Tour of the Midwest Part 1

Two weeks ago I headed to Louisville, Xenia and Indianapolis for an extended trip to the Midwest. This was my last opportunity to fly anywhere before I hit that blessed 32 week marker and am officially stuck in Arizona for the heat of summer. I spent a total of 12 days visiting with my family, seeing my friends and attending baby showers. My mom's friends were kind enough to throw me a baby shower in Louisville over my first weekend and then the following weekend the Hurleys had a Xenia shower and Lauren and Leah threw me an Indy shower. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I got home.

I spent the first 8 days of my trip home in Louisville. Kevin couldn't join me until the following week, but since I had three showers to attend I had no choice (heehee) but to be in the Midwest over the course of two weekends. It was so nice to be home with my parents, just relaxing, getting pedicures, going shopping with mom, watching Lost and resting when I needed to. However, while I was home it occurred to me that this would be my last trip home by myself. Now I am not trying to be dramatic, but I feel like there are certain milestones in my life that have been marked by visits home; The night before my wedding when I slept in the house I had grown up in for the last time as a Bratcher or the first time Kevin and I came to Louisville for a visit and stayed in my childhood bedroom. It occurred to me that the next time I came to my parents' house, I would be a parent myself. I am not saying that this is going to be bad, but it did strike me as yet another sign that I am growing up, becoming even more of an adult, and that my life is going to drastically change soon. It was definitely bittersweet.

On Saturday my mom's friends, Sue Smith, Becca Collins, Terie Blankenbaker, Diane Steinrock and Carol Ann Anderson hosted a baby shower for all of my Louisville friends and family. We had a large group of people, consisting of old friends, close neighbors and supportive family. It was so great to be surrounded by so many people that I love so much and to be able to celebrate this exciting occasion with them. I was overwhelmed by everyone's incredible generosity and encouraging words they had to share with me. The baby shower was perfect and wonderful and a celebration I will always remember. I was exhausted afterwards, but it was totally worth it!

Getting ready to open gifts.

Some of the gorgeous food (that was all delicious!!)

My amazing friend Emma who had just had Baby Vera four weeks earlier (doesn't she look great?!). I was so happy she was able to be there to help me celebrate. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends and it made the day that much more special. Plus I got to meet Baby Vera later on that evening and she is just as gorgeous as her momma!

Laughing at the "Young Buck" onesie I got, with the card addressed to Baby Hurley and Grandpa Don. Priceless!

There are so many other wonderful things that happened while I was in Louisville. I got to visit with one of my mentors, Amy (Renfro) Henson. We met at Panera and had an opportunity to catch up and talk about things ahead. Amy had some really great wisdom to pass on about parenting, childbirth, boundaries and trusting God. I am so blessed to have this woman in my life and just wish we had more time to see each other. Her prayer at the end of our breakfast brought me to tears as I silently thanked God for her many many years of mentoring and friendship.

Other highlights of my time in Louisville included lunch with Dad, taking naps, my awesome pregnancy massage at Z's, special time with Abby and her two daughters, and going shopping at the Gap Outlet with my mom, Terie Blankenbaker, her daughter-in-law Margaret, her granddaughter Ruby and my close friend Lesley Liesman. It was so great to be surrounded by such a wonderful company of women, and while I felt like my time with Lesley was WAY too short (five hours...sniff sniff), it was such a relaxing day and also a very successful shopping trip. I also enjoyed getting to know Margaret better as well as her daughter Ruby. After spending the day with these two, and seeing how well behaved Ruby is, I now have all new parenting goals to aspire to.

Tour of the Midwest part two will be about my time in Xenia and Indianapolis and the baby shower celebrations we had there. Stay tuned...