Long Live Us
Thirty-Eight
Finally, we were well over the half-way mark and Stella was starting to look like she was about to pop. This meant it was time to have our baby shower. Thankfully, our amazing friends took one for the team and decided to plan it for us, since our parents would want to do it just like theirs had been. Tom, of course, had been hardcore about planning and keeping everything in check, while Aub's handled the food, decorations and games. Even Nate had joined in and told us he would take pictures for us as our gift - Then, to add a little more to it, he wanted to do our newborn pictures for free. Stella and I both loved the idea. Just like his dad, Nate had a talent for photography.
Stella and I had intended to show up at the baby shower a little early and help Aubree out as much as we could, but due to the fact that Stella has to pee every ten minutes, the amount of stops we had to make on the way to the park put us back with time. By the time we gathered with everyone by the picnic tables, they were growing impatient waiting for us. At least, to us, it was worth the wait. The entire picnic area was decorated with things we loved. The All Time Low skull was rocking a pink bow, our own band mark had been decked out with little girl things as well. It was adorable. Even on the shelter of the area, Aubree had made a sign that I'm assuming she had the guys hang which read:
'Coming soon: Baby Barakat!'
"I can't wait to tell them the name we've picked out," Stella murmured, a smirk on her lips. "I think they'll love it."
I nodded in agreement as I led her to the group of our friends and family, who instantly started to gush over Stella's belly. We socialized for a bit, put on our best thank-you faces, and finally got the okay from Aubree to eat. Needless to say, this was Stella's favorite part. Aubree had managed to gather all of Stell's favorite foods and the foods she's been craving most. I didn't even want to think about how much this shower must have cost.
While we were eating, Aubree started a game which involved a ball and cards. Pretty much, whatever color your left thumb was touching was the question you had to answer. There were questions about Mom, Dad, Baby & basic baby raising knowledge. Some people even got pranks, which was pretty funny. Eventually, that came to an end as well, and after laughing so hard we couldn't breathe, Stell and I were more than ready to see everything we'd gotten for our baby girl. At this, Aub started the game of baby bingo.
Gift after gift, we got almost everything we needed. Crib sheets, diapers of all sizes, bottles, sippy cups, clothes, blankets, socks, shoes, toys, bath stuff, ect. Stella was so excited over everything, and then we reached the last four gifts. Aubree had told us to wait to open these, because they were given to us by the All Time Low family. I sucked in a shap breath as I carried over one of the bigger boxes. It was the Merrick's. Stella opened it quickly, only to find a five-star travel system inside. It was pink and black and we were in love.
Next, we opened a gift from the Dawson's. Stella let me open this one, which I did slowly, only to two boxes inside. The smaller one contained a high chair, and the wider one contained a pack & play.
Then, the gift from Stella's family. Stella jumped right into that one, a big grin on her face as she discovered a crib inside. On the box of the crib was a note, which informed us that the changing station and dresser to match were going to be brought to our houe tonight, along with the mattress.
Lastly, the gift from my family. I didn't even know what else we could possibly have left that we needed. Mom's gift was in a bag, smaller than the box dad had given us. From her, we got a pink Bumbo chair and the crib set Stella had picked out on our registry.
I unwrapped dad's gift to see what he possibly could have given us, only to find a walker that had more toys on it than I ever imagined. He, like Alex, had put a note on the box. 'Because you needed at least one fun gift.' Stella and I both laughed as we started to thank everyone.
Aubree cut us short, though, saying that there were a few things she wanted to say before everyone was dismissed.
"Stella and Jack are some of the best people I've had the pleasure of meeting. When they first told me they were bringing a baby into our little family, all I could feel was joy, then I went home and started to wonder: Are they ready for this? Are they going to be okay? How much will this change things between us, all of us? I finally came up with the answer. No, they aren't ready for this. Which is why this baby is such a blessing. Indeed, they will be okay, because they love each other more than any other two people I've ever met, and baby Barakat will be spoiled rotten! Lastly, it's going to change things more than I could ever express."
Aub's paused, wiping a small tear from her eye. She really did have a big heart and a lot of love for Stella. They were always so close.
"Because of this baby, tour has been put on hold. Our careers are just kind of hanging out, waiting on us, and that's okay. Because of this baby, two people I absolutely love are venturing into a new stage of their lives, which I couldn't be happier for. Because of this baby, we're all going to be much closer than we ever thought we'd be. Congratulations, Stella and Jack! I love you guys so, so much!"
People started to clap and cheer. Stella, with some trouble, even pulled herself out of the chair and gave Aubree one of those infamous girl hugs. I smiled brightly and followed Stell, joining her at the front of the crowd.
"I think there's also something we'd like to say," I yelled, getting everyone's attention. "Stella and I have decided on a name for the baby. We'd like to introduce to you, the one and only, Isabelle Paige Barakat!"
Stella pushed out her belly with a grin on her lips. Our parents squeaked with joy. She would be named after my grandma from mom's side - Paige, and Isabelle from Alex's mom - Isobel.
I knew little Isabelle would be just as perfect as her mother, and just as loved as we all were, as a band and as a family.
Stella and I had intended to show up at the baby shower a little early and help Aubree out as much as we could, but due to the fact that Stella has to pee every ten minutes, the amount of stops we had to make on the way to the park put us back with time. By the time we gathered with everyone by the picnic tables, they were growing impatient waiting for us. At least, to us, it was worth the wait. The entire picnic area was decorated with things we loved. The All Time Low skull was rocking a pink bow, our own band mark had been decked out with little girl things as well. It was adorable. Even on the shelter of the area, Aubree had made a sign that I'm assuming she had the guys hang which read:
'Coming soon: Baby Barakat!'
"I can't wait to tell them the name we've picked out," Stella murmured, a smirk on her lips. "I think they'll love it."
I nodded in agreement as I led her to the group of our friends and family, who instantly started to gush over Stella's belly. We socialized for a bit, put on our best thank-you faces, and finally got the okay from Aubree to eat. Needless to say, this was Stella's favorite part. Aubree had managed to gather all of Stell's favorite foods and the foods she's been craving most. I didn't even want to think about how much this shower must have cost.
While we were eating, Aubree started a game which involved a ball and cards. Pretty much, whatever color your left thumb was touching was the question you had to answer. There were questions about Mom, Dad, Baby & basic baby raising knowledge. Some people even got pranks, which was pretty funny. Eventually, that came to an end as well, and after laughing so hard we couldn't breathe, Stell and I were more than ready to see everything we'd gotten for our baby girl. At this, Aub started the game of baby bingo.
Gift after gift, we got almost everything we needed. Crib sheets, diapers of all sizes, bottles, sippy cups, clothes, blankets, socks, shoes, toys, bath stuff, ect. Stella was so excited over everything, and then we reached the last four gifts. Aubree had told us to wait to open these, because they were given to us by the All Time Low family. I sucked in a shap breath as I carried over one of the bigger boxes. It was the Merrick's. Stella opened it quickly, only to find a five-star travel system inside. It was pink and black and we were in love.
Next, we opened a gift from the Dawson's. Stella let me open this one, which I did slowly, only to two boxes inside. The smaller one contained a high chair, and the wider one contained a pack & play.
Then, the gift from Stella's family. Stella jumped right into that one, a big grin on her face as she discovered a crib inside. On the box of the crib was a note, which informed us that the changing station and dresser to match were going to be brought to our houe tonight, along with the mattress.
Lastly, the gift from my family. I didn't even know what else we could possibly have left that we needed. Mom's gift was in a bag, smaller than the box dad had given us. From her, we got a pink Bumbo chair and the crib set Stella had picked out on our registry.
I unwrapped dad's gift to see what he possibly could have given us, only to find a walker that had more toys on it than I ever imagined. He, like Alex, had put a note on the box. 'Because you needed at least one fun gift.' Stella and I both laughed as we started to thank everyone.
Aubree cut us short, though, saying that there were a few things she wanted to say before everyone was dismissed.
"Stella and Jack are some of the best people I've had the pleasure of meeting. When they first told me they were bringing a baby into our little family, all I could feel was joy, then I went home and started to wonder: Are they ready for this? Are they going to be okay? How much will this change things between us, all of us? I finally came up with the answer. No, they aren't ready for this. Which is why this baby is such a blessing. Indeed, they will be okay, because they love each other more than any other two people I've ever met, and baby Barakat will be spoiled rotten! Lastly, it's going to change things more than I could ever express."
Aub's paused, wiping a small tear from her eye. She really did have a big heart and a lot of love for Stella. They were always so close.
"Because of this baby, tour has been put on hold. Our careers are just kind of hanging out, waiting on us, and that's okay. Because of this baby, two people I absolutely love are venturing into a new stage of their lives, which I couldn't be happier for. Because of this baby, we're all going to be much closer than we ever thought we'd be. Congratulations, Stella and Jack! I love you guys so, so much!"
People started to clap and cheer. Stella, with some trouble, even pulled herself out of the chair and gave Aubree one of those infamous girl hugs. I smiled brightly and followed Stell, joining her at the front of the crowd.
"I think there's also something we'd like to say," I yelled, getting everyone's attention. "Stella and I have decided on a name for the baby. We'd like to introduce to you, the one and only, Isabelle Paige Barakat!"
Stella pushed out her belly with a grin on her lips. Our parents squeaked with joy. She would be named after my grandma from mom's side - Paige, and Isabelle from Alex's mom - Isobel.
I knew little Isabelle would be just as perfect as her mother, and just as loved as we all were, as a band and as a family.
11/4/13