Baby Boom!

This weekend, I had the honor of attending a dual baby shower thrown by my amazing Aunts Mary and Sherriann!  It was the first baby shower for Baby Girl Curtis, and it definitely set the bar high.  There must be something in the Hamilton water because there has been a baby boom of sorts in the family with THREE cousins preggo with an eggo at the same time!  The shower was for Laura and I, but I am not at liberty to reveal the identity of the third yet.  ;-)  It's exciting to think that there will be three new babies by Christmas!

My entire pregnancy has been very bittersweet for me as I go down this amazing, incredible, life-changing journey without my mother.  I frequently feel a variety of emotions, all relating to the ever-present hole left in my heart when she passed and the knowledge that Baby Girl will never know her.  I had a nice phone conversation with Aunt Mary the day of the shower, and it was oddly comforting to me to know that other family members feel the pain of her absence along with me.  I've also been in touch with Mom's dear friend Pamela during my pregnancy, and she always has very uplifting and optimistic words for me to reassure and encourage, including reminding me of the support system I have in my truly amazing husband and large family.  This shower and gathering came at just the right time...

The shower was atypical, lovely, and right up my alley in that it was more of a social gathering for all the women on the Hamilton side of the family to visit, catch up, and most importantly...celebrate!  As I had hoped (after witnessing at Jenny's shower a couple years ago!), the dining table centerpieces were provided by Aunt Mary, a professional story-teller and author.  Needless to say, she knows a thing or two about good books and started our baby libraries off right!

          

 

Just like the cherished table centerpieces, the rest of the shower decorations were unique and thoughtful as well.  After my dear Grandmother's passing in February of this year, Mary found some old dresses that Grandmom had saved of Mary's and her sister's, Aunt Pat, while going through some belongings.  Given that these dresses are from the 1800s, they are in remarkable condition!  Just kidding.  The only turn-of-the-century that these dresses have seen was into the 21st!  :-)  Laura and I are both cooking precious little girls, so I thought the dresses were SUCH a cool idea!

All of the food was fantastic, with a shout out to the impromptu assistants: Angela and Steven!

Sherriann made some really creative items for our edible pleasures, including these cute little guys, adorned with either "Baby Curtis" or "Baby Reynolds" on the tires and steering wheel.  Almost too cute to eat!  ...Almost.

After chowing down with everyone, it was time to see how much our little girls really resembled their mommas with an ultrasound competition!  Notice how Angela is studying them very, very closely...

 

Everyone at the shower guessed correctly except for two people.  I won't embarrass anyone by calling them out, but Angela may (or may not??) have been ONE of the TWO people who missed that fifty-fifty shot.  :-)

After the ultrasounds, it was time to reveal the big name that everyone had been asking about:  Baby Girl Curtis!  In true Hamilton fashion, a simple statement of the name simply would not do, so the family guessed for a while at the name, no one guessing it exactly correct.  

Baby Girl Curtis will henceforth be referred to as Lillian June Curtis.  Our little Lily...

Now onto truly showering Lily June and Harper Leigh!

Sherriann had a little helper to get the presents to both moms-to-be.

 

 

 

 

Isabel had fun distributing the gifts, but some of the guests had fun with her, too, by blocking her walking path.  :-)

 

 In addition to the amazing video monitors that the newly-wed Carrie and David got us were matching purple and pink polo onesies!  So stinkin cute!!

 

 There wasn't enough room for all the showering inside; Aunt Pat had a surprise for both of us outside!

Baby Lily is going to be so ...?    (click to enlarge)

 

After all the "showering" we received, thank goodness for Olivia and Christie taking good notes for everyone sending us love!

It was finally time to eat those cute little bears!

 

 

It was a wonderful evening full of people who mean the most to me: my family.  Hats off to Mary and Sherriann for their great shower, and thanks again to everyone who came out or simply sent their love to the two mommas and two baby girls.  We all appreciate it!


...so three new babies by this Christmas.  Anyone up for starting a pool for how many new babies by next Christmas??  :-)