Baby Shower

I got pestered by mum-in-law and hubby to go to the park with them yesterday, I wondered what they were up to.  On getting back home, I walked in to find my sisters and friends, lots of yellow and lots of food.

I suspected the girls were up to something, but I was seriously surprised to see my dearest friends there.  It may have taken six pregnancies and my fourth baby insh'Allah - but I was finally going to get a BABY SHOWER!!!

More food and a gorgeous bouquet from my lovely mum who had been in on the surprise as had Little Lady (those two are ever so tight and always in cahoots).

The wonderful cake was  from Fashionista who seems to be on permanent cake duty for the whole family - I can't tell you how good this was - fluffy sponge and the lightest cream on top.

I looked like a bit of  frump in a loose baggy outfit, so I ran upstairs as soon as I had finished hugging all of my friends and changed into the pretty blue dress Mum-in-law bought back from Pakistan which I had been saving for Eid.  Just as well, because it just fit, no chance of getting into it for Eid.

Little Lady of course, who is a mini Fashionista in the making, was ready with party dress and her lovely new button necklace.

The girls, particularly Kooks had made so much effort with a handmade banner, yellow lanterns, yellow handmade crepe chains festooned on walls and mini labelled gift bags.

Apparently there were more balloons with messages and ones shaped like a baby, all filled with helium, but someone managed to let go of them on the way to my house!

There was also lots of food, mum made chicken tikka and cut plates of fruit (mango and strawberry), Fashionista made yummy chicken sandwiches, one friend brought seekh kebabs and another made mini mince pasties. My sisters also ordered pizza, fried chicken and wedges.  Another friend made the lovely pavlova below.  People also brought cakes and baklava.

The girls had organised some lovely gifts.  I loved the boxes they came in.

Yellow pineapple cubes.

I have just started to get my concentration back enough to read (having an iPhone doesn't help as you end up browsing rubbish instead of reading), so the books were very welcome, I cannot wait to read Cloud Atlas.

The white baby layette was from a friend who I hadn't seen in a very long time and had been missing dearly - it will go into my hospital bag.  The scented soap was a lovely treat.  I may save the incense set for my room starts to smell like nappies!  The patterned scarf I will be wearing to work on Monday of course.

One of my managers from years ago, and now good friend, found out about the pregnancy yesterday and dropped by with this amazing nappy cake.  She must have made it overnight.  I was so touched by the effort she had made.  Everyone else was just amazed this cake wasn't a real edible cake.

My sisters bought me this beautiful dress.  It totally rocks and is now my Eid dress (I just hope it fits then at the pace I am growing).

The pattern on the side panels remind of something from a Van Gogh painting.

I had so much fun catching up with friends, eating good food, playing the baby shower Games my sister-in-law organised (guess the celebrity baby, baby items A-Z and finish the nursery rhyme).  At one point Little Lady made me these two cards.  I asked her afterwards if she felt I wasn't paying attention and she said she had.  I apologised.

Alhamdulillah I felt so loved,  as one friend pointed out, you are so lucky to have so many friends and family who care about you.  A special thank you was in order for Kooks whose idea it was and who did the organising  - the effort and food was lovely, but it was the fact that she managed to get together all of the friends that I loved the most which made me feel so happy, loved and yet entirely unworthy of all of the fusss and effort.