Baby Shower!

My two sisters and best friend threw me an incredible baby shower.

My oldest sister, Michele, holding the camera (friend Jenna in the long skirt)...

My next oldest sister, Lara, working her butt off...

And my best friend, Ravyn.

The spread was really beautiful. There were so many vases of flowers in every room that I kept spotting them even after everyone left!

They made a beautiful cucumber-mint water, 2 kinds of mimosas and herbal iced tea...

They borrowed huge potted plants to place throughout the house, creating a beautiful garden theme (Francie is enjoying our beach wedding album before the fun gets started).

They made stratas and egg casseroles, beautiful fruit salads and dips, and they had delicious croissants and pastries. In the background is a table set up where everyone painted a birth bead for my labor - I will string them together and carry them around for good luck (or throw them at Erik for knockin' me up :)

They framed very sweet pictures of Erik and me as children (thanks for your help with that, Nancee!). And there were very special photos of me and my mom included. Behind the photos on the right is a meaningful gardenia plant, my mother's very favorite plant and scent. A huge effort was made to have her all around me as we celebrated. We even ate on her china. It was so painful not having her there, but she felt so close with all of these things reminding me of her. I know she would have really loved it.

We gathered to eat all the delicious food...

And then we had delicious (and beautiful) cake while we played funny games and opened presents!

One of my favorites... Can you believe how perfect?!

I had lots of help from my nieces (they even took these photos of present-opening)...

And they decorated my head.

Thank you Ravyn for recording who gave us what and for clearing the trash as I tore through all the great presents!

And thank you to my beautiful sisters and friend who threw me such an amazing shower. It was a really beautiful welcoming for Firecracker, so beautiful it looked like a wedding. I am so touched by all of the effort and time that went into planning and throwing this event. I will never forget that day and how special and loved I felt. Love and support are such great things to be feeling right before I do one of the hardest and most amazing things I've ever done: give birth to my child (at home). I really feel the love and support surrounding me and I can't think of anything better to prepare me for this experience.

Thank you and I love you all!