kick you from the inside.
~Rita Rudner
Dani's baby shower was held this past Saturday at her home near Saratoga, NY. It was a splendid affair. Surrounded by friends and family, she and Erik celebrated, in advance, the little boy that has been growing for many weeks inside her body.
Dani is due in early November but the date will be advanced to mid-October because she has come down with a condition that affects about five percent of pregnant women:
pre-eclampsia. This can be a dangerous condition, both for mom and baby, that involves high blood pressure and swollen joints and can negatively effect just about every organ in the body. There is no known cause of this illness. In its mild form, strict bedrest for the mother is ordered by the doctor, along with constant monitoring. In its severe form, the mother is hospitalized and the birth induced -- giving birth is the only way to cure the condition.
We drove up to Dani and Erik's on Tuesday. Stacey would stay the week -- cooking, cleaning and helping to get the house ready for the invading hoardes on Saturday. I returned to the city to take care of Pumpkin (the cat) and other business.
In addition to Stacey, Dani's good friend Erica flew up from Florida. She, along with Stacey, were the shower organizers. With Erica came a little doll -- her 15-month old baby, Brennan.
Say hello to Brennan. She captured our hearts!
Saturday morning came and we stepped up the preparations. The shower was called for 12 o'clock and there was lots of work still to be done. I had picked up food in Brookln and brought it back with me when I returned upstate on Friday. The kitchen was busy with Stacey, Erica, Tina (another good friend of Dani's who lives nearby), Erik and myself - setting the table, laying out the paper goods and appetizers, moving the furniture around to make more room for the guests and more.
Dani takes it really easy as Erik tests the appertizers and helps to set up the living room.
Mary Lundberg, Erik's mom, arrives and says hello to baby boy Lundberg.
Tears of Joy for the mother-in-law. Brian, Erik's dad is all smiles.
Cousin Corey is very happy. Cousin Steffi makes nice to Dani's belly.
Tina helps out in the kitchen.
Erica, working hard to get things ready.
The guests arrived and the party got under way. The Lundberg parents arrived. Then the Weinstein entourage. Malte and Marlo and their kids, Luke and Olivia, had flown up in Malte's seaplane. They landed in Albany and took a cab to the house and walked in at the same time as my brother who had driven up with Jessica and Eddie and their kids: Jordan and the new baby, Ben. Next came Alexis who had driven up with daughter Corey and Corey's soon-to-be-husband, Alex. More and more friends and kids and babies arrived until the house looked more like a nursery on Open School Day than a house in suburban Albany.
Next door neighbors, Marta and her daughter Raquel, greet Dani.
Mark, Corey, Alex and Erik ... in the backyard.
Erik and mom Mary.
Tina and Joe's kids - (l-r) Sophia, Alek and Victoria.
Marlo and her new nephew - Ben Mosher.
Corey, Jessie and Ben - two sisters and a baby.
Luke and his dad - Malte.
Family meeting in the backyard.
Ron and Joe talk it over.
Joe and Tina - ain't that sweet?
The food was great and plentiful and people gathered around the serving table. After eating, Dani opened her presents to the oohs and aahhs of the guests. The kids surrounded the mother-to-be and watched as the presents were opened. This was a real happening.
Plenty of good food (and plenty of good people to eat it).
Dani opens a present. Erik looks on.
Look at those faces ... think they like it??
"Hey everyone! My mom knitted this for her new grandson." A labor of love for sure!
We all watched as the presents were opened.
After the presents, out came scrumptous desserts and coffee. It was a great shower and we realized, after everyone left, that there would soon be a third person in this now-quiet house and he would probably not be so quiet. Welcome! We can't wait and are so happy for Erik and Dani. Hope your share our joy and excitement.
Stacey's famous chocolate cake and other wonderful goodies.
Wasn't she my little girl just....yesterday? And now she's having a little boy?
The two Lundbergs - soon to be three. Life will never be the same again....(much better).
2 comments:
It certainly was a great party. I wish my niece and new nephew lots of wonderful times as they journey the path of parenthood. For me, there is nothing like it in the world. And, being a grandparent is beyond description. You get to see your children for the second time. Man, that DNA stuff is incredible. I love being a grampy! Oh yes Matt, Ben is a boy, not a girl. So Marlo has her new "nephew in her arms, not her new niece. Love to all....
Daddy, what would a party be without you to capture it? It used to be that we all waited eagerly for your photos to be processed...now we wait for your writing as well. Thank you. I love you.
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