Hope for All- chapter 44
"Angela come sit over here!" said Samantha as she led her to the chair across the room. The furniture had been rearranged and more chairs were placed around the room. Decorations were all around the room- balloons, flowers and a large banner with the words 'Welcome Babies' on it.
"Angela Micelli! Welcome to your baby shower! We have all the things you will absolutely get us all back for making you do and or wear for the next few hours…" said Wendy as she put a large sash over her with the words 'Mommy to be" on it as well.
"Alright everyone! Brunch is served!"said Mrs. Rossini as she brought out trays of finger foods and sandwiches followed by trays of Italian food on sternos. The bar was set up with nonalcoholic punch and drinks with Isabelle as the bartender. As the women all sat down with their drinks and food, Mona and Samantha stood up to make a toast.
"Attention everyone! It's time to toast the woman of the hour! Since this isn't a roast, we've decided Samantha should speak on our behalf…" said Mona.
"Thank you all for coming today to celebrate Angela and our soon to be two new additions to our family. When Dad and I first came to Connecticut, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I didn't imagine finding friends, a school I loved, an annoying younger brother, a… Mona…" laughed Samantha as well as most of the other women.
"But most of all I never imagined my Dad falling in love again and getting a such a warm, kind, special person in Angela. She's been the mother I needed and I am so grateful she came into my life. I am beyond excited for these two little ones to join our family! So here's to Angela!" said Samantha as she raised her glass, the room toasting Angela. Angela awkwardly maneuvered to get up out of the chair as she walked over to Samantha, wiping tears from her eyes and she hugged her tightly.
"Oh sweetheart that was so beautiful! I'm so glad you came into my life! You're going to be the best big sister!" gushed Angela.
"Thanks Angela! I love you so much!" said Samantha as she hugged her again. Just then, one of the babies kicked, interrupting their moment.
"That was a strong one Angela!" she said as she placed her hand on her stomach, following the movements.
"Hey let me get in on that action! I may get passed over for matron of honor… but in better be at least one of these one's favorite aunt!" said Wendy as she placed her hand on Angela's belly. Soon, almost all of the women felt the babies move.
"Alright everyone! It's time to play a shower game! This first one we will be playing is guess the genders, due date and weighs/heights. Samantha is going to hand out papers to everyone. Write down on one piece of paper the gender guesses, on the next one the cute date guess and the last one the weight and height for each baby. Remember to write your name on each paper!" said Isabelle.
Once Samantha handed everything out, the woman jotted down their answers. They handed them back up to Samantha and Isabelle. Samantha pulled out three poster boards for each category and started writing people's guesses for the genders.
"So for Baby B, the finally tally is twelve for a boy and six for a girl! For Baby B, eight for a boy and ten for a girl! Consensus seems to be one and one!" said Samantha as she wrote it on the first poster board.
"So Angie… do you know yet the genders? Are we close?" asked Ginger.
"Tony and I do know but we are keeping it a secret!" said Angela.
"I say it's one and one… just like me!" said Lynn as she rubbed her own belly.
"Alright now let's look at what everyone's guess for Angela's due date will be! So her actual due date is September 25th. It looks like everyone has them coming earlier with three guesses on her actual due date and one guess for… October? Mona!" laughed Samantha.
"Hey she could go that late!" said Mona.
"Bite your tongue Mother!" laughed Angela.
"Anyway… it looks like the most people thought the babies will be born on September 14th!" said Samantha as she wrote the answers on the second poster board.
"Alright and the last one… let's see what people think their birth weights and heights will be! Okay it looks like the range is from five pounds up to eight pounds and between sixteen and twenty one inches long!" said Samantha as she finished up writing down all the answers.
"Well as of my last appointment Baby A was measuring at almost four and a half pounds and sixteen inches while Baby B was about fifteen inches and three and a half pounds" said Angela as she rubbed her belly.
"I think I want to change my answer! Those two are gonna be chunky when they are born! Just like Tony and Samantha!" laughed Mrs. Rossini.
"Okay everyone! This game is for Angela… can you guess the baby food!" said Wendy as she grabbed a blindfold and walked to where Angela was sitting.
"So let's see if Angela can name these baby foods without looking! Alright let's tie this on first" she said as tied the blindfold over Angela's eyes. Wendy picked up the first jar of baby food and spooned some into her mouth.
"Hmmm… bananas?" asked Angela.
"Yes! One for one! Alright the next one is up…" she said as she spooned some again into Angela's mouth.
"Carrots… definitely carrots!" said Angela.
"Two for two! Alright here's the last one… good luck…" said Wendy as she gave Angela the last one.
"Oh my gosh that's gross! Is that… beef… with some sort of vegetable?" asked Angela as she almost gagged.
"Bingo! That's beef with peas! The meal of champions… well babies… congratulations Angela!" said Wendy as Angela took off the blindfold and grabbed a glass of water.
"Alright everyone! It's time for Angela to start opening up her gifts! We are also going to do the last game, bingo! Everyone gets a card and when Angela opens up the gifts, if the item is on your card, mark it off. The first one to get bingo gets a prize!" said Isabelle.
Mona, Wendy and Isabelle started handing gifts to Angela, while Samantha wrote down who gave what for presents. Mrs. Rossini started making a hat for Angela out of all the bows. Angela opened up each gift, everyone giving the obligatory oohs over each gift. Mrs. Rossini bought them the high chairs, Wendy and Isabelle went in together on the bouncers and portable cribs and Mona and Samantha bought them the double stroller, diaper bags and some cute outfits. By the time she was done opening up all the gifts, she had most of the stuff on her list that they created earlier that morning. Lynn won the bingo and was very happy with her gift bag.
"Alright Angela! Try on this hat!" said Mrs. Rossini. Angela rolled her eyes but put on the hat. They all took photos with Angela before Mrs. Rossini brought out the cake. It was a beautiful sheet cake with a mixture of blue and pink icing with the words 'Welcome Babies!' written in purple lettering.
"Alright Angela, time to cut the cake!" said Mona.
"Why don't we get Tony to help me cut the cake! I think he snuck upstairs a little while ago. Samantha would you go up and get him?" asked Angela.
"Sure!" said Samantha as she ran up the stairs. A few minutes later, Tony came down and joined Angela by the cake.
"This cake is beautiful! It's almost too nice to cut!" laughed Tony as he grabbed the knife and helped Angela cut the first piece. They posed for a few photos before allowing Mrs. Rossini to cut the rest of the cake. Angela was given the first piece, followed by Tony, as she sat back down on the side chair. Tony sat on the arm of the chair as they enjoyed the rest of the shower.
Soon it was time for the guests to leave. Angela thanked everyone repeatedly for the gifts and for coming to the shower. Wendy, Isabelle and Mrs. Rossini were the last ones to leave, helping clean up and rearrange the living room, despite Tony's insistence that he would do it later. Angela teared up thanking them for all of their help.
"You twos just make sure I'm the first phone call when these kids decide to make an appearance! I need a head start on spoiling them!" said Mrs. Rossini as she hugged them both.
"You'll be the first to know Mrs. Rossini! It will save me from having to tell the rest of Brooklyn!"
laughed Tony.
"Maybe we can fit in one last girls luncheon before they arrive" said Isabelle as she hugged Angela goodbye.
"Yeah and if you go into labor during the luncheon, we've got a doctor already there! You'd think they'd give us a free lunch for that?" asked Wendy as Isabelle rolled her eyes and dragged her out the door.
"So were you surprised? Did you have a good time?" asked Tony as he helped her down onto the sofa, making sure her feet were propped up on the coffee table.
"I had no idea! You all definitely surprised me! It was perfect! I can't thank you all enough! We barely have to go shopping now!" she laughed.
"I'm glad you were surprised Angela! I promised Bonnie I'd go help her pack if that's okay! I'll be home for dinner!" said Samantha.
"Sure sweetheart" said Angela.
"Be home by six the latest!" he said as Samantha walked out the front door.
"Look at all the loot you got! These kids should be set for a while! Okay everyone… time for my first date of the day… I will make sure I'm back in time for dinner though…" said Mona as she walked out the back door.
"I think the major things are covered. Probably only need to stock up on diapers and some other accessories" said Tony.
"We can do that this week like we planned. Now the big task is getting all this stuff up to the nursery! I wish I could help you Tony…" she said.
"But you can't so you won't so don't even think about it!" he laughed.
"I think I need a nap! As much fun as this was, I'm exhausted!" said Angela.
"Good idea sweetheart. I'll start bringing stuff upstairs and by the time you wake up, we can think about dinner" said Tony. He helped her up and got her settled in the bedroom before heading back downstairs. He decided to separate all the gifts and start bring up the stuff that didn't require assembly. By the time Angela woke up, he had everything brought upstairs and had put together the high chairs, the double stroller and the bouncers. He couldn't stomach putting together yet another two cribs, even if they were portable.
"Oh Tony! Look at everything! It's really happening isn't it?" asked Angela from the doorway of the nursery.
"It better be Angela! I could open up my own business putting together baby gear! Just make sure it doesn't happen quite yet little ones okay? This stuff still needs to be put away and a few more things bought first" said Tony.
"So not to change the subject but I will… what are we doing for dinner for Samantha?" asked Angela.
"I thought I'd make chicken cutlet parmesan with spaghetti. For dessert, I bought all the stuff to make homemade ice cream sundaes!" said Tony.
"Sounds perfect! She's going to love it! I think she's all packed but after dinner I'll make sure she has everything she needs" said Angela.
"Alright… why don't you go rest some more and I'll go get started on dinner" he said as he packed away the last of the baby things. Angela headed back to the bedroom, while Tony headed downstairs.
Within the next hour, dinner was ready and the family was gathered around the kitchen table. They talked about all the fun things Bonnie's family had planned for the trip. Tony gave Samantha the safety talk at least twice before Angela cut him off. Mona skipped out on dessert as her second date was about to start. She hugged Samantha and wished her a fun trip. They opted to take their ice cream sundaes to the living room to eat while they watched a movie.
"Well I guess I should finish packing. Bonnie was a totally mess before- she hadn't packed anything! At least I only have a few things left to pack!" said Samantha after the movie ended.
"How about I help you? Your Dad can clean up and then meet us upstairs" said Angela as they walked up the stairs.
Once in her room, Angela sat down on the bed. Samantha still had some clothes on her bed and the suitcase was still open.
"So Angela I still need to pack a few tops and pants. What do you think of these?" asked Samantha.
"I like those two plus those jeans. I'd leave the other top home" said Angela. Samantha nodded her head and packed what Angela suggested. Samantha threw some more belongings in her suitcase and finally closed it.
"There I'm done! Thanks Angela! So do you and Dad have any plans while I'm gone?" asked Samantha.
"No real plans other than finish up the nursery and spend time just the two of us before you and Jonathan come home. Just hoping these two little ones wait until you both are home!" said Angela.
"Are you sure I should go? What if they do come early and you need help? Maybe I should stay…" she said with worry in her voice.
"You need to go Samantha, just like Jonathan needed to go. We will be fine! Like I told Jonathan, if something happens, we will let you know and someone will come get you, I promise. There's really nothing either of you would be able to do if you stayed here. Go and have fun!" said Angela as she wrapped her arms around Samantha.
"You finally packed Samantha?" asked Tony as he popped his head into her room.
"All done Dad! So now it's my turn to give you the lecture! Make sure you take care of Angela and don't let her do too much! If you need me to come home early, I will. You just have to call and I'll be home as soon as I can" said Samantha.
"He will I promise. You just have a wonderful time and don't worry about us okay? You'll be back before you know it!" said Angela.
"I don't plan on leaving her side if I can help it the next few weeks anyway aside from visiting Jonathan next weekend so you don't have to worry about that" said Tony.
"Alright everyone… today was a busy day and you have to leave early tomorrow morning. Let's all turn in for tonight…" said Angela as they all hugged each other good night. Tony and Angela got ready for bed, cuddling into one another until they were both sound asleep.