Speach

Larry's sisters and mom are throwing me a baby shower this weekend and I cannot wait. I hope they won't think it's too corny, but I want to give a little speach. I don't know if I've ever given a speach before. We didn't do anything at our wedding or even, I think our rehearsal dinner. I guess I've spoken at friends' weddings and at my grandmother's funderal, but that's different. Anyway, this is pretty much what I want to say:

When Barb called me to tell me she and Jeannie and Eleanor were making me this party I was so touched. It was so important to me to share this really special time in my life with the important women in my life and I'm so excited you are all here.

Larry is always talking about how much he loves my family -- and that's such a blessing for me. He gets job advice from my dad and they chat about music all the time and he gets cooking lessons from my mom and grandmother. And I'm always telling Larry I actually married him for his sisters. When I was having job trouble this winter I kept Barb on the phone for hours and Jeannie's talked me through every moment of pregnancy hysteria. Sometimes I think Kevin is the only one who gets my sense of humor and Eleanor is, of course, the most supportive mother-in-law I could ask for. The only person that I miss - of course - is Nancy, but I know she's thinking about us, just like we're always, always thinking about her.

And all his wonderful cousins and aunts! I was telling Larry the other day that I was daydreaming about all the parties that are about to happen - all the graduations and first communions that bring everyone together in the spring - and I said I can't wait to be there and play pass the baby with all your cousin and aunts. It's going to be so great - Ryan and Jayden will be just this baby's age and they're going to grow up together. Because of the war, my family is very small and I grew up without any cousins - barely even any second cousins, so it's so wonderful to me that my children will have that.

And I also have to say that it was Mary Pat who actually convinced Larry to let me try natural childbirth -- so if I'm screaming bloody murder a week from now it'll be all her fault!

Anyway, I just could not ask for a more caring, more forgiving, more amazing family - on both sides - to bring this baby into. Thanks you guys so much for doing this for us. I love you!

Well, admittedly, it is pretty corny, but that's ok, I think. Showers by their definition are pretty corny, no? So, oh well, I give into the cheese. After all, it really is what's in my heart.