Look Whoooo's Here!

This weekend several friends and I hosted a baby shower for Courtney and baby Jacob.

I posted a prayer request for Courtney and Josh 3 weeks ago when Jacob was born 10 weeks premature . Jacob is doing fantastic in his little incubator at the NICU. He is eating on his own and breathing on his own. He is putting on weight and we continue to pray that he will be coming home in the next 4-6 weeks.

The shower was previously scheduled for this weekend so we decided to go ahead with it!

The shower took place at 101 Lounge & Cafe in downtown Raleigh. I would not recommend this place to anyone for an event. In the end it all worked out fine (thanks to the hosts hard work the hour prior to the shower) but the place did not have their act together and we did not receive what we paid for. We did however have a view of the Raleigh St. Patty's day parade from the shower since two sides of the room were all glass windows over looking Blount and Davies St.

The shower theme was retro owl's since Jacob's nursery is decked out in Retro Owl's. We went with the line, "Look Whooo's Here!"

I hand sewed 10 retro owls for Courtney to keep (probably will turn them into a mobile). Each centerpiece consisted of a Mason Jar with an ivory ribbon tied around it, two blooming pussy willow branches from my back yard and two owls hanging from the branches. I must add they were precious and a labor of love!

I also made my customary diaper wreath for Courtney to match her nursery. Everyone thought it was a "work of art" and took down the piece of art hanging on the wall at the lounge and displayed the wreath. The sign under it says its worth $200... I'll take that!

All of the food was catered by Zest. If you have never been to Zest in Six Forks Station YOU MUST GO. I am biased. I grew up with the owner's daughter and ate their often but the food as you can see is amazing, fresh and beautiful.

BBQ Salmon Wraps, Chicken Cesar Wraps and Portabello Wraps

Spanakopita

Chicken Salad Stuff Roma Tomatoes

Foccacia Bread, Mixed Greens Salad and 3 dressings to choose from

Mediterranean Hummus and Toasted Flat Bread

For dessert we decided to MAKE cupcakes. We all got together the night before at one of the hosts house with Courtney to spend time together and bake. We all figured bust out the Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker....but we were mistaken. Lisa had something else in mind. HOME MADE.

This was truly a labor of love. Two double batches of Vanilla and Devils Food Cake cupcakes, millions of dishes (no lie) and butter and sugar and more butter. YIKES.

They weren't the tastiest of cupcakes but we sure put a lot of love into them. We are not sure how they didnt taste good with all of the junk we put into.

The vanilla cupcakes looked like cornbread without the icing.

We made the icing from scratch. I think that was the best tasting part.

Next time we will stick with Costco or Sam's for cupcakes!

Courtney with her sister Carlye and mom Rivka posing with recent photos of Jacob on display

Instead of shower favors the hosts donated money to March of Dimes, March for Babies in honor of Jacob's birth. According to Courtney this was one of the first things she saw upon arriving at the shower and it brought her to tears...

The hosts with Courtney. (L to R) Melissa, Courtney, Lisa, Me, Erica and Carlye

My girl!

All the ladies at the shower

Courtney got some fantastic gifts at the shower including lots of Preemie clothes for Jacob (which are really hard to find!) She took them with her on Sunday when she visited him (she goes twice a day!) and did a fashion with some of his new clothes! Check out his cuteness!!!!!

We love your Hirsch family...keep on praying that they will be able to bring Jacob home soon!