31w6d - My NJ baby shower

This past weekend was wonderful! I went up to NJ, where my mom financed and my mother in law and friend planned a lovely baby shower for me. It was just fancy enough - nothing over the top or 'Jersey tacky' (most of you know what I'm talking about), but certainly no expense spared. The theme was basically "Green Baby". Real trees were brought in, and a clothes line hung between them displayed organic baby clothes. The centerpieces were individually potted plants put together in a basket, and everybody was to take one home, along with a pack of wildflower seeds, as a favor. The food was an ample 4-course meal (pasta, salad, entree and dessert) and the wine was flowing (sadly, not for mama!).

The party was a LOT of fun. It was so nice to catch up with everybody. Many of the guests were people who I only see at Christmas, and a good chunk of them are those who I don't even see that frequently (although, I do keep up with many of them via Facebook, which doesn't really count, but it's close enough). Mike's cousin Carrie flew out to surprise everybody, which was awesome! And the people who I do usually get to see a few times a year (namely my college and high school friends) were really fun to catch up with. I'm about the last one to start a family (of those who want one, anyway), so they really get it when it comes to giving advice, showing support, etc.

Everybody was really generous, and I am so grateful for that generosity. As for physical gifts I opened at the shower, people kept them practical and small so I could transport them easily - so lots of receiving blankets, wash cloths, hooded towels, onesies, etc. Stuff you can't have too much of (and that lasts through the next kid really easily). We also got TONS of gift cards. I haven't added it up yet, but I think I have enough to buy my stroller at Buy Buy Baby, and I know I have enough for an infant seat and two bases from Babies R Us. A few folks gave cash and generic gift cards, which will be great for buying our mattress off of Amazon. I have a lot of thank you notes to write :-P.

Sunday was mother's day, and I hadn't really considered it to be my first mother's day because, well, I'm not a mother yet. But my sister in law got me a mama-to-be card, which was awesome and super sweet! We spent the morning with my mother in law and got to have breakfast with her, which was really nice. We then headed north and had a late lunch with my mom, which was also great. It's not often that we get to spend mother's day with our moms, so it was cool to get to do that.

When we got home, Hubby-poo had a nice surprise for me. He called me into the nursery to help him with something. So I went in, but then he was just standing there. I asked him what he needed and he started to laugh. Which, of course, confused me. So he kept on laughing at the fact that I was confused. As I looked around the room, I saw that there was a new painting up on the wall. It was a painting we saw in San Diego a few weeks ago that I just fell in love with and almost went back and bought. I mentioned a few times that I might go ahead and order it because I thought it would fit nicely in the nursery. I'm so glad I didn't - because Hubby-poo went back to the gallery after I left (he stayed the week for work) and ordered it! Little sneak! I don't know what he would have done if I went and bought it. I try not to buy myself gifts around holidays (specifically anniversary, birthday, Christmas and Valentine's Day), especially things that I mentioned I want, just in case he decided to buy it for me. But like I said, it didn't occur to me that I might get a mother's day present.

Anyway, that's my baby shower update. :-)