I Am a Blessed Girl!

A couple of my friends threw me a baby shower for Baby Sister.

I am so grateful for the time they took out of their lives to plan and throw it.

 I was surrounded by friends that I love. This ward is seriously wonderful and we have made more than friends here, we have made family. And that is the very best gift anyone could give us. 

I think back to when we moved here and Dalton was six weeks old. We had left our only ward we'd been in our married life. There we were all similar in age and experience with children. Here most of the ward had at least one school aged child along with older toddlers. There we were useful and well-known; Jed was in the bishopric and I was in the RS presidency. We were strong members trying to serve others often. Here after three weeks I was called into the Primary and Jed was called as a Sunday school  teacher for the Laurels and Priests. No one really knew us. There we were social butterflies and never got home from church until an hour after or more because we were visiting. Here after four months in the ward people were still asking us if we had just moved in. There we lived on campus and there was a free shuttle for the town and for  Utah State, so Jed could take that and I could have the car and I was at cosmetology school 40 hours a week. Also our entire ward was within 100 yards of each other. Here, I was a new stay-at-home mom stuck in our little apartment all day every day. Trying to figure out how to take care of our new little guy.

It's really not a surprise that I suffered from terrible postpartum depression that eventually went on to become depression because I was ashamed to admit to anyone that I needed help. It was the longest 10 months of my life. I was blessed to finally start making friends a few months after we were here, but it's pretty easy to see that at one point I really didn't like living here and prayed all the time that we would move back to Utah. And now I'm preparing for our second baby and I am so happy that this is where she gets to call home. So many people love her already. I am so loved here and I can't even explain how good that feels. 

You know the saying "It takes a village to raise a child"? I believe it. I know that postpartum depression can and will probably happen this time, but I have some of the very best friends that will be here for me. I can visit with them, I can ask them questions, I can be reminded that I am a good woman and mother and in return I can fight this battle and be the best darn mom to my two kids I can be.

So to say my shower was amazing is an understatement.

Baby Sister got onesies, sippy ccups, diapers, a super cute Owl play pillow mat, a couple dresses. some adorable outfits, some sleepers, a couple blankets, diaper ointment, a Target gift card, pampered by getting the most amazing pedicure anyone could receive (technically that wasn't for Baby Sister but I'm pretty sure she enjoyed her mommy felling oh so relaxed!)  AND this amazing quilt below. 

It was the very last thing I opened and it made me pretty emotional. I just love my friend Kristi. I had asked her to help me figure out how to make this quilt and I had to decide it wasn't something she HAD to have. I was sad to let go of that for her room. Well she (did I mention she has a two month old and three other little girls herself) surprised me and made it for me. I hate that she took so much time and effort when I know she is tired, but I was so very grateful for it. I love it so much and to be from her makes it that much more special. Thank You Kristi!

When I got home I spent 15 minutes or more trying to decide just how to have it over the crib. I still play around with it when I go in, but I think this is my favorite way. I love it and her room is so special!