to say about read diapers. I did horribly at this game, which is sad since I do love candy. But it was so fun to see people's reactions and it made for some great photos!

"Guess Liz's Circumference" was a great one too. Everyone got to cut a piece of ribbon to the circumference they thought I was. This may be one of the few times that I am okay with other people sizing up my belly area. I admit I was apprehensive at first, as growing in size is not normally such a positive thing. But
it was definitely lots of fun, especially seeing how close (and how off) people were. Most people were pretty darn close, although there were a few that probably estimated me at the end of pregnancy (or with triplets...giant triplets).

5. The Embarrassing Moments. Yup, I am saying it. Even when I was embarrassed it was fun. That's what helped made this shower so memorable. Besides the circumference thing, it was little things. Like the necklace I had to wear. Seriously, the Desitin packet scratched the heck outta my neck. Which is ironic. (Or coincidental. Whatever. Ever since that Alanis Morresette song I really don't know the definition of that word!).

Being the center of attention was also just generally embarrassing. While I don't mind cracking a joke and having people laugh, an entire shower where people are looking at me is kinda weird. But having your friends laugh with (and at) me was wonderful.

And the "make Liz be blindfolded and palpate stuff" was embarrassing too. Nothing like trusting your friends when you are blindfolded and getting stuff placed into your hands to feel up. I did surprisingly well, although some of it was super hard to figure out. But again, lots of fun!

6. The Gifts. I would be lying if I said these didn't matter. Or I totally turned into another person. But I haven't and I'm not lying either. The thoughtfulness and usefulness of these gifts are going to be so helpful in the new adventures of baby. I am so bad at opening presents in front of people, since I feel conflicted on being obligatory-awed and obligatory-humble at the same time. How did I feel on the inside? WHOO HOO! Our baby is so lucky to get such neat things, and we are so lucky that we can spend some of our saved baby funds toward other things.

The thoughtfulness really was heartfelt, and that will always mean so much more than the material stuff. So in the end, why was this baby shower so fantabulous? It was all the friendship and love that I felt for myself, Keith, and our little poppy seed. We are so lucky for so many reasons, and this was just a beautiful reminder of that.

*That's right. It's French. I think. Who knows, but it adds some class, dontcha think?

**Be careful when making these. We were able to see the first experimental diaper. Let's just say there was no actual flames in the microwave, but the diaper did look burnt. Hee hee!