Ok, I tried to work for a bit but I wanted to fill you in on some more about the shower out here.

Lori and Megan, as I mentioned before, came out for the shower. We had manicures/pedicures on Friday and then did some shopping. They bought me two beautiful tops - you can see them in the pictures from this past weekend. If it wasn't for them, I would have worn sweat pants. Thanks Lori and Megan!!

My friends Heather and Amanda threw us a great shower on Saturday. I worked with both of these girls at my job in SF. The three of us have since changed jobs but have remained great friends. Heather opened up her home to 10 of my friends.

We sat around and gabbed for a while and then played a Madison game -- how creative is this?? Heather had 8 questions about Madisons, such as, What actress played Madison in Splash? What number president was James Madison? and What university is in Madison Wisconsin. After the game we ate -- great food (butternut squash mac/cheese, egg salad sandwiches, spinach salad with nuts and craisins, cupcakes and apples with fruit dip). Then came the presents. Oh my did we get such wonderful things!!

My mother in law sent us a beautiful sheerling coat from their trip to Italy for the Olympics plus a ton of clothes :). Keith's parents also bought Maddie's crib (pics on the site). They seem to be loving the thought of their granddaughter!!

Lori, her mother Betsy, cousin Alisa and sister-in-law Jen (in addition to being Lori's family are all my friends, too!!) got us the crib set. We can't wait to set it all up this weekend. Thanks so much guys. We'll always think of you when we look at the crib set.

I told you about Megan's gifts...tub/bath accessories. The bath stuff is so cute!!

Our neighbor Patricia (we're lucky to have such nice next door neighbors. Patricia has been a fabulous resource and friend) got us a great outfit with matching sneakers!! Too much. Socks, Baby Einstein toy, car mirror and a picture book, too.

Our friends Ben and Andrea (close friends we met out here through Keith's business partner, we do a lot of traveling with them and dinners, too. Andrea is due next week with their little boy! Talk about good timing...Maddie already has a prom date!) bought us a pink gingham chair with Maddie's name embroidered on the back. We can see her sitting in this chair watching Steeler games (or Giants...sorry Keith!).

Taji/Josy - I worked with them at my current job. Two more good friends that I met out on the West Coast (I've been lucky!). They bought us our swing. We know this swing will be a God send and give us sanity when we need it!!

Heidi - Heather's sister - got us an animal book (you know Maddie has to at least love dogs!) along with a stroller toy and car mirror. Thanks Heidi!!

Julie - (a friend we met through our neighbors Patricia and Billy) gave us the cutest hooded bunny robe with towels, sleeper and wash cloths. I can just see Keith wrapping Maddie in the robe and giving her a squeeze!!

Nancy and Juliana (my sister and niece) sent us the sweetest outfit. Pants with a matching shirt. Nancy has already sent us Juliana's clothes. Maddie will be well dressed, to say the least!

Amanda (one of the shower hosts) gave us lap pads, onesies, the cutest outfit with matching little cardigan. Amanda orchestrated a scrap book. She sent out pages to family and friends. This brought down the house at the end of the shower. Everyone's pages had the best pictures...my mom, Jimmy, me when I was little, the family together. It is one of the best memory keepers that we'll ever get. Thanks Amanda. This gift will be in our lives forever.

Heather (last but not least) in addition to having us all at her home, making delicious food and providing such a warm, welcoming environment for the shower gave us an outfit, onesies, bottle brush/dishwasher basket and the great little crab bath toy/wash cloth. Thanks so much!!

After we opened the gifts, Keith came in with the most beautiful flowers. Of course all the ladies loved this (and we heard from a few husbands about how Keith is making them look bad). Thanks Keith. :)

It was such a great day. Wanted to share it with all of you. I will be sending Sarah a lot of pictures of the scrap book so you can see the pages and how special it is.

Keith and I are blessed with family and friends like you who are making this experience more extraordinary than we could have hoped for.

Alright, I really better work now.

Love,
Jennifer