Footsteps: Nothing Like Family... Baby Shower in Athens

My two weeks' stay in Tennessee and Georgia culminated with an incredible baby shower hosted by Christine (my sis-in-law), Jeana (step sis-in-law), Jennifer (stepsis), Becky (sis-in-law), Rachel (cousin), Janet (cousin), and Linda (Christine's mom). Wow, right?! It truly is amazing to have this many family members who would love me enough to sacrifice their time and energy to throw such a fun and memorable party for baby Will and me. I was completely overwhelmed. After the shower, I got to hang out with my extended family from GA, VA and even NY. Needless to say, my heart was quite full after all of it. I just wish it wouldn't have all happened so fast!

Cutest and most delicious cake by Cecilia Villaveces bakery in Athens. She is famous in that town. Becky was smart to grab some of Matthew's own model airplanes for the decor :).

Best diaper cake ever made by my step sis-in-law, Jeana. She is such a sweetheart. This must have taken a very long time!

My sweet parents, daddy and Mary Alice

Cute, huh? Our little trooper's got his first uniform like daddy.

My Aunt Bonnie came in from Arlington, VA. It's always great to see her. I'm blessed to have so many loving aunts (three on mom's side and three on dads!) and to be able to have close relationships with them all.

The look of lovin my papa

The incredible food display

My beautiful and accomplished cousin, Jennifer, and her adorable son, Jackson, who came in from New York!

Matthew's great cousins, Clancey and Emily. Not pictured is Micki and Aunt Diane. They were all so sweet to come.

Megan and I have been friends since elementary school and she drove from Atlanta to be there! Theresa and I were roomies our freshman year at UGA and she drove from Asheville, NC, to be there! Seriously, lifetime friends are like permanent heart medicine :). It was great seeing them.

Rachel and Linda being really cute with their classic coke bottles

The truly amazing hostesses

Polly, cousin Ash and Aunt Mary-Anne. They have always been so loving and supportive, and I just love them so much.

Aunt Jill and mama with their daughters. Only in my own family do I feel short!

This is typical of how Christine and I interact with each other. I couldn't ask for a more fun and loving sister-in-law, who is really more of an actual sister. She is an amazing wife to my bro and incredible mother of three precious girls. And somehow she finds time to throw really fantastic showers, sell children's clothing for a top notch company and sell high end antiques from her booth at Madison Markets. Can you say go-getter??? I'm not really sure if she sleeps... ;-p

Posing with my girls Ashley and Teece

When you're the guest of honor, you get to go first in the food line ;-p

Posing with my mama and Matthew's mama, Carla

I love my stepsister, Jennifer. Here is her and Mary Alice looking pretty in their blue cardigans. I've just got some really sweet family. William is already so blessed.

I love my cousins

There were lots of laughs going around. It was really a special day.

These three beautiful girls were flower girls and guestbook attendant at Matthew's and my wedding FOUR years ago! Matthew and I babysat them while we were still in college and when they were actually little girls. They are all grown up now!

Matthew's Great Aunt Elsie even came! She is so spunky and fun.

Love the vintage straws and classic coke bottles. Coke just tastes how it should this way :).

My cousin, Janet, just got engaged. Here she is showin off her bling. I believe her words were, "Oh, this little thing?", as she daintily tossed that hand into the air :P.

Christine with her mom, Linda, and sister, Lee Anne. Lee Anne is a photographer took so many of these great photos, which is why she's only in one of them! She treats me like her very own sister. I just love how the Lord has placed such wonderful people into our family through marriage.

My very sweet step sis-in-law, Jeana. Don't let that pretty and sweet exterior fool you... this girl shoots bucks! And she's the only gal I know who can live on a hunting plantation in rural SC with barely any cell service or grocery store for miles.

My awesome sis-in-law, Becky, who drove in from Atlanta and brought amazing cookies from the bakery where she used to work. I really hit the jackpot with the family I married into.

After the shower, we had a huge family dinner in downtown Athens with family on my mom's side. This is the happy just-got-engaged couple, Janet and Trevor... soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Overstreet!

My bro and sis are so happy together and it's contagious!

Hahaha! That's Blake. He's my cousin, too.

Aunt Jill and Uncle Donnie. Happily married for something crazy like thirty something years!

The two sisters loving being together at dinner

Jen is totally cut out for having a little boy and is teaching me some good stuff that I need to know! Cade is Rachel's very sweet little boy. He is getting so big!