Olivia and Elliot opened the door to his mom and kids, who were all holding containers of food, boxes and packages. Neither Olivia nor Elliot had wanted a big baby shower, but they were touched when his kids asked to throw them a small family shower. "Go relax," Maureen told Olivia and Elliot, smiling. "Remember, "we're doing all the work."
Olivia and Elliot came back into the living room to find a buffet of homemade dishes spread out on a table and a large pile of wrapped packages. "Thank you so much," Olivia told them, while Elliot hugged everyone.
After enjoying the delicious meal they'd brought, Elliot tried to begin cleaning up. "Dad, you are supposed to be relaxing," Lizzie reminded him. "We've got it."
"Present time," Kathleen announced, once they'd cleaned up. She brought over a large gift bag. Olivia pulled out an adorable stuffed owl.
"Oh Kathleen, this is perfect," Olivia said, hugging her.
"Wait, that's only the first part of my present, Kathleen told them. She brought over a second gift bag filled with a hooded towel decorated with an owl face on the hood, washcloths and bath supplies. Olivia examined each of the items in delight as Elliot thanked his daughter.
"My turn!" Maureen said. When they unwrapped the box, they found sets of sheets from two books they'd been reading the baby, Good-Night Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and matching pajamas. "These are wonderful, where did you find them?" Olivia exclaimed, looking through everything. "Thank you!"
Bernie brought over a large gift bag. Elliot reached inside to find a large knit blanket nestled in tissue paper. "I made it large enough that you can wrap it around you and the baby or she can keep using it when she's growing up, Bernie explained. Olivia hugged Bernie tightly as Kathleen explained they all still had the blankets their grandma had knit them.
Lizzie and Dickie brought over a basket of books. "We picked out some of our favorites from when we were kids," Dickie told them. Elliot smiled as he looked through the books, remembering reading them with his children.
Olivia and Elliot hugged and thanked everyone countless times.
After everyone went home, Olivia and Elliot looked around the growing nursery. The crib, changing table, and dresser were put together, but they hadn't put any decorative touches up yet. Elliot folded his mother's blanket over the rocking chair, while Olivia put the stuffed owl on it. "We're getting all ready for you, Nora," he said, looking at Liv fondly.