Baby Shower Weekend

Good morning, friends! Can you believe we’re already at the very end of summer? I’m savoring this last week of extreme summer heat and a flexible summer schedule before the fall schedule starts. I have two quick trips planned for my last week of summer, and I’m sooo excited for both of them.  

Last weekend, my mom, sisters, and mother-in-law flew/drove to Austin to throw baby Kennedy the sweetest baby shower! They asked me what I wanted in a baby shower, and I said I wanted A) my closest Austin friends, B) a morning shower with breakfast tacos, and C) sentimental wishes/memories instead of typical baby shower games. (Because I really can’t stand baby shower games – ha!) 

My friend Amy hosted the shower at her gorgeous South Austin home, and my family got it all ready with flowers and mimosas, cupcakes and funfetti and chocolate chip cookies from Word of Mouth Bakery, and breakfast tacos from Polvos. All I had to do was show up and enjoy the morning! 

I honestly get a little teary-eyed when I think of all the love being shown to this little baby boy. Of course, since he’s currently taking up real estate in my body, he can’t be the direct recipient of the hugs and gifts and love and wisdom – I get to experience all fo that! But when I feel this much excitement for his arrival, I know that he’s feeling it, too.

I had so many special people there to celebrate Baby K’s arrival, and I feel so darn thankful for every single one of them. I’m going to point out a few family members who play an extra special role in my life: 

^ My mom (left) and my mother-in-law (right): these two beautiful women are both about to become grandmothers for the first time, and I keep telling my son that he is winning in the grandma department! My mom has raised 8 children, and I’m so excited to see her fill this new role as Granda. Her mom (my grandma) was the ultimate example of a loving grandmother who made every day an extra special event for her grandchildren. I’m so excited to see how my mom uses my grandma’s life as an example, and also how she creates her own special and unique ways of loving her grandson. 

And Annette (my mother-in-law) is honestly one of the kindest, sweetest, most generous people I’ve met. I’ve seen the way that she loves her son (my husband), and I know she’s going to show that same love to her grandson. 

^ Courtney, my oldest sister who flew in from Utah for the shower, is smart and sensible and shows relentless love to those who need it most. She’s a University professor and holds a PhD, so she’s definitely the smarty pants of the family. Courtney is always inspiring me to read and educate myself in order to make informed decisions on difficult subjects. (Her love of reading was one of my biggest motivators to make reading 1 book/week a regular habit for me back in 2016 after too many years of not reading!) Just a few hours after I announced the pregnancy to my family, she texted me and said, “I’m working on creating the best baby library list for you!” 

^ Cara, next oldest, is the token extrovert in the family! She’s a beauty, a leader, and a party person! For real…the party always feels a little bit empty until she’s arrived. She’s a middle school choir teacher who loves her kiddos fiercely. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from Cara is too find the good in everyone, and I’m excited for Aunty Cara to teach my son that same lesson.

^ Kylee, my younger sister, was my roommate for 14 years…. (Bless you, Ky.) She has the insanely difficult job of working as a social worker, and she carries it with so much grace. Kylee absorbs the emotions of everyone she’s around, so she’s the friend you really crave when you just need to feel understood. And oh my goodness…her nephew is going to feel so loved whenever he’s around her!

The family and friends in my life are courageous, generous, bold, and kind. They inspire me to be a better person, and they surround me with love and warmth. I feel so much peace knowing that my son will be born into this incredible tribe of people.