Friday night it began by Todd's family driving in from Pensacola and Jacksonville and they cooked italian pie with garlic bread and it was amazing! Todd's Aunt Cathy is an amazing cook and she always has such awesome recipes. Everyone chipped in at the kitchen and I felt so guilty! When family/friends are at my house, I am supossed to host! Instead, I did little things to help out but they insisted it was my birthday and I am pregnant and to relax. I can get used to this! haha. Unfortunately, I have no pictures from this night. Just the memories. haha. Well, at least I blogged about it so I will always remember.
Saturday of course was the shower which I was not expecting any mention of my birthday. I was already getting spoiled with gifts for the shower, so I was shocked when my mom arranged for everyone to sing happy birthday to me at the shower with a cupcake and candles and even a balloon at my chair. Then, Saturday night after the shower my aunt, uncle, Jodie (who flew in from New York for the shower), and Jamie came over and we had another round of celebrations. More cake, desserts galore, and fruit (thanks to my mother in law for getting a healthy edible fruit arrangement basket for me to eat!) Of course, we sang happy birthday again. This time we shared the celebration since Jodie's birthday is Sept. 1st, so we all exchanged gifts and enjoyed being together. No pictures here either. :( I got so many pictures at the baby shower that I think I just wanted to relax. Saturday was a whirlwind of a day and very busy to say the least!
Sunday we went over to my Dad's house and we celebrated AGAIN. Who knew turning 32 was such a big deal? Staying at my Dad's place was my Aunt Joyce and my cousin Barbara who also flew in from New York to come to the shower. It really means a lot to me for all of these different people to fly in from everywhere. Barbara has two gorgeous kids at home and I know it takes a lot of arranging and helping from spouses to make it all work. I am so appreciative!! Miriam, my dad's girlfriend, and my Aunt Joyce cooked baked ziti and we had another birthday cake and other desserts. It was so nice to see my Dad because I think he felt a little left out on Saturday at the shower. He said "Is it just women, Jill?" So, seeing him on Sunday with the family was nice because he could feel included. Afterwards, I took Joyce and Barbara back to my house to spend the night and then I took them to the airport Monday morning. They were a big help with organizing things. We were able to put some stuff away from the shower and at least get a head start on it. Todd even started putting things together like the pack and play and the swing. :)
The most special part to me was not so much the actual birthday but the fact that I was able to spend quality time with the family that came into town from long distances. Everyone knows how showers, weddings, etc are. You have so many people to spend time with at these events, that you can't really spend a long amount of time at the actual event. So, having these seperate days, to spend true quality time together was priceless. The only person that I wasn't able to spend more time with was Mary, who flew in from DC. She was there for the shower and of course I spent time with her there. It just wasn't long enough. She had to get back home to her twins who are 10 month old twins. I felt so loved all weekend! All these sacrifices that people made for me to be here for my special weekend and the fact that they made a big deal about my birthday when we all know the shower was enough to make my heart melt. Instead, my heart was overflowing!!
OH JILL WE WERE SO VERY HAPPY TO SEE BOTH OF YOU AND SPEND SUNDAY WITH YOU. THE SHOWER WAS BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR MOM DID A GREAT JOB. YES YOUR DAD DID WISH HE WAS THERE BUT KNEW ONLY GIRLS WERE THERE. SUNDAY WAS JUST GREAT SPENDING TIME WITH YOU TODD, YOUR FARTHER AND MIRIAM AND BARBARA. GLAD TO HAVE HELPED PUT SOME OF THE BABY THINGS AWAY FOR YOU. HOW I WISH WE COUL HAVE LIVED CLOSER AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP YOU OUT ALOT MORE FOR YOU AND TODD. LOVE FROM AUNT JOYCE AND UNCLE PAUL.
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