Back when I was teaching high school, I conceived my firstborn son. It was a bit of a bittersweet event for me, as it meant an early retirement from the classroom I’d come to love so much.
It also meant that when I shared the news with our school’s principal, I was as apologetic as I was thrilled.
Guilt, throb throb. That’s me.
The principal, though, was a stellar man.* He couldn’t have been happier to hear we were expecting, and he—or rather, the female teachers on his staff—promptly organized my first baby shower.
It was to be my only baby shower ever.
That is, until two weeks ago.
When my friend Tina told me that she wanted to host a shower for me, the first thing I thought was, “I’m not worthy.” (It’s a therapy thing.) The second thing I thought was, “Could she be sweeter?”
No, she could not.
This is my friend, Tina.
Isn’t she cute?
She is also practically perfect in every way—the happy (but sickening) result of her being the oldest child and a born natural at all things organizational.
(And I’m teasing her with that “sickening” remark. She’s used to it; she’s seen my cupboards.)
There are many, many reasons why I love my friend, Tina. She is selfless, kind, and very faithful. She also throws one heck of a good party.
This is my friend, Ruth Ann.
Isn’t she cute? She, too, is practically perfect in every way, having made the amazingly beautiful and incredibly delicious cake pictured in these photos.
(Do you see a trend among my friends here? “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” I always say.)
Ruth Ann and her husband have agreed to be our baby’s godparents. We were blessed beyond belief when they said yes, because this means having an amazing cake for all our baby’s big events.
Hee.
These are my friends Andrea and Christine.
Aren’t they cute? They are fellow homeschooling moms from the co-op and are, in general, amazing women. (See previous reference to the trend among my friendships.)
As part of her baby shower gift to me, Andrea gave me a copy of a beautiful novena to St. Raymond Nonnatus. “It made all the difference in the peaceful birth of my little girl,” Andrea assured me, and I had to agree that her little girl (pictured above) does indeed seem destined to be as perfect as her mother and her mother’s friends.
And then Andrea went on to share the story of her baby’s birth with the rest of the women at the shower. Evidently, the labor progressed so very fast and painlessly that Andrea and her husband didn’t have time to get to the hospital.
They did, however, manage to make it to the fire department, and had their baby there in the lobby.
“You know what?” I said, passing the novena back to Andrea. “You can probably just keep this.”
Hee hee.
(In truth I have been praying the novena since I received it.)
All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a happier night with a nicer group of women. I don’t know about you, but it is hard for me to attend events for me. “Really?” I’m thinking incredulously. “You’d actually give up a Friday night for me?”
Even Erin—little Erin, pictured above with the curly hair and glasses—showed up, and this on the eve of her first 5K!
I was impressed.
Sickened, but impressed. ; )
There is only one thing I would have done different, and you’d do well to heed my advice. Should you ever decide to have a group photo taken, and you yourself are 37 weeks’ pregnant…
Please don’t have the photographer take a worm eye’s view. Have him stand well above you, perhaps from a distance of 50 feet.
Oh, and do not—I repeat, do not—stand next to your tall friend Tina.
I look at least half a foot shorter than I do in real life…
…and easily two three pounds heavier.
All for the Greater Glory of God,
*My former principal has since passed away from cancer. May his beautiful soul rest in peace.
Though I don’t really know you, or your lovely friends, I do know the blessing of true friends in my life. I can hardly believe your baby is nearly here. You have been in my daily prayers and if you don’t mind, I’ll just pretend I was at that lovely shower, celebrating with you the great joy coming into your family’s life.
What wonderful friends you have! My sisters and sister-in-law wanted to throw me a shower with my first, and I was induced 2 days before it because of pre-eclampsia (canceled). They planned another one with my third because we thought the baby was my first girl-I went into labor 16 days early and the day before my shower, and surprise! Our daughter was a son! I don’t have good luck with showers, but it makes for a great story, don’t you think?
Prayers for a safe and happy delivery! Are you ready? There are many arms awaiting to hold the newest member – but how grateful you must be, truly, to be a mother. You look fantastic!
Oh I think you look adorable!! ♥ Beautiful pregnant momma!
(And thanks for pointing out Erin's blog. I need that more than you could know!)
How blessed you all are in your friendships! I can’t wait to see your wee one.
You are so, so blessed! What a beautiful shower. I can’t wait to see that precious baby of yours!
What a beautiful shower filled with beautiful friends and one beautiful very pregnant mama!
You do look very beautiful!
I would also be very envious of those cake baking/decorating skills. I am the worst cook/baker.
My cupboards and yours probably match!
Love the way you write!
What a great group of lady friends you have!
What a blast, too bad I wasn’t there! Can’t wait to see that gorgeous baby, we’re SO excited for you all :))) Much love,
Awww, thanks for the link. That was the most fun baby shower I’ve ever been to.
It’s SO much cooler when just about everybody there has several children.
Baby showers for first babies, when half the mom’s friends have no babies and the other half have only one, can be really lame.
Yay for baby showers for sixth babies! May I attend many more!
You are just beautiful. I wish I looked half as good as you when I’m so pregnant. Can’t wait to see this beautiful baby!
just wanted to say that you look GREAT GREAT GREAT for 37 weeks! gorgeous 🙂 you still have a pregnancy glow, i swear 🙂 and yay for showers, aren’t they fun? 🙂
I really enjoyed this post. Yes, your friends are all so cute! What a fabulous party to have! Good for you! It speaks highly of YOU that these women would do that. You must also be a cute and perfect friend.
Well, like I told you yesterday I’m very sad that I had to miss it. I would’ve loved to see Tracy and Erin again. Oh, and you of course! Looks like it was a wonderful day!
I had one bridal shower and many showers for baby #1 (school, work, family, etc.). That was it until my best-next-door-neighbor threw a surprise shower for my baby #6! She lured me over with a faux knitting question, and organized the gift of a stroller since ours was in bad shape by then. Friends are the best!
What beautiful friends you have, Margaret! How truly blessed you are.
You look absolutely lovely in all your fullness. You have to smile when your belly can double as an ice cream bowl rest when you’re relaxing on the sofa, no? That’s the greatest! Live it up, I say!! Only a few weeks to go!
:o)
Oh, Sweetie, you are beautiful. In so many ways. And so very loved.
Thanks for giving us a peek into your much-deserved celebration and pack of awesome friends. You are very blessed. I know you know.
Wish that I had been there. Love you.
PS. Gorgeous cake!
Now you sell yourself short Margaret! YOU are absolutely one of those really beautiful women glowing with pg. Did you think that maybe you are surrounded with wonderful friends because YOU are wonderful?!
BTW…good thinking on getting Godparents that make good cakes! lol
God bless you, you will be delivering about the same time I am packing out and moving cross country, so, could you maybe go a week early? So I can get the announcement? It’s all about me! lol
Margaret,look at all the love around you!! How blessed you are to be surrounded with such wonderful, caring and loving friends and family!!!
Prayers being said for an easy delivery – if there is such a thing! Can’t wait to see your cutie!
Blessings and Big Hugs!
Betty
You look beautiful and so do all of your friends. What lovely ladies.
You deserve all the best and this baby is deserving of all of the joyous celebrating you can do. Keep celebrating and we’ll keep being thrilled for you.
Wow, you look stunning! Where is all the weight you’ve been talking about? Looks like it’s all out front to me.
This has been a long journey (which I’ve followed since the announcement)and now I switch on my PC each morning to see if there’s any news. Are you excited, because I am!
I think you should run a competition. The prize will be seeing a picture of you and all your gang together after the birth: I’ll start….
Guess-
Babys gender BOY
Babys weight 8lb 4oz
Keep safe, BabyMama.
– Joolz
Margaret,
What a beautiful sight you are! What wonderful friends you have!
My guess is girl. 8 pounds, 3 0z.
Baby deserved to have mom spoiled!
What a lovely event.
Like you, I have a very hard time accepting that anyone would want to go to any trouble for ME.
PS You look GREAT!! Definitely glowing. and oh what a beautiful baby belly you have!!!!
For all your complaints about the view, I think you look stunning. And I am hoping and praying to someday have just as big a belly as you have!!! 🙂 (Lord willing, many times!)
Oh, my stars. All your friends are so . . . attractive.
Good girlfriends are medicine for the soul.
this is such a sweet post. its just pure loveliness the whole way through.
Margaret, you look GREAT!!! I look so pitifully horrible in the end that I don’t think I could even have a picture taken LOL. Actually, I don’t even want my picture taken now and I’m only five (??) months along LOL.Wishing you the bestest, happiest, fastest birth ever!!!
Smiles,
Mary McCarthy
(who has been w/o a blog for some time now, and is very happy with that :).
Oh!!! How perfect!! What wonderful friends you had! I am so glad they gave you a shower!!