Showered with Love

Exactly 7 years ago, Brian and I (and the entire Knepper clan) loaded up a U-haul trailer in Columbia, MO, and headed off on the adventure of a lifetime. The Kneppers only stayed for a night, but Brian and I have called Orlando home for the past seven years. In the beginning, we thought we'd have a 14-month stint in Orlando while Brian attended Full Sail and both of us lived the Florida lifestyle, but look at us now! We both found jobs here that we loved and couldn't do back in the Midwest. We bought a little house and began to call Central Florida "home."

What's made the piece of swampland our actual home are the people that we've met here. We've got an amazing network of friends, and I'm so thankful to have crossed paths with each and every one of them. And I know that I'll be even more thankful when we bring our little bundle of joy home and realize that while our families may live 1,000 miles away, we're not all alone here.

My friends have already been amazingly supportive throughout my pregnancy. From listening to my little complaints and worries to making me feel better about my feet (which have now graduated to being called Easter Hams) to being incredibly generous in helping us to prepare for Baby Fleming. Two weeks ago, my colleagues at HMH threw us a wonderful shower. We got all sorts of goodies for the baby, including a stroller and about two dozen books. What else would you expect from the Reading Department?

Such a cute (and delicious) cake!

Nothing says "Celebration" like a conference room party. Seriously, though, it was decorated with lots of cute little touches and was filled with friends and colleagues. What more could we ask for?

Later that week, the ladies in my Book Club surprised me with a little shower, too. It was so fun to celebrate with all of them, and just look at how precious this cake is!

Thanks to Becky for making the cake and to all of my book club friends for surprising me. I picked up a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar the next day. I can't wait to share it with Baby Fleming!

We have one more shower here in Orlando this weekend, and I am super excited (expect more pics next week). While I am thrilled and blessed to be the recipient of so many wonderful things for the baby, what means even more to me is the support that we continue to get from all of our loved ones here in the Sunshine State. Thanks and love to all of you!!