This past weekend, a few of us gathered at Green Pastures here in Austin for Lauren‘s babyshower.  I had never heard of Green Pastures and, in a very un-me fashion, I didn’t even look the place up before heading that way.  But as I pulled through the gravel parking lot and saw a beautiful early 1900s home with a lush lawn and wraparound porch, I knew that this brunch was going to be something special.

We gathered in a semi-private dining room and caught up on Lauren’s latest pregnancy news.  Some of us heard the baby’s name for the first time.  Some of us learned a thing or two about birthing centers.  But mostly, we sat around the table in our Sunday finest anticipating the all-you-can-eat buffet.  Oh and milk punch.  We slurped up milk punch, a divine mixture of ice cream, bourbon, brandy, and rum, before heading into the main dining hall.

When we set eyes on how extensive the buffet actually was, we were overwhelmed.  Big time.  They had everything from quiche to gaspacho to ahi tuna to kale salad to chocolate covered bacon to eggs benedict.  I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say there must have been 200-ish dishes to choose from.  And then the sneaky servers that filled up your milk punch while you weren’t looking.  It was glutton to the max, but it was wonderful glutton.  This was the kind of brunch you left feeling happy full, spoiled full, not why-did-I-eat-that full.

And then we sat our full-bellied selves around the table and watched miss Lauren open up presents that she and Matt will soon share with their precious little boy.  A little boy who is already so loved and who all of us are so excited to finally meet!