Wow! What a baby shower!

My friends from church threw the most beautiful, amazing baby shower for me.  They really outdid themselves, and I felt so loved.  I am lucky to hang out with girls who are talented artists and cooks, and I reap the benefits.  These are the ladies who made such a perfect night possible for me:

Candice, me, Laney, Rozannah, Tiffany, and Natalie

I gave them each a special gift the night before the shower: an awesome teacher sweater, vest, or turtleneck to go along with the "school" theme.  I must say, we looked lovely on the big night:

I found out later that there were even more ladies who made decorations and food, and I am so thankful to everyone who helped.  I should have brought a teacher sweater for everyone who came to the party!

I wish that all of my friends and family from across the country could have been there to celebrate with us, but since they couldn't, I thought I would give you a play-by-play of what I experienced and saw at the shower.  Sorry if this is post is long with lots of photos!

When entering the home, this is what I saw:

A wreath made from my favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird.  Tiffany, you are amazing.

The "homework assignment" was to write a bit of advice for me about how to be a good mom.

Guests had the opportunity to type their advice using a typewriter on an old-fashioned school desk...I know, too much, right??

Deborah getting started!

They hung all of the advice on this little "tree."

The best part about the advice tree was that they had contacted one of my colleagues at school and asked her to get some parenting advice from my students.  It was so cute, funny, and touching to read what my 15-year old students had to say!  A few of my favorites:

"Mrs. Nielson, when the baby cries, just put it in bed and walk away.  Also make Ryan change all of the diapers." Zach

"Get your kid a TV and video games.  They're not as bad as you think they are."  Joe

"Remember to always teach him Atticus-like qualities--though I doubt you could forget to do that!  I know you'll be a great mom." Rachel

"Remember if your little boy (Atticus?) gets a little too rowdy, there's always a leash." Gabby

"Mrs. Nielson, you have been one of the best teachers I've had because of all the great stories you've told us and all of the advice you've given this year.  I hope you tell your child all of the things you told us." Nicole

After reading the advice tree and getting choked up, I walked into the dining room and saw this huge spread of milk and cookies, the classic "after school snack" for all of the baby shower guests!

Yes, those are styrofoam lunch trays!
Thank you everyone who brought cookies!

Little milk cartons, just like elementary school.

And walking into the kitchen, I saw this:

A closer look

Decadent caramel apples!!!  There were more than just four--they sliced them and kept replenishing them throughout the night.  

The little pennant banner on the cake matched the big pennant banners hanging around the room.  They were made out of the pages of a children's book.  Rozannah, you are the best.

Pin-wheels made out of the same children's books.  Seriously the cutest thing ever.

Oreo truffles in the shape of tiny apples.  Thanks, Rachel S!

I wandered around and marveled over all of the decorative touches (and this wasn't even all of them--some of the little handmade creations weren't photographed.  I told you these girls are amazing!  I felt like I was in a Martha Stewart magazine!):

Banner made from old-fashioned children's ABC cards.  

The most beautiful topiaries ever, thanks to Deseree.

And then the guests started arriving!  (Sorry to post so many photos, but I never want to forget these ladies.  I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of everyone.)

You can sort of see the cute pennant banners in this photo.

Then I got to open lots of presents!  It was so fun!   I felt so spoiled and grateful:

After this shower, the baby boy will be well-dressed!

And after all the food and chatting and fun, on the way out the door, the guests got a little cookie to take home:

Thank you, Megan, for making all of these!

Amazing, right?  Are you as speechless as I was??  I have thrown a few baby showers in my life, and all I did was send out an evite and clean my house.  I have never made any sort of decoration or even theme food...I just ask all of the guests to bring something to share.

Driving home from the shower, I felt so humbled and grateful.  I can't believe how many people have supported us through these past several difficult years.  So many hugs, cards, phone calls, blog comments, and prayers.  How can I ever thank all of you who have loved me through some of the most difficult times of my life?  It meant the world to me to have the opportunity to celebrate this long-awaited baby boy with my "Buffalo family" and to have so many women whom I love in one place at one time.  I am sorry for those who couldn't join us for the shower, and you were missed.  I love the women of the Buffalo Ward!

My favorite gift of all is that I get to keep all of the gorgeous decorations from my shower--the wreath, the pennant banners, the book balls (not pictured), the book apples (not pictured), the topiaries, and the ABC banner--to decorate the baby's nursery.  As I look around that room, I will always remember the friends that we made in Buffalo, the women who were there for me during the heartache of fertility treatments and adoption disappointments, and the many people who prayed for and loved our son, even before he was born.

I am reminded of a scripture: "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

Thank you, Friends.  All of you.