ellen show

This week I went to LA for the Ellen Show!! It was her "Mother's Day" show where everyone in the audience is pregnant (oh yeah, did I mention I'm pregnant?! 17 weeks!).

My friend, Danielle, got a ticket to the show and had an extra one - so she posted on her blog "need a pregnant friend to go to the ellen show with me". I was pregnant, but had only told a few people, and desperately wanted to go. I called Brandon and he said, "hurry, call her NOW!" (we watched the show last year), so I called Danielle and secured the spot. Thankfully, she kept it secret that I was going (since we have lots of mutual friends) and I wanted to make sure family found out about the pregnancy first. Rachel announced she was going to be a "big sister" and that "mommy had a baby in her tummy" to family and friends on their visit to Utah this last weekend.

Back to the ellen show ... I drove to LA Thursday morning (6.5 hr drive) and the show was taped that afternoon. It was such a blast and a chance of a lifetime! If you're not familiar with the show, she basically throws a baby shower for all the pregnant women in the audience and gives a ton of baby gifts to everyone. The show aired today (Friday). I am in awe of the generosity - they gave to each audience member nearly $3000 worth of expensive baby items and also paid the taxes on it. Thank you, Ellen!

For a detailed list of the prizes, there's a link here or here's the brief list:

- Age brand Hi-Lo high chair

- Timi & Leslie Diaper Bag

- Puj bathing tub

- MD Moms Silk-line baby gift box (lotion, wipes, etc.)

- Dr. Weil eco-friendly baby bottles / pacifiers

- Aden & Anais swaddle blankets, burp cloths, sleeper, etc.

- Baby Bjorn baby carrier

- Angora booties/slippers

- "I heart ellen" onesie

- 6 month supply of Huggies diapers

- Video baby monitor

- Posh mommy necklace

- Shrinkxhips belt (post natal belt)

- Teutonia stroller

AMAZING RIGHT?!! She's also giving away the prizes to viewers at home on her website this weekend - for a chance to win, click the link here. As we left, they filled our cars with the smaller gifts, and the larger gifts, we'll order online and they'll be shipped to our homes.

It was such an incredible feeling to get completely spoiled with no strings attached! I was so lucky to get a ticket. All thanks to Danielle! Thanks so much, girl!! And I also owe a thanks to Brandon and Kasey for taking care of the munchkin while I was away for a day and a half.

p.s. Don't be fooled that the excitement of the ellen show is more exciting than the fact that we are expecting our second child October 13th - we are absolutely thrilled to have another addition to our little family! We find out the gender in just a few weeks, so I'll keep you posted. And no, we honestly don't have a preference or a feeling one way or the other if it's a boy or girl. And the pregnancy has gone great so far - no complaints. However, I will complain when I have to go to girl's camp during the first week in August ... and yes, I explained that I was pregnant when I was called to be one of the stake leaders, but they don't have any rules against pregnant women going to camp ... blast! :)