How to Host a Stress Free Baby Shower

Just kidding. I have no idea because, Wow. Intense. Chaotic. Ca-Ray-Zee.

Do those sound like adjectives for a baby shower? No? Well, they do if that shower took place at our house. Because that's how our family rolls. You've seen the sweet, controlled, straight off Pinterest showers that other folks host? Those are the showers of my dreams. I don't think I'll ever see one. Calm, relaxed, organized...

Those are the invitations we used. Those little flowers are favors. You plant them in your yard and wild flowers grow. My daughters find the cutest things.

Not that we weren't organized. We were. But we live in a 1300 sq ft house. And all but 10 of the 47 guests showed up. It was crazy. It was ridiculous. It was hotter than you-know-what. And there were 7 little kids under the age of 6. The noise level was like sitting in front of the speakers at a heavy metal concert not that I'd ever attend one but still, it was loud. And hot. Did I mention it was hot? Have I told Y'all that I absolutely LOVE my air conditioning? That thing worked hard and I love it. It did not let me down. Sadly, I got ZERO pictures of the goings on outside. But I heard it was big fun! Bubble machine, bubble wands, a baby pool filled with plastic balls, a disc golf game, 7+ beach balls...

I did, however, get a picture of the cake before we devoured it.

We all dropped the ball on the cake so Baby M's Mommy and Nashville Daughter ran to Whole Foods and got this one. It. Was. Fabulous! 

My girls did the decorating and we took care of the food. Someone thought having a cookout in the heat of July would be a fabulous idea. Yes, it was me. I lost my mind for a minute. In my defense, fitting all those people in my house was going to be impossible so I figured- cookout. The weather dude said more storms were going to come in but he was able to hold them off until 11:00.

The theme was Woodland Animals

I finally sat down to eat at 10:27. Y'all. It was a wild few hours. And it was worth every single minute. Here's why:

When your sisters throw you a baby shower, you give them a sweet token of appreciation.

I forgot to get a close-up of the bracelets but they were simple with three different meaningful sayings on them, from L to R:

Nashville Daughter: I REFUSE TO BE SILENCED

Baby M's mommy: THE FUTURE IS FEMALE 

Teacher Daughter: WELL-BEHAVED WOMEN SELDOM MAKE HISTORY

And they came from Metal Marvels.

So many friends came to share the day with us. My college bestie.

Y'all, I can't even begin to share the fun we had together and I am forever grateful to still have her in my life. See that lovely young woman with the beautiful smile? That's the daughter of my bestie from college. And that little blonde cutie with the curls? That's her little boy.

There are two dear friends in the next picture. The short (we always tease her about being short) one in yellow? She belongs to me. Well, she belongs to all of us but she's my bestie. And the one in blue? We've known her since she and my oldest lovely were in elementary school. She's Baby R's mommy's friend but she belongs to all of us. 

See the lovely in the chair? She and Baby R's Mommy have been besties since the 6th grade. That's her little girl in the picture. They live in CA but they are all moving back here at the end of the month. Thank the Lord for her husband's boss who decided to open an office here in Charleston!

This little bug belongs to the mommy in blue a couple of pictures back up there. 

That's Baby M with Little M. Little M is the daughter of Baby R's Mommy's best guy friend and his absolutely amazing wife. I could tell Y'all stories about those two but I'll save them. You know, for when their babies are teenagers. Muahahahaha!

Ok, the next two pictures might be confusing... That's Nashville Daughter on the left with her sweet friend since the age of 2. That friend is the daughter of my bestie in yellow way back up there. This sweet girl is having her first baby in October and it's a girl. She and Baby R's Mommy (my oldest Lovely) have the same first name. 

 So we had to get a picture of both baby bumps. That wasn't too confusing, was it?

The day was long and chaotic and fun. It was crazy. It was hot. It. Was. Nuts. But that's ok. A day like that is perfect when it includes good friends and sisters.

These girls are the best daughters anyone could ever have. They are generally happy people but when the four of them are all together in one place? The smiles and laughter never stop. Baby M is one lucky little girl to have such amazing women in her life.

These people, Y'all. They are my people. They are my blessings. They are my heart of hearts. 

And this nut, Baby R's Daddy, somehow missed out on the big picture but there he is:

So, was it really chaotic? Crazy? Intense? Yes, it was. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. My brain was on overload and it was exhausting but it was worth all of that and more.

I'd say the downside was the heat and the stupid freaking flies and the fact that I didn't get to sit and chat at length with all of our guests. No problem. I'll just have to host a few smaller gatherings for just that purpose.

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