Crowd Shots

I wasn't successful in getting pictures with everyone, but I did get a lot.  Samantha and Emily, our neighbors, had to leave a bit early, and so did Elizabeth.  But here are the lucky ones that got a shot with me.  Jk.

Jen and Me

 Chrissie preferred us to not stand directly in front of the balloons.

 Paisley, Parker and Rhenda

 Meagan and I.  For some reason, she and my mother-in-law didn't get their invitation in time, but Meagan found out that morning and came anyway.

 Nichole, Gracin and I.  In my hand is the cup full of rocks and dirt that Jaggar worked so hard to fill.  There were multiple ones that he filled.

 And the following 10,000 pictures are my hostesses.  I asked Rhenda to take this first one.  She didn't even know if it was on because it was our Nikon and not a point and shoot.  So I took a look and then called Sean in.

 Sean is like Travis in that when he takes pictures, he will take about 20.  Because "the odds are that you'll have at least one or two in there that you like."  Not with this group though.  Just for the record, I was not the complainer.  I kind of have this gift of taking great pictures.  JK.  I really just didn't care.  I felt that I was pretty consistent.

 Suzanne was clearly not accustomed to the flip book of pictures that would ensue.

 Clearly.  Hahaha.

And after all of those, Angelle was not liking any because her feet were showing.  Sean was shocked.  So we redid and added Rhenda.

I think these were acceptable to them.

Sage and Lydia

When we were taking things down, the kids jumped at the chance to play with the balloons. 

Look at Iris.  She's a doll.

Jaggar let a few go.  I'm sure it was accidental.  When we left, he said, "Holland, thank you for the party!"  Holland is Chrissie's 3rd child, who is 4.

Sean, child and balloon wrangler

They climbed this tree all afternoon.  Jaggar had a scrape below his eye to prove it.  I had to laugh.  Sage chose such a beautiful fancy outfit to wear, and she climbed a tree in it all day.

 

Opening Gifts

I had to be persuaded to open gifts.  Not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't stop eating long enough to care.  And I wasn't even indulging in the cookies and baby bites.  It was the FRUIT.  I had serving after serving.  You'd think these wise choices would have slowed, if not prevented, my bi-weekly weight gain.  Nope, 3 more lbs at the doc this week, making the ever increasing total to be 25 lbs.  I've officially out done myself with both other pregnancies in terms of the scale.  Weekly visits begin now, and that should be really fun scale wise.  Anyway, back to the shower, Jaggar was not in the mood to play with all of the other kids at this point.  Thus...here he is, crying in most of the pictures. 

I got a LOT of gift cards. 

When I say a lot, I mean over $300 in cash and gift cards.  I was so excited.  Do I have to spend that on the baby?  Black Friday IS next week.  I could use a new flat screen.  :)

Jennifer got me a Target gift card and this sweet Santa sleeper.

The little giraffe and animal bag in my lap is from Angelle.  She ordered it off of etsy, and it is filled with washcloths, burp cloths and a bib that all match the bag.  I think it's great, but she wasn't pleased with it.  Chrissie convinced her it was good, and I'm glad because it's perfect.  She also got that turquoise blanket that I had been eying just a few days ago at Target.

This was part of an outfit from Meagan complete with tiny matching shoes.  It's funny that everyone at the shower boxed or bagged or bought things that match the baby's room.  I will and am using a few of them to help finish the room.

Nichole got me a bag full of essentials:  bibs, burp cloths, gowns, diapers, wipes and this soft blanket.

Victoria, Jennifer and Suzanne

More essentials.  This could be from Elizabeth?  I know she was smart enough to include infant ibuprofen and infant gas drops, and that appears to be what I'm holding.

This is a basket of goodies from Chrissie.  Bibs, blanket, crib liner, blanket sleeper, swaddler, burp cloth, extra crib skirt, bottles..  What she really did was buy for me.  She said that she knew I never did anything for myself, so her main gifts were for when I'm not 50 lbs heavier than normal.  She got me a gift card to Victoria's Secret, a $50 Visa for anywhere, and a $100 gift card to Express.  I couldn't believe I scored at my baby shower for MYSELF.  Blessed.

I don't know why I have this face.  Because it was a very, very generous Target gift card from Suzanne and family.

I had to laugh at this lumberjack hat also included in Chrissie's basket. 

A few years ago, Travis saw this bag at Chrissie's and fell in love with it.  He thought it was the greatest thing ever, so Chrissie gave it to him to use as a man diaper bag.  You know, for all those times that he will be out and about with the kids without me.  I see it getting TONS of use for those occasions. 

My Baby Shower

This past Saturday, my dear friends put together a beautiful baby shower for me.  I've had very little time to think about all things baby these past few months, but in the midst of a lot for me, Chrissie, Suzanne, Angelle and Emily put together a very special day for me.  I enjoyed it so much, and it finally made me excited and able to focus more on the one whose kicks and squirms have been more than prevalent these past several months.  

Chrissie and me.  She always works so hard to make sure things are as I'd want them if I'd had time to care and say it lately.

Angelle opened up her beautiful new home to host the shower in.  Everyone really loved it and for good reason.

Suzanne, whose husband is the owner of Chick-Fil-A here, brought a ginormous tray of chicken nuggets.  Emily made spinach dip.  Angelle made up some kind of breakfast casserole, and she also made a wonderful fruit salad.  I ate so much of that that my tongue was raw from the acid.  Chrissie brought goat cheese, baby bites and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from Whole Foods.  Needless to say, the food was amazing.

 They coordinated the decorations to baby's room, which I'm almost ready to reveal the final product of.

 Angelle, Elizabeth, Emily and Rhenda

 Nichole and Gracin

 With Victoria and Jennifer added in

 Sean was SO gracious enough to come and watch the kids (Travis works 6-7 days a week during football season), so that we could enjoy ourselves.

 Look at Baby Iris.

 Jaggar has been less than appealing at sleep times lately, and the effects were showing here.  He just did not know what he wanted.

 Elizabeth and Angelle

 These are just some that Chrissie took at the beginning when I asked her to, but I have so many that I'll have to separate the posts.