It Takes A Village.

Baby Sister is already spoiled rotten.  And so is her Mama.

This past weekend, Baby M and I were showered with love by lots of dear, sweet ladies.

Who gets all this love and attention, for their second baby?  If you've been around here long enough, you know that I also had a fabulous shower before Carter came home.

To be honest, I was SO hesitant to be the center of attention again.  My friends and family said everyone would be supportive and excited - but I just wasn't sure.  Would people think I was greedy?  Would they even come to a shower for a second child?  Would it just be awkward and weird the whole time?

Guess what?  I'm crazy, apparently.

OR I'm surrounded by an amazing, beautiful, supportive, loving, caring, incredible village of women.

My awesome mom-in-love (Carter's MiMi) put everything together with the help of a few ladies from church.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked in.  For me?  All of this?  Really??

Remember, we aren't sharing.  We're horrible.
But we've given 2 clues!
It starts with an 'M' and it's 5 letters long :)

Of course my mom made the cake - the picture doesn't do it justice.  It was covered with glittery 'snow'...absolutely perfect.

Jake and Carter dropped me off, and of course Carter was totally diggin' the little candy 'bar'.  Isn't this picture of him kissing his mommy just adorable?!

Actually, that's not a kiss at all.  It's Carter saying "nooo".

Sort of like he does when we ask if he wants a baby sister :)  Get ready, dude!  Ready or not, here she comes!

And now, thanks to all these ladies, we are actually ready for her!  Look how blessed we are.

Before I opened any gifts, I warned everyone that there might be some tears.  Those ladies who have known me for a long time have probably heard me say that "I'm not an emotional person!".

HA.

Being Carter's mommy has changed me.  And now being this little lady's mommy has changed me even more.

There were tears, for sure.  How could there not be?!

There were lots of laughs, too.  We are a group of ladies who know how to laugh.  We love to laugh.

That's called joy.

I was so overwhelmed with each gift.  And I couldn't help but think about our first 'gift'.  Oh, how he has changed us.  We are different people than we were at our first baby shower.

Thank goodness.

I was so excited to open this quilt - made by MiMi!  I had picked out the pattern, and we decided on the fabric together.  Jake and I decorated her nursery around it, and I've been so excited to see the finished product!

It's exactly what I had envisioned.  I can't wait to snuggle her up in it.

So ladies, if the goal of this shower was to make me feel loved, special, and cherished - then, mission accomplished.  

Everyone was so thoughtful - right down to considering Carter when buying gifts (like the ladies who bought elephant themed baby sister gifts because they know big brother loves elephants) - and even many ladies bringing separate gifts for me to take home to Carter.  

Say huh?!  Cars, books, bubbles, and so much more.  All for the special big brother.

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There you have it.  If you didn't know it before, you know it now: I've got a pretty amazing village.  I am so grateful.  I'm not naive - I know this isn't the norm.  I know it full well.  

Many, many tears.

We are so loved.

See the bump on my belly?  Just below my left hand?
That's her.  She's grateful, too.

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Want to hear something even more incredible?  This Saturday, I'm going to have a house full of more ladies - all coming to shower me with love.  Again.

How is this possible?!

One Thing I Know For Sure: Grateful for my village.