Ohio Baby Shower!

Whew, this post took some work! It was a well documented shower to say the least. Mike and I had a great time seeing both family and friends and having some time off together. We are so thankful for the work that was put into the shower and the time and gifts everyone gave. We are blessed, blessed, BLESSED! Mike managed to pack up our economy sized Nissan for the trip home. It was tight but we made it! Below are pictures from the week...

Michelle, Liz (Grace), Esther, and Marissa
All my Ohio girls couldn't make the shower so we met the morning of for breakfast.

Bump to Bump with Michelle's little girl. Michelle is due just 3 weeks before I am.

The party planners....My mom and baby's Nonna!

My sisters, Jenny and Rachel, who made the beautiful Martha Stewart inspired decorations.

Baby face cookie favors...so yummy!

Friends since we were little girls...and the shower's cake decorator and gamer, Krissie.

She made this cake! It was as fabulous as it looks!

Some of baby's guests...Lisa, Gina, Esther, Mama Lee

Mom, Auntie Barbara, Mona, Mona, Auntie Donna, Melissa, Grandma Lillian

It looks like this table was not alerted to the fact that their picture was being taken! But I don't want them to be forgotten...Gene, Marylana and her daughter Sarah, Antoniette, Melissa, and my Aunt Diane...who I believe was on the phone with....

...my cousin, Angelica! She made the baby a jungle theme blanket that is so soft. If this baby has it's mother's love for blankets this will only be the beginning of its collection:)

Thank you Antoniette for making me my favorite Italian cookies- soft lemon biscotti! She wouldn't let me share them with anyone so I got to take them home with me:)

We were beyond blessed with gifts for baby. And as you can see, our guests made sure we were ready for either a boy or a girl's arrival!

Mike made an appearance at the end of the shower and was happy to see the stuffed monkey he wanted had been purchased:)

Dad, Jason, and Mike joining the party

Thanks to Jason (Krissie's husband) for his creative work on the baby's price is right game! This one was filled out by Mona Humble and is too funny:)

It was so nice to see family....all the way from Florida.
Allie, Chrissy, and Giada Geremia (My cousin's family). We have had all baby girls in the family...we'll see if I break the trend or add to it!

Esther and I have been friends for 21 years! She represented the Ohio girl crew and they all chipped in to buy us the pack-n-play. This is perfect since we will need it often on our trips back and forth from Michigan to Ohio.

Family friends...the Mona's saying "hi" to baby!

I had two helpers at the shower- my neice Emily (above) and Piper. They loved opening the gifts. Emily loved it so much that she re-opened them all again once we got home. She would be playing and then all of sudden burst out into, "Oh presents!" and as she opened each she would say, "Oh so cute! It's beautiful". It was hilarious.

Grandma Lillian's first look at baby!

Grandma Antoniette's first look at baby!

Other random pictures from the Ohio trip...

Not to be forgotten is my nephew William!

I love this girl! She caught on fast to the idea that I was pregnant. She would occasionally point to the baby and shout, "Big Belly!" When I asked her why it was big, she would tell me, "There's a baby in there!" We are not sure yet why she told my dad he had a big belly...