Surprise!!!

I got thrown a surprise Baby Shower on Saturday! I really was surprised too, and so very touched...and slightly overwhelmed...there were a lot of people there and I tend to get shy with that many eyes being exclusively on me...being on stage is one thing, but being surrounded at a close proximity like that is quite another! It's intimidating to walk into a house and have a bunch of people yell "surprise" at you and take pictures while balloons fall on your head! (They had rigged up a pull thingy that dropped balloons on me when I came in. I felt famous!) The first little people to greet me though WERE the "little people", as children had been invited as well, and that was a bit of a comfort. It's hard to feel intimidated by grinning 2 year olds batting balloons around your feet. (Though, they kept walking in the "blind spot" caused by my belly, so I was forever worried that I was going to step on one of them!)

I'm not complaining AT ALL though! I was SUPER touched, and had a really good time...I was just overwhelmed at first. (And mortified that Michael had led me there without hinting that I might want to do my hair or put on a little make-up!!! Thank goodness he made sure I was wearing decent clothes, as I often go out in baggy sweatshirts and PJ bottoms these days if we're not going anywhere special!) Of course, Michael had been in on it, not to mention almost every person I know on this base...and not a ONE of them let anything slip! Even the guys in Michael's shop, who I had spent dinner with the night before, hadn't let a thing slip, though they were all in on it!

My friend Amanda organized it and had it at her house! I could have kissed her!!! She obviously put so much had work into it, and it was wonderful! The house was decorated beautifully, in my favorite colors too!!! (She had been doing covert research for weeks and weeks!!!) She had a TON of games for us to play, all of them amusing and entertaining!!! There was a cake and food and drinks...She even made me a diaper cake!!! I'll never, ever pull it apart to use though...it's just too darn pretty! (I will probably have it when I'm 80...won't people find me odd!) I even have a vase of "lolly pops" made out of baby wash cloths! (Something else I'll never use, but will probably use as decoration in Baby's room! We had yummy, Easter colored candy, bar-b-q food, including Sargent Flo's famous ribs!!! (These things really are a legend in the shop too!!! SOOOOOO good!!!) Amanda had even made sure there were people there to take pictures, since she knew I wouldn't know ahead of time to bring my camera! (I can't BELIEVE Michael didn't make sure I was in make-up!!! Or that my hair was half way decent!!! As usual these days, it was just thrown up and back to be out of my way!!!) We had party favors and gifts...it was just so much fun, and I can't believe everyone knew, and knew that I was bemoaning not being home so I could have a shower, and NO ONE said ANYTHING. (I honestly felt like an ass...After all, I really had been bummed out about the lack of shower, but had figured it was just part of being away from home for the pregnancy. And then my friends go and do this for me after listening to me lament...I really do need to have more faith in people's goodness every once in awhile!)

We got some amazing gifts (baby blankets are SOOOOO much softer than grown up ones!!! Why is that?)...and more diapers than I know what to do with!!! We have 350 Newborn Diapers, 296 Size 1 Diapers, 172 Size 2 Diapers, and even 72 Size 3 Diapers...plus one pack of adult Depends diapers. (One of the guys there is only 19, and looked completely forlorn, saying "The invitation just said "diapers..." I have never laughed like that, though I was careful not to do it in front of him!!!) We also have over 650 baby wipes!!! I've never been so overwhelmed by diapers in my life, and have spent the last 2 days trying to figure out where to put them all!!! We also have about a billion extra bottles now, more onsies, a travel first aid kit...there is just so much STUFF!!! I love it, and feel even more prepared now than I did!!!

It was just such a good time, and I was SOOOO touched...not just for me, but for Michael! There were more guys there than girls, all from Michael's shop, even the young single ones who must think having a baby is paramount to the end of your life...but they came to show their support and love for us and our Baby!!! (Well, and the guys got to play poker!!! Amanda even made a prize up for them with a wrestling champion belt and beer! lol! It looked REALLY cool!!!) It was just so NEAT!!! I've had a baby shower!!!

We got so much stuff that it took 2 trips to drive it from Amanda's house to ours, and I've spent much of the last two days trying to get it all put in its place. (Until I do, we don't have a kitchen table!) I even got TWO bunches of balloons!!! Inflated ones that float!!! I've never had TWO bunches of balloons got for me before!!! I don't know if I've even had ONE!!!!

I feel so special!!!

I didn't get to take many pictures myself, but will have more sent to me from different people in the next few days I am sure, and I will be sure to share!!!