This past weekend, I was spoiled by my and Tidy's immediate and extended family. We had our first baby shower... and it was just as I had hoped it would be.
We gathered in a private room at a restaurant in the town where both of our parents live on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was unseasonably warm, nearing 80. Just before noon, my sisters, mom and I arrived to put the favors, decorated cookies mimicking an illustration from the invitations, onto the tables. The prior day, my mother in law had dropped off the beautiful centerpieces she put together.
It was picture perfect.
Around noon, the guests started to arrive... many of our close relatives, a few dear friends from high school and the infertility community. We ate fantastic food (and to-die-for carrot cake cupcakes for dessert) and opened gifts. Tidy showed up to help open a few, specifically some bought just for him: a diaper bag just for "dad" and a pair of onzies and socks from our college alma mater (best non-registry gift of the day!).
It lasted for a few hours and for the most part, I was able to talk to every one of the 25 or so guests there and genuinely thank them for coming and for their generosity. I felt spoiled. Tidy also bounced around to say thank you. He HATES these kinds of social engagements, especially having to walk into a room full of 25 women... but he did great thanking everyone individually. Little does he like to admit, but I believe him to be VERY charming ;-)
After gifts and a few other conversations, the guests started to leave, we packed up my dad and MIL's SUVs with the gifts (yes, we needed 2 large trunks) and made our way back to my parents house.
I think back to it, just a few days ago, and it already seems like a dream, like it never even happen. But I have pictures to prove it did.
Experiences like this, that we have waited so long to experience as we struggle to get pregnant, go by in the blink of an eye. If we don't revel in them, in that moment, and be grateful for how it unfolds, we might regret not absorbing every moment of things that others possibly take for granted.
I'm so grateful to my mom, sisters and Tidy's mom for working so hard to make this a day that I have dreamed of. I hope they know how very much they made a part of my dream come true.
