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September 2013 Moms
msronzio
member
I didn't know what to expect when DH drove me over to his ILs home around 4 PM yesterday afternoon. I know that I DIDN'T expect that within two minutes of entering their home I'd be uncontrollably sobbing, tears of ultimate appreciation and happiness.
My baby shower was the greatest gift.
msronzio
member
Subject: My baby shower was the greatest gift.
Sorry, this is long. Apparently I am a writer at heart. You don't have to read it all, I will post a tldr summary at the end!
Of course I'll explain! My shower was meant to be a surprise. In fact, June 29th my mother had texted me "do you want me to throw you a baby shower?" just to sway me. I LOVE surprises ...but I love being prepared too. So at this point I had no idea they had been planning the biggest surprise of all for several months. I think I replied to the text as sweetly as possible "sure! I'll get you a guest list and you can invite your friends, we don't have to do anything crazy and no gifts... we'll just BBQ and I'll mix peoples drinks." I'm a bartender haha and my mom loves to drink & entertain.
A week later one of our friends, who is a dear HS buddy but a little clueless, spilled right out to me. It wasn't a hint that I figured out, he legitimately began to ask me "So, July 13th for your shower, am I supposed to--" and I said "shhh! That's supposed to be a surprise!" Of course he felt horrible, despite my reassuring. I didn't tell DH at the time. When I told him a week later, last weekend, he was livid. I'm convinced I haven't seen him that angry about anything. Apparently he has known for months and he's crappy at keeping secrets so he was probably so proud of himself for not giving it away.
Flash forward to yesterday afternoon. Since I was prepared, I looked on the bright side - I picked out a pretty dress, I made my hair and makeup perfect, and even though I have anxiety about being the center of attention and was afraid people would get us gifts even though it was very not necessary, I prepared myself. I even prepared a thirty second speech. I was not prepared for the fact that within 10 minutes of arriving my makeup would practically be cried off my face... My mom and FIL greeted us at the door. My mom says "I know that this wasn't a surprise and that's okay. We still wanted to get you a little surprise because today's a special day." So she walks around the corner to retrieve something. I'm thinking, oh they got our son a stroller!! But no. Surprise. My maternal grandmother walks out and I am instantly crying.
My grandmother is probably the person I love most in the world. She lives about a 6 hour plane flight away. We named our son after my grandfather who passed away in 2010. He was like a dad to me when I was little (mine left). Then there were more "little" surprises. My aunt from California walked out. My uncle from Illinois. My other uncle from Illinois and his wife. Most of these people haven't visited Pennsylvania since my HS graduation. Every time someone came out to hug me I sobbed harder.. Pregnancy hormones.. and I couldn't stop for at least fifteen minutes. Everyone around us, although I was super overwhelmed, I noticed, was crying. Every time another family member would come out of hiding from the garage I would put my hands up, wiping tears away "no more surprises!" and I think my tearful guests appreciated the comic relief.
TL;DR my sloppy long drawn out post.. My far away family has always been one to do big surprises. On DH and I baby shower they surprised me with themselves which was the best gift of all... and we hadnt even gotten to the amazing cake, the thoughtful gifts, the photos, and my MIL's amazing buffalo chicken dip!! lol!!!
You could say I was in heaven and was not expecting this. It wasn't even a baby shower, it was a baby downpour... Our friends and family SPOILED us. We had to do gifts despite my center of attention anxiety but it wasnt so bad 
I made DH join in unwrapping to which he later commented "you're right, that was kind of awkward! Everyone was looking at us!" Haha exactly, silly!!
I made DH join in unwrapping to which he later commented "you're right, that was kind of awkward! Everyone was looking at us!" Haha exactly, silly!! Not to mention, omg my ILs did a freaking amazing job. The shower was BEAUTIFUL. Balloons, confetti, homemade diaper cakes, a baby-in-a-watermelon fruit arrangement, blue lemonade, and personalized gifts.. A jar with notecards. "Give some advice for the parents to be." The game they offered was decorate a onesie and DH got to pick out his favorite one. My aunt and grandmother got to feel LO kick which was amazing and my MIL put together a board with photos of DH & I throughout the pregnancy.. when I saw it I started bawling again! Hahaha!
The best part is the fact that my family is staying at my mom's on the other side of town until Wednesday. After the shower we had a bonfire with our HS friends, then around 10 PM we headed to my mom's to revisit old memories and inside jokes. I mixed their drinks too
Like I said, looooooooong post, but I wanted to at least share with you ladies. I feel like I've hit the lottery.. and our baby isn't even here yet. 
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Re: My baby shower was the greatest gift.
Mom to Cam and Al, now expecting baby number 3, August 2016. Praying for lots of sticky baby dust!
How awesome your family is to you! I can't even imagine how you felt!