I had an unconventional baby shower really. It was everyone I loved – in one place – at one time. I saw it as my wedding but without a groom and without the booze for me. There were no games; no gift opening…just lots of hugs and advice. I loved it.
As a surprise, my sister asked everyone to bring a square to make a quilt out of. Something with a memory or advice – such an awesome idea. About three years ago, I gave them all to Will’s #1 babysitter to quilt it. She got most of the squares put together but then between work, babysitting for me and getting pregnant…she had to abandon the project. I got it back on the weekend and looked at it all tonight for the first time in years.
Here’s a sampling…..
Shortbread Recipe
My dad’s aunt Audrey made the BEST shortbread ever. Her recipe was secret..until my shower and she had her daughter-in-law stitch it on the square. All of my mom’s friends were madly copying it down. She passed away earlier this year. I’ll treasure this forever and attempt it myself next year.
FRANKLIN THE TURTLE…YES TWO
The story Will will hear? Your mom LOVED Franklin. The REAL story. I dated a much younger guy…okay MUCH younger. (Sidebar -he came over on our third date to watch the hockey game – a. he actually wanted to watch it and b. he asked if he could take his pants off because it was more comfortable (see a.) – WTF??) Anyway – I dropped him at the subway one morning and I watched him hop on the train with his ball cap and a backpack on. It came to me – I was dating Franklin the Turtle. Cheque please. I made the error of telling my co-workers…hence the turtle squares…
MY MOM’S FRIENDS
These are two squares from my mom’s friends. That’s my mom in the red shirt with my nephew Sam (he’s now closing in on 16) and on the right is a piece of a t-shirt that my mom had given one of them when they became a grandmother. Actually her grandkids now babysit Will! It was SO thoughtful and will help Will remember my mom. I don’t need help.
SUBLIMINAL BOOZE MESSAGES OR NOT SO
These are booties that say Hello Baby Boy in spanish. They’re from my friend who I went to Mexico with…there was crazed insanity. There was sleepwalking and bar dancing and skinny dipping. Yes – good reminder. Again – Will’s story – Mom really loved Mexico!
I also got a square with a mickey of vodka sewn onto it! Will will learn of it’s importance for disinfecting things!?
All of these were so thoughtful and amazing. There were words of encouragement, my old baseball uniform and one of my mom’s old shirts. A few are framed on Will’s wall already – a poem from my birthing class coach Mitchell, the words to John Lennon’s Beautiful Boy in braille and a picture and sand dollar from my stepmom.
I’m actually thinking of not making a quilt out of it at all but putting each square in a scrapbook for Will with an explanation (the clean versions) of each and who was there. I didn’t love being pregnant – but I loved the shower and the kid we were celebrating!
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Friday April 20
Beers/Wine drank in last week – 2 beers – 3 whiskey sours (could have been 12 since I kept grabbing everyone’s glasses…but well go with 3)
Orders of fries/chips in last week – Only ONE!
Weight – No idea – (note to self – buy scale)
Bike rides in to work – 0! Trips to Chiro – 1; Trips to Massage Therapist – 1; Trips to MEC to buy saddle bags for bike and holder for lock…upcoming Sunday. Yes. I threw my neck out (it’s still out) carrying my pack last Friday! Good news – I wasn’t happy about it – I wasn’t all ‘oooh too bad I can’t’ *drip, drip, sarcasm*. I was really disappointed. But I’ll be back on Tuesday!!!
OMG I almost peed…. I dated a turtle too!!!! LOL… Totally made me bust out laughing…
What an amazing idea. The patches are beautiful and have so much meaning… Just made me think I want to make one for each of my kids for when they are older… I’m going to write that in my book of things to do someday….
holy CRAP – that is so funny!
This is such a beautiful gift, Sara! You could do 2 scrapbooks: for him to read before and after he turns 18 😉
ps the Franklin story made me giggle out loud!
Franklin must’ve been watching this: http://vimeo.com/665598