Alabama Tracks

It was beautiful and a sea of estrogen filled the air as the ladies at work readied the conference room for the baby shower. With mom on her way into town for the weekend, I was too excited to do much work.  The ladies wouldn’t let me into the room and everyone was talking about ”The Cake.”  It took me a while before I even found out who made “The Cake.” Someone finally told me that it was Faye, my cake class cohort who did her finest craftsmanship on my shower cake.

Around 10:30 mom arrived and the introductions began.  The Federation has roughly 70 employees and we all tend to be a little like a family.  Disfunctional at times but for the most part, watching out for everyone.  I don’t know if mom was quite prepared for what she had just walked into as many times later she would comment about how she wasn’t expecting what she experienced.

11:00, I finally wrangled my way into the room with a hostess gift in hand and the excuse of “I have my mom with me” in tow.  I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful setting for my baby shower.  It surprised me as well and I’ve seen the decorating ability of those around here before.  The conference table was drapped in white cloth with a pink pooled cloth  on top.  In the center was a 30 year old baby carriage with silver rattles and spoons hanging from it.  Silver cups held small tight bouquets of flowers while tall candle sticks were strung together with pink ribbon.  A clothes line was on one wall with baby clothes of every sort being “hung out to dry.”  At the end of the table was “The cake.”  White with pink bows on the corner, a pink fondant doile in the middle with a pair of white fondant booties in the center, it was flanked with porcelain white booties as well.  A Honey Baked Ham was at the end of the table that I had to restrain myself from completely drooling over.  The side table was overloaded with gifts and the floor held those that didn’t fit.

People arrived around 11:30 and took their places.  I quickly ate, or rather, they rushed me through my meal, and I immediately began to open gifts.  I couldn’t open them fast enough.  Forget looking intently at the detail in the garments or the cuteness of one item.  Open and go was my mantra.  My lap seemed to shrink as I needed it more and thus the ladies hosting the shower held gifts for me as I dug through the bags and boxes.  Among the “loot” I received was, a silver spoon, a locket from one of the nicest jewelry stores in town (I’m amazed!), clothes beyond belief, the crib bedding, a $250 spa gift certificate, 4 stuffed frogs, blankets, gift cards, the bucket carrier, a piggy bank, and very few diapers.  Two hours later, the shower came to a close and I was exhausted.

I showed mom around the building while the ladies cleaned up and then loaded up the cars.  When we finally arrived home, it took about 2 hours just to sort through the gifts, put away the gift wrapping, take care of the trash, etc.  4:30 came and we were exhausted.  Mom was in disbelief of the overwhelming support I had received from my coworkers, including the president of the company.  I think in reality, I too was in a little bit of disbelief.  After all, the night before I had thought that I would get a lot of diapers and nothing that I really needed.  Most of the ladies from the Federation came and the men even stayed.  Some of the nicest gifts that I received came from the men. 

The next day, shower number two was to be held.  This one was for family and friends locally.  I had invited a few out of town guests that I thought would appreciate and invite but I really was unsure as to what to expect when it came down to it.  I had three college friends come down, several extended family members of Joel’s attend, and then a few friends locally.  All in all, there were about 20 people there.  What I found so neat was that just about every stage of my life was represented by at least one person. 

Gifts were again plentiful.  This time I received toys, diapers, a diaper bag with her name embroidered on it, more clothes, my sling, and bath supplies.  By noon, we left with the car full and headed home to unload.  Sarah stayed through Sunday while the other friends went on home which was okay as I was so tired.  We dilly dallied around the house a bit, ate lunch and then headed out to Rosemont Gardens to check out the store’s open house and then to the Paper Store to check out birth announcements.  Our day closed with pizza and My Fair Lady.  9:30 was bed time of which we all needed so desperately. 

Sunday morning I had what is beginning to be a favorite of mine.  Coffee with mom.  I’ve often enjoyed having coffee with my parents on our visits home.  It is never planned, it just sort of happens and is beginning to be a time that I look forward to and time that I will look back on with fond memories. Quiet one on one time feeds my family sick soul.  Mom left for home shortly thereafter so Sarah and I worked on putting the gifts away and packing larger clothes away to make way for smaller ones.  By noon, she left too leaving Joel and I to veg for the first time all weekend. 

We had a fabulous time this weekend and I was so blessed by the support of those that came and those that sent theirs in their absence.  My little girl is going to be well loved when she arrives, of this I’m sure.  She’ll definitely be a diva with a new outfit every day.  We still need a few big things but for the most part, we now feel more ready for her to make her grand entrance and anticipate it a little more each day.  Our friends just had their little boy and a trip to the hospital to see them made things a little more real for us both. 

 I will try to post a few pictures tonight when I get home so everyone can see scenes from the shower. 

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