Pool Party Shower

This past Friday I was given another "surprise" shower at the Winchester Rehab Center where I swim to help with my lupus and fibromyalgia. While I had decided to take a break this month and under doctor's orders was supposed to be on bed rest all week to get rid of some of that fluid from the hospital visit, my mom knew about the shower and encouraged me to come visit the pool because the people wanted to do something special. After laying around our house or my mom's all week, I was definitely willingly and ready to get out and do something!

In the picture below are the two women responsible for the shower, Melissa and Nilda. Melissa is our aquatic instructor and Nilda is a woman who just recently began coming to the pool. I really didn't know Nilda at all, but surprisingly, she is the one who initiated this whole event and got the ball rolling. I am so amazed at her thoughtfulness and eagerness to do something so nice for me when I don't remember ever really officially meeting her.

They had one of the most adorable cakes I've ever seen. One of Nilda's friends made a tiny baby under a blanket for the cake topper out of fondant. I love the little toes!

This was the only shower Caleb was able to attend because Stacey's babies were sick at the first one and Caleb was sick during the second. I think he believed this party was for him. He received an Elmo balloon almost as soon as we walked in the door and was thrilled with all of the other pink balloons laying around as well. It was a great time throwing the balloons in the pool while NaNa had to chase him around to make sure he didn't fall in as a result of all the excitement.

Here Caleb is playing with our good friend Eddy.

One of the pool participants Caleb always enjoys is Bob.
Even when he first started talking he would say "Bob Bob Bob"
whenever we saw Bob at the pool. Bob likes Caleb too and
always asks about him. He once gave Caleb a little wooden
duck and told me he also plans to give him a golf club with a
suction cup on the end to help pick up the golf balls out of the
hole. These two buddies had fun at the shower together.

Here is another picture of Bob with Caleb. Caleb is smiling so
big because Bob, who is also a Hokie fan, let him play with a
key chain that plays the Hokie fight song.

Big brother also definitely enjoyed the food, especially the
chicken salad sandwiches that he kept reaching for
throughout the shower.

Caleb didn't have all the fun though. We visited, played a game, and opened presents as the party progressed. A large number of pool participants also went together to give us a gift card and money towards other purchases we still need to make. Between the three showers I think we now have enough to cover a highchair, pack-n-play, and carseat - what a blessing! God has been so good to us. It is amazing how much you need to purchase for a new baby even if it is your second child, especially if your kids are different genders. I am so blown away and thankful for our friends' generosity!

Melissa, our aquatic instructor, led the group in "The Price is
Right" game using a bag of items purchased from my baby registry.
Even though I've been buying similar items for Caleb over the past
couple years and placed them on the registry myself,
I was terrible at guessing the prices.

Once again there were more presents to help us prepare for
Baby Girl. The gift that really stood out in my mind though
was this baby blanket made by the gentleman sitting beside
me in this picture - Mr. Don Fowler. (Also, notice Caleb in the
background with another chicken salad sandwich in hand!)

While we all were sweating like crazy in the 95 or so degree room, I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I guess it's not too often these senior citizens get to throw a baby shower! I was definitely impressed and glad I made the trip to Winchester for a visit. :)