Jordan hates getting surprised, but he loves surprising other people… especially Amy. (Big or small… like the time he created a scavenger hunt that led to Taylor Swift CD at the end) The thing about Jordan, though, is this: for as much as he loves surprising Amy, he loves Amy more, which oftentimes means he tells her the surprise before he gets the chance to surprise her –– because he gets so excited. So, for him to pull off big surprises, he has to literally forget it’s happening altogether. Just so he won’t be tempted. Because he doesn’t have enough fingers and toes to count all the times he’s told Amy, “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that, so act surprised!” and he has all of his fingers and toes, so it’s happened a lot.
NOT THIS TIME, THOUGH!
A few months ago, some of our sweet out-of-state friends reached out to Jordan with an idea: Since we won’t be in town for Amy’s baby shower next year in Arizona, we should throw her a surprise baby shower when we’re all already going to be in town for the Showit United conference.
Our friends made all the plans. Jordan kept his trap shut. The plan was in motion.
On Wednesday afternoon, when the conference ended, everyone checked out of the hotel and drove to the house to set up the decorations and prep for the big surprise.
Jordan had one job. Get Amy to our house. As soon as possible.
PROBLEM: Amy wanted a cheeseburger and french fries. From Five Guys. Because pregnancy cravings are spontaneous and bossy (the craving is bossy, not the woman)… and the consequences for not feeding them within 30 minutes of the request are a) real and b) dire.
Here’s how our conversation went…
Jordan: “That sounds great! Wanna grab it to go?”
Amy: “Let’s eat there. We have nowhere to be this afternoon.”
Jordan: “I know, but I’d just love kick my shoes off and relax at home.”
Amy: “But then it’ll get cold and won’t taste as good. Let’s just eat here.”
Jordan: “If I hold the bag shut really tightly, the heat won’t escape!”
Amy: “You could… but I’m starving and if I don’t eat soon…”
Jordan: “No problem! You can eat while I drive!”
Amy (sweetly): “Let’s just eat here.”
We ordered and sat down. When the food came, Jordan scarfed his like it was a competition, then secretly texted play-by-play updates under the table to our friends who were waiting at our house.
Finally, when Amy finished eating, we were on our way!
Ten minutes later, Amy walked through our front door to one of her favorite surprises of all time.
Jen, Anna and Caroline did such an amazing job with all details and planning! A big thank you to them, and to AZ Flower Bar for working with them from across the country!!
Jen took the surprise even further by designing the cutest logo for our new family. She took the A&J mark she designed for our new brand a few years ago and seamlessly added in a B for Baby! These cute Etsy signs are going in his room, too! Definitely.
The sneaky hostesses who made it happen! From left to right: Caroline, Amy, Anna and Jen.
It was so fun having friends from SEVEN STATES here at one time! It was Little Miss Evy time here, and we’re going to say she loved it.
It’s just about the sweetest thing in the world when Jen’s daughter, Serena, talks to Amy’s belly. Little does she know that she’s talking to her future husband. We are ALL about arranged marriages in the Demos House. Especially with the children of Jen and Aaron Olmstead. For the obvious good looks, quick wit and overall charm. But alllso (selfishly) because our family is in desperate need of height.
Zach and Matt. Not brothers 😉 But could pull it off, right?
Loved having everyone here at once!
The whole crew!
Fun Fact: The hostesses, being photographers themselves, asked everyone to wear neutrals for the group photo. Of course, Amy didn’t know she was getting ready for her shower. We were staying at the conference hotel until that morning, so Jordan had to convince Amy to wear a gray dress for the THIRD STRAIGHT DAY (even though she had other clothes) so that she’d coordinate with everyone else.
She persisted so hard to wear a different outfit, that Jordan was left with no option except the nuclear one. It was PAINFUL for him to say. He didn’t want to. But she left him with no choice…
THAT one makes you look frumpy. The gray one makes you look skinny and pretty!
She chose the gray one. And forgave him for lying.
We were so touched that our sweet friends Becky and Jesse came all the way from San Diego just for this!
There’s sweet little unsuspecting Serena again… hugging her future mother-in-law.
Caroline, Krista, Katelyn and Anna!
Jody, Alisa (little Ember, who belongs to Jody) and Brenda!
We played a “How well do you know Amy and Jordan?” group game that. had. us. roll-ing.
Question: Write down something that will surprise Amy after childbirth.
Answer: When she discovers that her son is born with a PERFECT gel part in his hair.
It got pretty competitive.
Then, we opened gifts. To be honest, we felt really uncomfortable being the center of attention, but so grateful for our generous friends. And everyone insisted we document our very first pack of diapers.
But this moment in the one that meant the most to us. Even Jordan didn’t know it was planned. At the end of the party, our friends asked if they could pray for us. We wept as they laid their hands on us and, one-by-one, prayed out loud for God to make us strong when we’re weak; to protect our marriage and our new little life; to give Amy what she needs to love our baby; to give Jordan what he needs to lead our family; to fill our gaps with grace and give us wisdom to raise as little man who will grow up make a big difference in the world.
As we sat there, heads down, eyes closed, tears in our eyes, we felt so undeserving of our friends’ depth of love for us. The realness of it. The sincerity of it. The selflessness and sacrifice of it.
We didn’t know anyone was taking pictures. We thought it was a private moment that would only exists in our memories. But we’re so glad someone picked up the camera and did. Because we want to remember this moment forever.
God loves people through people. And, in this moment, we never felt so close to Him.
People ask us all the time, Where does it come from? The joyfulness. The happiness. Is it actually real?
It is.
And it comes from this.
Because before we had anything, we had Him, and we had people… like them.
And if all the material things got taken away tomorrow. Our house. Our car. Our business. Our 401(k).
We’d still have both. Our relationship with the Lord and our relationships with others. And because of that, we’d still have everything.
We couldn’t be more thankful to be welcoming a son to this world.
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