Peanut's SURPRISE!!

About week ago, I got a huge surprise.

My friends, Jen and Laura (who you'll 'meet' below) came to my house around 5:30 last Saturday night to pick me up. We are fortunate enough to have such wonderful hubbies that we get to have a "girls night" every few weeks or so--we go eat, hang out, talk, shop....and have sooooo much fun together.

Love them.

Anyway, Saturday was our scheduled night, and they got here to pick me up, but were acting a bit strange. We weren't going to our normal place, and they, in fact, wouldn't tell me where we were going. They were being very, very secretive.

And it bugged the heck out of me.

I am not one who handles surprises very well. Never have been. If I catch wind of something that even just might be going on, I will bug and bug and bug and bug a person (usually poor Shane or one of my friends) until they just give in and spill it so as to shut me the heck up tell me what's going on.

But, this time, I literally was completely in the dark.

I don't know if it was pregnancy brain or just a really, really well kept secret (probably a little of each, I suppose)--but I had no idea on earth that my closest friends and family were throwing me.....

A surprise baby shower for Peanut!

All of my favorite people in the whole wide world (who live locally, of course) were there!

Kathy, my Pastor's wife, and Charlotte, a very good
friend from church (and my boys' favorite snack supplier) *grin*

My wonderful Aunt Karen and my three cousins, Haley, Hilary, and Hanna

My friend Steph and her mother--also my friend, for the record--Jona

My friends Katie and Steph

We pulled in to the restaurant with Jen and Laura still in silent mode and me still wondering what on earth we were doing here, at this particular place.
It wasn't until I walked in and saw the streamers that it hit me!!

I was so surprised and excited.

{Please pay no attention to the fact that my coat will not button.
Yes, I know it looks awesome, thankyouverymuch.}

The balloons and decorations were sooooo cute!

My friend Jen, and my wonderful Mommy, who was the driving force behind the shower. She was insistent that it all be kept a secret--everyone did a FAB job with that!

Me and my mom, also affectionately known around this blog as "Grandma MJ".
This, my friends, is the famed grandmother of Date Night.

My other two wonderful friends, Sarah and Laura

Me and my cake....

....and so many gifts!

I had such fun opening all the gifts....such girlie, wonderful things!
Headbands.....
beautiful outfits (lots of those!)....

books.....

....and remember my briar.claire wish list!? Steph paid attention, and bought my favorite hat and headband! (It already goes with like, 12 things. I'm so excited.)

Haley got me the self-named 'cutest diaper bag e-ver.' It is, don't you think?

From Charlotte--go Illini!!

Ha! I thought the look on my face was funny in this one.

Deer in the headlights! (That adorable outfit was from Jen)

A handmade blanket from one of the ladies at church that couldn't come

The softest Teddy Bear ever and some more hair bows from Kathy!
{Please let Peanut have hair, please let Peanut have hair....}

One of the outfits from my Aunt Karen--it read, "A wish come true" Aww.

Loaded in another (so cute and smaller--I'll have plenty of use for both!) diaper bag--
Can a Mommy ever have too much Desitin? I mean, really.

Peanut's first pair of jeans (thanks Sarah!)
Pink fleece lined, of course.

And, love at first site--our new carseat/stroller.
Pink and brown...
...and the most girlie, beautiful stroller there ever was.
*grin*
I love it.
(From Grandma MJ)

It was such an amazing night, and the best way for me to sum it all up was that I left the restaurant that night feeling so very loved.

For my friends and family to do all of that for me--on my fourth baby, no less--was just amazing, and I was just go grateful and appreciative. I love them all so much--I'm so blessed to have such wonderful people all around me!!