Hello friends! I felt like the luckiest person in the world to have not one, but two baby showers thrown for us and little Nova! Today, I want to share some snapshots from both showers with you.
My family and close friends know how much I have wanted a child and how rocky the middle of our adoption wait felt for me. It was overwhelming to feel so loved by them at these showers. We’re so grateful that Nova is coming home not only to a family who loves her, but a whole community!
When I saw how hard Laura worked on this shower, I was stunned. I held it together pretty well through the shower, but when we got into the car to leave later on, I sobbed so much!!
Balloons are from our favorite east Nashville party shop, Harlan Ruby, and the cookies are from Leeuw Bakeshop.
I’m not ashamed to admit that being able to drink champagne with everyone else is one of the little perks of adoption baby showers. Haha!
In case you can’t tell, the theme was roller skating (I LOVE roller skating – I am always annoying everyone trying to get someone to go with me).
It was SO fun and SO CUTE. Not pictured, there was pizza from our favorite spot and an AMAZING 1990s playlist. It was a sweet, sweet fantasy.
I love all these people SO much. We’ve made so many amazing friends in Nashville (which I still claim is the world’s friendliest city) and I had some longtime friends there as well, including my friend Amy (we’ve been friends since 7th grade!).
One week later, we had a second baby shower in our hometown in Springfield, Missouri. It was hosted by my sister, Emma, and bffs, Rachel and Katie. It was GALACTIC themed … perfect for our Nova! Isn’t this cake incredible? (It was also delicious.)
My sister is so excited about Nova. (My star dress is from here.)
The galaxy sherbet was so pretty!
We felt so loved in our hometown! In the bottom photo of the kids, it’s some of Nova’s cousins and also Rachel’s daughter … and also all our friends and my sisters-in-law on the Larson side of the family.
They made the cutest photo booth!
This was probably my favorite photo. My grandmothers and my mom. I love them so much and I can’t wait for Nova to meet them.
Jeremy didn’t come to this shower because while it was happening his friends threw him a “wiffle ball shower,” haha (meaning that they just played wiffle ball). Wiffle is one of the biggest things J misses about our hometown; they used to play every week. So that was really fun for him!
I felt so loved and celebrated. Nova is already more than spoiled with so many toys and clothes from people who loved her … so much so that I’ve been texting family, begging them to only get her books for Christmas. Haha! We even hid a bunch of her toys in a closet so we can slowly introduce them over time. Little gal isn’t going to know what to do with herself. 🙂
We’ll be leaving next week to travel to China and bring Nova home. It’s going to be a Christmas we will never forget. THANK YOU. We’ve truly never felt more loved. xx. Elsie
Credits//Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Janae Hardy. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.
31 Comments
You ARE the luckiest person in the world, Elsie! ❤ I love the setup and it’s so warming to see everyone smiling and happy! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I have a lump in my throat reading this. Your little girl is SO loved and cherished already, and you both are already making the most wonderful parents. By the time I got to the picture with your grandmothers and Mum, I kinda lost it. How precious it will be to see Nova grow with such a loving family all around her. I don’t have children yet, but you are pretty spot on the kind of parent I want to be 🙂
Congratulations to you and Jeremy on this most wonderful chapter in your lives.
By the way, did Emma make the cake? It’s wonderful!
This post made me cry. It also brought back memories from our own adoption story and how loved we and our twins felt at our shower. So happy for y’all!
Can you link the 3 tier drink dispenser??
NOVA means NEW in Polish it’s acctualy (NOWA – but u read same 🙂 CONGRATS!! <3
NOVA means NEW in portuguese just as one writes NOVA. It’s beautiful. 🙂
I have chills and tears reading your last sentence. ONE MORE WEEK! I am so elated for you both. Wishing you a safe, happy and magical trip to China and back with your blessed, beautiful daughter, Nova 🙂
Both showers are beautiful! People literally get obsessed with buying kids toys. I had to ask people to only get Rory books for Christmas this year too. Not sure how well they will listen. Also asked for only books for her birthday (4 days before Christmas).
https://dogmomchic.blogspot.com/
Hi Elsie
Im so exited for you guys and I cant wait for you to get her home.
Congrats all the way from Denmark.
By the way – love your yellow dress!
I found a headband in the EXACT fabric on eBay, and it is SO cute.
I link to it on my webpage here:
http://www.tippet.dk/2017/10/11/okker-gokker/
Just hit the translate button to read in English.
Have a safe trip to get you precious Nova.
It must truely be a magical christmas this year.
Best regards
Christine
http://Www.tippet.dk
This looks like the most lovely baby shower & just proves how loved Nova will be when she arrives. Love all of the little touches, especially the gorgeous cookies that match the theme. It must have been lovely to feel the support of everyone around you, long may that continue.
Holly from The Art of Being Holly xo
This is so lovely! I can see and feel the love for you and your family in these photos. Such a special time in your life. Can’t wait for you to meet your daughter and bring her home. Xoxo to you all.
I am so so very happy for your both. I am sitting here crying my eyes out…I can feel the love right through the screen. Little Nova is entering a world that will allow her to SOAR as high as she wants to go. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing this for this sweet sweet little precious child. For me…it was love at first site when I saw her picture so I can imagine how hard your hearts are beating. It’s a long flight to China but I think the ride home is going to go oh so quickly! Wishing you …yours…little Nova the best Christmas ever and that it will be : ) I am thinking that there just might be a children’s book by ABM in this story : ) Much Love to you all…hugs…andrea
This is so exciting!
I may have missed it somewhere, and I know you’ve been trying to learn some Chinese/Mandarin, but will Nova know any English when she gets home? I’d be so scared of her reactions to everything and potentially not knowing the language. (I’m also terrified of small children so that could have something to do with it, haha!).
I teared up reading this. You have such a beautiful family and that little gal is so, so lucky. Thank you for sharing your journey with as, as I’m sure it is an extremely personal one. I wish you luck and peace during the transition to a family of 3. You are wonderful!
I LOVE roller skating too and am planning a roller skating adult birthday….Where did you get that print of the woman on skates?
This is so great!! What a happy time for you. Good luck in your travels. My cousin adopted a toddler from China several years ago and it was one of the best things they ever did. It was hard at first but he really grew and thrived and it was amazing to watch.
Both showers look like they were so fun and full of love and excitement. Now for the most exciting part of all! Wishing you a safe and beautiful trip on your way to your little girl and back home. Sending love!
Lovely! Where did the roller skating print come from?
Ahhh I love this! It’s so sweet to think that when Nova is older, she can look back on these posts and see how much she was loved already–and how excited everyone was for her to become a part of their lives. Really beautiful memories 🙂
Also looooove the galaxy sherbet–DIY??
Beautiful baby shower, congratulations babe!
https://thepinkpineappleblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/holidays-2017-gift-guide.html
Congratulations! And I feel you with the baby toy overload :p I saw the same thing happen at the first birthday of my cousin’s kid, so many presents from friends and family who just wanna show love but it ends up being more things than you could ever use!! Good plan to hide some for now
Beautiful! The post left me with teary eyes. Congratulations
Those sugar cookies are adorbs!!!! My weakness.
~Lillian
http://www.theoccupiedoptimist.com
So excited for you! You must be bursting at the seems that she’ll be here for Christmas!!!
Dear Elsie and Jeremy,
I have been following your journey too here on ABM. How exciting it must be that the adoption process has come to an end and you finally can go to China to hold your Nova in your arms!
Reading here on ABM for years I know the babyshower has been one of the best moments of your life, haha! However, the best thing is yet to come.
I am a mom of two girls (not adopted however) and they are the light of my life and are the best thing that has happened to me. Prepare yourself for your heart to explode of joy on a daily basis. 😉
I wish you all of three a safe journey and love from the Netherlands!
Congratulations Elsie and Jeremy! This post made me tear up a little bit, I am so so excited for you both and for little Nova of course 🙂 Take care!
I am literally squealing with excitement to see Nova. Can’t wait!!!
You two bringing Nova home this season is the perfect symbol of hope we all need right now! With the unstable hurting world we live in, I’m choosing to focus on lovely stories like this one right here…Nashville couple travels to China to bring home their little girl just in time for Christmas! I mean….could any get more love drenched and sweet than that! I’m brimming with thankfulness that you have included us!
We left this very same week 6 years ago to adopt our first daughter from Guangdong, China! Love your blog and wish you much strength and hope for your first parenting adventure!
Such a beautiful shower!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Haha. Sweet, sweet fantasy. Clever writing! Made me sing 🙂