There were beautiful balloons and decorations. Pink plates, napkins, silverware, table cloths, and flower centerpieces. Assorted beverages, snacks, handmade chocolates, bakery, yummy stuffed cabbages, mashed potatoes, salad, and pizza's. And of course, the cake. Andrea, my Mom's best friend, ordered the cake and cupcakes... a lady bug and sunflower. The cake was beyond gorgeous!
Guests signed a photo frame and plate with their names and messages for Miss Peyton. Since we had so many guests we were not able to play games. I had such a wonderful time sitting down and visiting with everyone, and talking about what a gift Motherhood is.After everyone ate, Matt and I opened Peyton's presents. She kicked the entire time and Matt joked with me that she knew this party was all for her. My Mom and Mother-in-Law asked guests to bring Peyton a children's book in lieu of a card, with a special message written inside for her to read as she grew older. We received so many beautiful books! My favorite book we received was "Pebble's: Daddy's Girl!" I read it over and over the week before Peyton was born. We displayed the book at Peyton's funeral and the book now lays under Peyton's Memory Box that holds her ashes. We decided that Peyton's books would be a wonderful gift to Matthew Jr. from his big sister. Many of the books, except a select few that I decided I would one day pass down to a future daughter or other special little girl in my life, are now displayed on a shelf in Matthew's nursery between the beautiful book ends that we received from my cousin's Lyndsey and Ashley at Peyton's shower. Matthew Jr. loves to be read his big sister's books.
Our entire pregnancy our Mom's kept telling Matt and I not to buy anything until after our baby shower, so we only bought little things like a pack of diapers here and there. The day of our shower we learned that our Mom's were more than right! Matt and I were so blessed to receive nearly everything we needed for Miss Peyton at her shower and many people gave us money to use for the things we did not receive. The week after our shower we used the money we received to buy little things we did not receive at our shower like a diaper bag and baby monitors. We were incredibly fortunate to be set on clothing up to 18mons and diapers & wipes to last Peyton's entire "diaper stage".
My absolute favorite gift that received was a quilt my Grandma Donna made for Peyton. It was a monkey and pin wheel quilt. The funny thing is that my Grandma had no idea that monkey's were our theme for Peyton when she making the quilt. The quilt was with Peyton at the hospital and it stayed with her at the funeral home. During the funeral services the quilt laid under Peyton's casket. The quilt now hangs over Peyton's mini-rocking chair with her Monkey, Baby.I have nothing but beautiful memories of Peyton's baby shower.To our guests that attended Peyton's shower, and to those that couldn't make it but sent a card or a gift, please know that Matt and I were so incredibly grateful... we still are.
Because we were so incredibly blessed I wanted to write in each thank you card how thankful we were. Between baby laundry and naps I worked on the thank you cards. Once I was done writing every one's thank you card I began to stamp and address them. There were addresses that I needed to get from my Mom and Mother-in-Law, so I mailed the ones that were completed and put to the side the ones that still needed addresses. Many people received their thank you card on the Saturday Peyton was born and some guests never received their thank you card because I couldn't bare to mail them after Peyton's death.For months after our loss and even until just recently I contemplated on sending out the rest of the cards. It was something that I felt that I needed to do but could not actually do. Eventually, I decided that those that did not receive a thank you card understood. There was no reason to put myself through the daunting task of sending out the rest of the thank you cards.
A handful of the gift and all of the diapers & wipes we received we donated to Womankind, a center for pregnant woman, in Garfield Heights, OH just days after Peyton passed away. Some of the gifts, specifically clothing, are packed away, in hopes that one day we may have another baby girl. Many of the gifts we received however, are now used by Peyton's little brother, Matthew, who is now 5 months old.
Looking back, Peyton's baby shower was a very important part in my healing. There will never be enough words to express how grateful I am to have these memories... I cherish them with my whole heart.
