Showering Selah Grace

This past weekend, Millie Janalee and I loaded up with my mom and sister for a fun weekend with our cousins.  Clancy is expecting sweet baby Selah Grace in 5 weeks or so...although we are pretty certain it will be before that.  Selah Grace is growing very well!  We weren't able to attend the upcoming shower, so we decided to throw her a shower with cousins.  The female ones only of course. 

Keeping it simple, we reserved a table for 8 at one of my favorite restaurants in Jackson - Bon Ami.  We stopped by the florist on our way to the restaurant Saturday morning to pick up a small arrangement for the table.  It was a shower after all!  And no shower is complete without pretty flowers, right?  They were beautiful!

My mom's cousin, Alice, was the first to arrive.  Background info:  Alice's mother was Millie...Millie Janalee's namesake. Alice is a hoot!  You really just have to meet her to understand.  My family loves nothing more than being around people who are what you see.  People like that make you feel at ease and comfortable.  That's what family is about!  We visited with Alice while we waited on the guest of honor.  Alice's sister-in-law, Ruby, also joined us!  We were so glad to see her.  We don't get to see this side of the family often, so it is nice to reconnect and just have fun!

Of course, Millie Janalee sat at the head of the table with the guest of honor and put on her own little show.  Pretty soon, we'll need to let her know she can mellow out some when we are celebrating others.  Ha!  We did work on our "nice restaurant manners."  She wasn't all that into the manners part...as she took off racing around the room screaming a high pitched squeal of delight.  I suppose it didn't help that Auntie Kristin was chasing her around.  Hmmm... 

We enjoyed our delicious lunch/brunch before Clancy began opening her gifts.  She received so many nice things, including this handmade rocking horse frame our Uncle Shoo Shoo made.  Alice gave Millie Janalee one too...and she's saving some for Kristin and Dustin as well.  Alice painted Selah Grace's horse and cross stitched her name in it.  LOVE!  I'm seriously gonna ask her to make Millie Janalee one just like it.  So sweet!  And such an heirloom!

Millie Janalee and I shopped for next summer.  We are looking forward to matchy matchy pictures on the beach, so we gave Selah Grace some matching summer outfits for next year.  We also gave her a cute swimsuit and sunhat for our Panama City Beach trip and cute name bands for her bottles and sippy cups.

Kristin and Mama used their experience with Millie Janalee to give Selah Grace gifts she will use.  Kristin picked up the cute Bumbo seat, and Mama gave her a ZCush sleeping bag.  I plan to do a separate post on my most loved and used baby items.  This sleeping bag is one of them!  Millie Janalee slept in this thing until she couldn't fit anymore and made the decision herself not to.  She could not and would not sleep without it!

Kristin also crafted an adorable sign for the hospital door!  She bought the cute canvas and frame.  Then, she personalized it and put it together as a door hanger.  Such a crafty sister!

We had such a fun time seeing Clancy so glowing!  Isn't she the cutest pregnant woman ever!?  I'm so thankful for the relationship we share as cousins.  If you don't know by now...one of my favorite things in this world is family.  There's nothing more constant and accepting...except the love of Christ.

After our little family shower, Mama, Kristin, Millie Janalee, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, and myself loaded up in our car headed toward Hobby Lobby.  Kristin needed to put finishing touches on Selah Grace's nursery, and we picked up some flowers for an arrangement at the cemetary. 

It was a beautiful day, and we were honored to place a fall arrangement on Nonnie and Pops's grave.  Millie Janalee played in the grass while Auntie Kristin worked.  The rest of us just kinda stood around and talked about family history and stories.  Old family stories are ALWAYS a part of our get togethers.

It was a gorgeous day to be outside...smiling and laughing at the old stories.  I can't wait to share the stories with Millie Janalee one day.  I've never heard anything like them, and I want her to learn from them.  Lessons like laughing at yourself, taking care of family no matter what, and never missing the opportunity to make a memory.

Selah Grace's nursery is just adorable!  Clancy joined us in our hotel room for a cousin slumber party, and Millie Janalee entertained us both nights until nearly midnight.  She is just a big shot of energy these days..cracking me up...and herself!  I love the sound of that cackle.

And soon, there will be even more baby cackles to join her!