July 28, 2026

A Shower Full of Love Celebrating Baby Stafford_mixdown

A Shower Full of Love Celebrating Baby Stafford_mixdown
Family is at its best when everyone comes together to celebrate life's biggest milestones. In this heartwarming episode of We Are the Hansons, we take you behind the scenes of Baby Stafford's baby shower—a day filled with delicious homemade food, laughter, fun games, heartfelt gifts, and an unforgettable cousins' water fight. Join us as we reflect on the joy of welcoming a new generation, the importance of showing up for the people we love, and why the greatest gift isn't what's wrapped in a box—it's the family and friends who surround us.
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There are some days you know you'll remember forever. Not

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because everything went perfectly, not because the weather cooperated, and

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certainly not because every detail went exactly is planned. The

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days we remember most are the ones filled with people.

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The people who laugh with us, the people who carry

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folding chairs across the yard without being asked, the people

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who show up with hugs before present, the people who

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remind us that family isn't measured by blood alone, It's

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measured by love. This weekend, our family gathered beneath the

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blazing summer sun for one very special reason, to celebrate

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a little girl who hasn't even entered the world yet,

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Baby Stafford. And by the time the day was over,

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the tables were neatly empty, the lemonade pictures had been drained,

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children were soaked from head to toe after an unforgettable

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water fight and tie. We're surrounded by gifts, but more importantly,

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they were surrounded by people who already loved their daughter

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more than words can say. This is the story of

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Baby Stafford's baby Shower. Hello everyone, and welcome back to

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We are the Hansons. I'm Maya Hanson, and as always,

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we're so thankful you're spending part of your day with

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our family, whether you're listening while driving to work, making dinner,

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holding laundry, sitting on the couch with a glass of

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sweet tea, or enjoying a quiet evening. Thank you for

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making us part of your life. Here we are the Hansens.

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We celebrate everything that truly matters, faith, family, marriage, parenting, grandparenting, laughter, traditions,

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and all the beautiful little moments that make an ordinary

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life extraordinary. Today we're sharing one of those days our

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family will never forget. The day we celebrated baby Stafford.

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The week leading up to the shower felt like Christmas,

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not because presents were involved, but because everyone was excited.

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Morgan and Tie are counting down the days until they

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meet their little girl. Every conversation somehow circled back to her.

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What do you think that she'll look like? Will she

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have Morgan's smile? Will she have Tie's personality? Every family

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has those conversations. Dreaming about someone you've never met yet

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somehow already love. That kind of love is incredible. We

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spent days preparing shopping lists, covered the kitchen counter, extra

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folding tables, poolers, ice decorations, serving trays, napkins, drinks, desserts.

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Everything had its place. One thing we've learned after raising

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such a big family, Preparation makes the day smoother, but

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no amount of planning replaces simply enjoying the people around you.

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We wanted everyone to feel welcome the moment they arrived.

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One of my favorite parts was preparing the food. If

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you know our family, you know food is how we

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love people. Not fancy food, just good food, comfort food,

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food people actually get excited to eat. We started making

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cold sliders, soft rolls layered with ham and turkey and

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cheese and a flavorful spread, easy to grab, easy to eat,

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perfect for a hot summer day. Then came the cucumber sandwiches.

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Those are always a favorite, cool, refreshing, simple. Next came

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the fruit trays. Bright strawberries, sweet grapes, juicy watermelon, pineapple, blueberries.

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Everything looks so colorful sitting together. We mixed up fruit dip,

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prepared veggie trays, added ranch dip, crackers, cheese, summer saucage, cupcakes,

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lemon bars, pictures of ice, cold lemonade. Looking across those

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tables made me smile, not because everything looked perfect, but

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because I knew every bite would be shared among people

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we love, and honestly, that's what makes food taste even better.

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As the morning turned into afternoon, one thing became impossible

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to ignore. It was hot. Not just a little warm,

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not the kind of weather where you simply wipe your

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forehead and move on. It was the kind of summer

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heat that makes the pavement shimmer in the distance, the

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kind where every cold drink tastes twice is good, The

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kind where the shade under a tree suddenly becomes the

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most valuable spot in the yard. But despite the heat,

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people kept coming. Cars pulled into the parking lot, doors opened,

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smiles of peared hugs were exchanged before anyone even thought

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about walking any further. And that's something I'll always treasure.

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People made time out of their busy lives to celebrate

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Morgan Tie and baby Stafford. That means more than any

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repped gift ever could. One by one, friends and family

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carried presents up to the tables. Some came in bright

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gift bags covered with little baby animals. Others were wrapped

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in pink paper with tiny footprints. Some carried diapers, others

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carried blankets, books, outfit so tiny they almost didn't seem real.

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Little socks that fit in the palm of your hand.

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Every single gift represented someone saying, we can't wait to

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meet this little girl. Watching Morgan greet everyone made me proud.

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She took the time to hug people, to thank them,

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to ask how they were doing. He wasn't focused on

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the presence. He was focused on the people, and I

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think that's one of the greatest qualities a person can have.

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Ty was the same way. He smiled all afternoon. He

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helped carry things, talked with everyone, laughed, made sure people

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had something to eat. Watching the two of them together,

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you couldn't help but smile. They make a wonderful team.

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As parents, that's all you can really hope. You hope

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your children find someone who brings out the best in them,

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someone who encourages them, supports them, laughs with them, dreams

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with them. And when you see that, your heart is full.

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As more guests arrived, conversations filled every corner of the pavilion.

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Some people hadn't seen each other in months, Others picked

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right back up where they left off. Kids chased each

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other through the grass, Adults cut up on work, vacations

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and family news. There was laughter everywhere, real laughter. The

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kind that can't be faked, the kind that makes everyone

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nearby starts smiling. Two Eventually, someone announced, let's eat. If

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you've ever hosted a family gathering, you know exactly what

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happens next. Everyone politely waits for about three seconds, then

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the line's form. People loaded their plates with cold sliders,

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fresh fruit, veggies, and ranch crackers. Cheese, summer sausage, cucumber

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sandwiches disappeared almost as quickly as we put them out.

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Those always seemed to go faster than expected. Lemon bars

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were another favorite, light sweet, perfect for a hot afternoon.

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The lemonade disappeared almost as fast as we could fill

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it again. Honestly, on a day that warm, old lemonade

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might have been the real MVP. One of my favorite

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moments during every family gathering is standing back for just

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a minute, not talking, not cooking, not cleaning, just watching

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watching kids laugh, watching grandparents hold babies, watching cuzz since

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tell stories, watching people make memories without even realizing they're

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making them. Those moments remind me why we work so

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hard to bring everyone together, because years from now, nobody

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is going to remember whether every decoration matched. Nobody will

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remember if a cupcake leaned sideway. Nobody will remember if

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someone forgot the serving spoon, but they'll remember sitting around

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those tables. They'll remember laughing until their stomach hurt. They'll

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remember who was there. Love is remembered. People are remembered.

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That's what family gatherings are really about. Then it was

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time for game. And if you've ever been to a

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baby shower, you know the games always bring out everyone's

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competitive side. Some people were determined to win, others couldn't

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stop laughing long enough to even play correctly. Every game

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brought another round of laughing. Someone gets completely wrong, someone

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else surprised everyone. Every little activity became a nun their memory.

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And honestly, that's exactly what we hoped for. Not perfection,

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just joy, not a fancy event, just a day filled

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with love. As the game's wrapped up, everyone gathered around

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Morgan and Tie. The presence had formed a mountain gift bags, boxes, bows, cards.

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Baby Stafford was already one spoiled little girl, not spoiled

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with things, spoiled with love, and there is a big difference.

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Everyone gathered a little closer, the conversation softened. Phones came

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out to snap pictures. Children squeezed in wherever they could

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find a spot, And there in the middle of all

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of it sat Tie and Morgan, surrounded by mountains of gifts,

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but even more importantly, surrounded by people. I don't know

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if Morgan and Tie will remember every single gift they

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opened that after. Eventually, the diapers will be used, the

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baby clothes will be outgrown, the blankets will become well loved,

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the bottles will be washed hundreds of times. The toys

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will someday find their way under couches and into toy bins.

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But I hope they always remember the faces looking back

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at them as they opened those presents, because every smile

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represented someone who chose to spend their afternoons celebrating Baby Stafford.

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One by one, they opened each gift tiny onesies, soft blankets,

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baby books, bathtoels with little animal hoods, pacifiers, bibs, bottles,

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stuffed animals that were almost as big as a newborn.

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Every package seemed to bring another course of aw There's

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just something about baby clothes. They're impossibly small. You hold

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up a tiny pair of socks and wonder how feet

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could ever be that little. You look at a newborn

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outfit and think it won't stay the size for long.

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Because that's the thing about children. They grow Sometimes it

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feels like they grow overnight. One minute you're rocking them

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to sleep, the next minute you're teaching them to ride

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a bike. Then suddenly they're driving, graduating, getting married, having

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children of their own. Life moves quickly, too quick. That's

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why days like this matter. They're little markers along life's journey.

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It remind her to slow down, to celebrate, to soak

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it all in. As I watched Morgan smile while opening Gifts,

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I couldn't help but think back when she was just

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a little girl herself. It honestly doesn't seem that long ago.

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I can still picture her running through the house, playing outside,

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laughing with her brothers and sisters, coming to me with

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questions only a child could think of. Now she's preparing

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to become a mom. What an incredible privilege it is

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to watch your children step into the next chapter of life.

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People often ask what the best part of having a

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large family. The answer changes depending on the season of life.

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And they're little, it's bedtime stories, family movie nights, backyard games,

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camping trips, hirthday parties. But when they become adults, The

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joy changes now. It's watching them build lives of their own,

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watching them become kind people, watching them create homes filled

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with love, watching them become parents. There really aren't words

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to describe that feeling. Ty looked over at Morgan every

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so often with they smiled that said everything. He didn't

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have to say a word. You could tell he was excited,

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maybe a little overwhelmed, probably wondering where all this baby

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stuff was going to fit, but mostly just excited. Soon

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there will be a tiny little girl calling him dad,

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and I already know he'll do everything he can to

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be the best father possible. One of the things I

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admire most that afternoon wasn't wrapped in colorful paper. It

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wasn't sitting on the gift table, It wasn't something anyone bought.

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It was the way everyone encouraged Morgan and Tie. People

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shared stories about becoming parents, They laughed about sleepless nights.

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They offered advice, not in a way that felt overwhelming,

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but in a way that said, you've got this. Sometimes

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that's exactly what young parents need to hear. Not that

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they'll be perfect, because none of us are, but that

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they won't be alone parenting has always been easier when

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surrounded by a community that cares aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, neighbors, cousins.

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Every one of those relationships helped shape a child's life.

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Baby Stafford is already blessed beyond measure, not because of

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what she owned, but because who will be waiting for

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her when she arrived. That's something money can never buy.

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One of the desserts everyone loved at the shower was

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anything lemon. Summer and lemon just seemed to go together,

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so I wanted to share one of our family's easiest recipes.

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No Baked lemon ice box dessert ingredients are one package

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of instant lemon pudding mix, two cups cold milk, eight

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ounces whipped popping thought, one package gram crackers, zest of

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one limon that's option, fresh blueberries or strawberries for garnish.

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This is how it's made. Whisk the pudding mix with

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the cold milk until it begins to thicken. Cold in

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the whipped hopping until it's smooth and fluffy. In a

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nine x thirteen inch dish, place a layer of gram

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crackers on the bottom. Spread half of the lemon mixture

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over the crackers. Add another layer of gram crackers, then

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the remaining lemon mixture. Finish with one last layer of

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gram crackers. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours,

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but overnight is even better, before serving with fresh lemon

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zest and top with blueberries or sliced strawberries if you'd like.

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It's cool, refreshing, and one of those desserts that's perfect

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after spending a hot summer day outside with family. As

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everyone finished admiring the gifts and chatting a little longer,

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none of us realized that the biggest laughs of the

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day were still ahead of us, because the cousins were

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already hatching a plan, and before long the yard would

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become the scene of the biggest water fight of the summer.

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I should have known something was about to happen. It

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started quietly. One of the kids disappeared behind the pavilion.

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Another wandered towards the side of the pavilion. Someone whispered something,

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Then there was a burst of laughter. Anyone who's raised

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kids for very long, nos, that's usually your first clue

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they're planning something. I looked over at Germy and smile.

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He looked back at me with that familiar expression that

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said here we go. Sure enough, out came the water.

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Then someone grabbed water bottles and cups. A few of

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the cousins had chased each other around with the cups

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of water. Within minutes, the whole yard transformed from a

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peaceful baby shower into the setting of the biggest water

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battle of the summer. There weren't teams, there weren't rules.

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There wasn't even much strategy. It was simply every cousin

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for themselves. The first splash cut someone completely off guard.

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A scream echoed across the yard, and then more water

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flew out of cups and another Within seconds, everyone was

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laughing and running around. Some of the younger kids tried

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to hide behind chairs. The older cousins chased each other

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around trees. Someone thought they had found the perfect hiding

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spot until another cousin came around the corner with a

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full cup of water. No one stayed drive for very long.

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One thing I've learned over the years is that children

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don't need expensive entertainment to make unforgettable memory. Give them

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a backyard, a few water blooms, cups, water bottles, some sunshine,

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a handful of cousins, and suddenly they're having the best

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day of the summer. Watching them play reminded me of

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so many summers when our own kids were younger, before smartphones,

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before schedules became so busy, before jobs and responsibilities filled

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every calendar. Back then, a garden hose could entertain everyone

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for hours. We didn't need elaborate plans, We just needed

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each other. Standing there, watching the cousins run through the

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yard brought back so many memories. It reminded me that

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while our family continues to grow, some traditions never change.

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Kids still laugh at the same silly things. They still

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raise barefoot across the grass. They still squeal when the

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ice cold water hits them on their back, and parents

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still smile while secretly hoping they don't get pulled into

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the water battle. Of course, that never lasts. Eventually, someone yelled,

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get the adults. Now, that's dangerous, because once the kids

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decide the adults are fair game, there's no escaping. Before

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I knew it, someone had splashed me. Hear me laugh,

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which of course meant he had permission to join in.

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But in moments he was helping the kids. I couldn't

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stop laughing. The laughter spreading across the yard was contagious.

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It wasn't perfect. The grass was soaked, people's clothes were dripping.

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The food plates had to be protected from flying water.

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But none of that mattered. What mattered was the sound,

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the sound of joy, real joy, the kind that can't

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be bought, the kind of comes from simply being together.

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Eventually all the water was gone. Everyone was soaked, hair

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was dripping, shoes squished across the grass. Some of the

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kids collapsed into the lawn, completely exhausted. Others grabbed another

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cup of lemonade. A few wrapped themselves in tolls while

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still laughing about who got soaked the most. Looking around,

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it couldn't help but think this is what childhood should

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look like. Dirty feet, wet clothes, big smiles, no screens,

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no rushing, just family. Those moments are becoming more and

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more precious. Life has a way of speeding up. One

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season blends into the next. Birthdays become graduations, graduations become weddings,

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Weddings become baby showers, and before you know it, you're

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standing in your backyard watching another generation make memories of

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their own. As the afternoon slowly began winding down, people

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started gathering their things. There were more hugs, more conversations

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that ended with we need to do this again soon.

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Pictures were taken before everyone left. Someone joked that baby

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Stafford had already had one of the biggest parties of

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her life and she wasn't even here yet. We all laughed,

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but it was true. She is already surrounded by an

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incredible village of people who are excited to welcome her

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into the world. As Morgan and Tie loaded gifts into

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their vehicle, I watched them for a moment. They looked tired, happy,

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a little overwhelmed, and incredibly grateful. No amount of baby

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gear could compare to the feeling of knowing so many

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people genuinely care about your growing family. That, to me

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was the real gift of the day. Not the diaper,

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not the clothes, not the stroller, not the blanket. The

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real gift was love. Love that showed up, Love that staate,

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love that celebrated, love that will continue long after the

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decorations are put away. And I know one day Baby

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Stafford will hear stories about this day. She'll see pictures,

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She'll laugh at how tiny the clothes were, She'll hear

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about the cousin's water fight. She'll know that before she

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ever took her first breath, she was already deeply loved.

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That is one of the greatest gifts any child can receive.

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As the last few cars pulled out of the parking lot,

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the yard grew quiet again. The tables that had been

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filled with food now held only a few leftovers. The

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lemonade pictures were nearly empty. The cupcake stand had just

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a couple of cupcakes left. The wrapping paper had been

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gathered into bags. The ribbons that had once decorated dozens

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of gifts were scattered across the floor. It was the

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kind of beautiful mess that tells the story of a

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wonderful day. Jeremy and I looked around at each other

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and smiled. We were tired, the kind of tired you

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feel after pouring your heart into something. But it was

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a good tired, the kind that reminds you it was

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worth every minute. As we started folding chairs and packing

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away decorations, we talked about all the little moments that

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had made the day special. The laughter during the games,

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the smiles when Tie and Morgan opened each gift, the

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cousins running through the yard with cups of water, the

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conversations around the food table, the hugs goodbye. Those are

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the moments that stay with you. I've often said that

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our family isn't perfect no family. Yes, we have busy schedules,

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we have disagreements from time to time, we get tired,

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we make mistakes, But at the end of the day,

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we keep showing up for one another. And I think

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that's what family is really about. It's not about perfection.

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It's about presence. It's about choosing to celebrate together, choosing

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to support one another, choosing to make time. One day,

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baby Stafford will be old enough to run through this

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very same place. She'll probably be right in the middle

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of the next water fight. She'll laugh with her cousins.

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She'll chase bubbles, she'll eat too many cupcakes. She'll ask

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for one more glass of lemonade. She'll hear stories about

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this baby shower and probably roll her eyes when we

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tell her how everyone couldn't wait for her to arrive.

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And that's okay, because one day she'll understand. She'll understand

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that this wasn't simply a party. It was a room

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full of people saying we're here for you. As grandparents.

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There's something incredibly special about watching your family tree grow

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you realize your legacy isn't found in the things you own.

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It's found in the people you love. It's found in

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family dinners, birthday candle, holiday traditions, backyard games, baby showers,

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wedding dances, late night conversation, road trip cookout, in ordinary

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saturdays that somehow become unforgettable memories. Those moments become the

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stories our children tell someday. They're the memories our grandchildren

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will grow up hearing. They're the threads that hold the

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family together. As I think about Baby Stafford's future, my

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hope isn't that she has the newest voice or the

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nicest thing. My hope is that she grows up knowing

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exactly how loved she is. That she learns kindness from

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watching the people around her, That she learns generosity from

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those who give without expecting anything in return. That she

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learns gratitude, respect, compassion, faith, hard work, and the importance

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of family. Because if she learns those things, she'll already

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be rich in the ways that matter most. Before we

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wrap up today's episode, I just want to say thank you,

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Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate Morgan Tie

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and Baby Stafford. Thank you to everyone who brought food, gifts, encouragement,

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laughter and love. You helped create a day will never forget.

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And to Morgan and Ti, if you're listening, we are

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so incredibly proud of both of you. Watching you prepare

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to become parents has been one of life's greatest blessings.

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Baby Stafford couldn't ask for a better mom and dad.

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We cannot wait to meet her. We can't wait to

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hold her, we can't wait to watch her grow, and

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we can't wait to make thousands of memories together in

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the years ahead. To our listeners, thank you for spending

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this time with our family. It means so much that

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you continue to invite us into your homes, your cars,

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your walks, in your everyday lives. If today's episode made

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you smile or remind you of someone you love, we'd

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be honored if you'd share We Are the Hansens with

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00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:54.039
a friend or family member. Be sure to follow us

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on Facebook at we are the Hansen, where we share

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00:25:57.480 --> 00:26:02.880
behind the scene moments, family ventures, recipe and updates from

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our growing family. While you're there, subscribe to the Handsome

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Family Table newsletter. Every week we share recipes, stories from

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our home, parenting and grandparenting moments, encouragement, and plenty of

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family fund that doesn't always make it into the podcast.

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You can also visit us at we Arethehandsomefamily dot com

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to explore more episodes, articles, and exciting things we have

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planned for the future. We'll also have brand new merchandise,

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family planners, coloring pages, and other fun products coming soon,

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and we can't wait to share them with you. Most importantly,

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we'd love to hear from you. Tell us about your

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family tradition, your favorite recipe, the memories you're making, or

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00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:50.400
simply say hello. Your messages remind us that although many

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miles may separate us, we're all part of one incredible community.

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Until next time, hold your loved ones a little tighter,

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celebrate the ordinary, take the picture, laugh and tell your

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stomach hurts. Don't worry if everything isn't perfect, because years

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from now you won't remember whether the decorations matched or

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the food was flawless. You'll remember who was standing beside you.

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You'll remember the hugs, the laughter, the conversations, the love

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from our family to yours. Thank you for being part

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of We are the Hansens. We'll see you next week.