SURPIRSE!!!!

 Oh my goidness gracious! My AMAZING colleagues at Kaiser had a SURPIRSE Baby Shower for me last week! It was unbelievable! It was actually a very elaborate plan involving my boss emailing me in the morning to set up the plot, a co-worker getting me out of a meeting by telling me a client with an urgent behavioral situation (lol) was on the phone and needed a Clinician...only to find she had "hung up" when I got back there, lol! Then there was a strategically planned meeting with another colleage at a precise time, in which I was strongly encouraged to stay at and then a supposed urgent meeting with a Doctor in the kitchen.

When I walked into the kitchen I walked into a beautifully decorated room complete with celiing decorations, home made wreaths on the walls, a cake, and an entire CART full of baby gifts! About 20 of our staff members were there and shouted out "SURPRISE!"

Oh my goodness what a moment, I was, in fact, completely and utterly surprised! :-) I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so incredibly sweet and just every little detail was in place. The theme of the party, planned by a special friend, Diana, was "The Circle of Life." It was mainly baby animals/jungle themed and she told me she picked the theme b/c of generations carrying on, coming and going, and the cycle of life continuing. Ummm, I almost cried, I was SO touched and honored and wow, it's hard to find the words.

I had a moment where I was just so happy and a bit overwhelmed by seeing all those little baby things and it sinking in a bit deeper, that in just 2 short months there is going to be a little being, a precious baby boy to be wearing the clothes and reading the books and present in the world! Not to mention the center of my world. WOW!

They hooked me up with everything! Really cute clothes, pacifiers, socks, eating utencils, a musical mobile, a play pad, blankets, butt cream (hehe), wash clothes, stuffed animals, diapers, books, a really nice pregnancy book AND a huge wad of cash called "Hope and Marcelo Relief Fund!" Reserved to use for he and I to go out to eat, or for a massage or a babysitter, etc. HOW incredibly sweet! So much love for our family. I am so humbled. And so grateful and so blessed and so incredibly excited!!!!

Thank you Diana and The Entire Health Ed Department. Words fall short of describing how much your kindness and generosity means to me :-) It was really fun bringing everything home and sharing it with Marcelo and telling him the stories of that day :-)

I was and still am so happy about the party! I am still riding on that wave! The rest of the week was good. We had our last of three, 4 hour childbirth prep classes at Kaiser. We are also doing another 8 hour series that ends next week. Here I am on Saturday sitting on my bouncy ball and learning about breast feeding using my vintage E.T doll!!! Good times! I think he liked it, lol.

Despite having anemia I have been feeling good and full of energy! Go figure! I went to 2 yoga classes last week and 3 hour long walks. I love my walks! 

We also went to see The Hobbit Part 2. That was fun, and we went out to eat Pho (Vietnamese Noodles), so delicious! It is starting to sink in what other parents are telling me, to go out and enjoy the last few weeks of being kidless, b/c when the baby's born, it may be much harder to get away! hehe. So yes, we are living it up now and having lots of fun. 

Saturday we went to a friends Holiday party and I enjoyed so much all of the delicious foods and treats. It is really amazing how much attention a pregnant belly gets. People honestly get SO excited! At the party we met some other new parents and spent a while talking with them and hearing stories :-) Today a lady came up to me in a store and asked about my pregnancy and shared about hers many years ago and gave each other a hug when she left. Seriously, the magic of child birth and the creation of life brings out a special glow in people. It's very cool. 

Even my cat loves a preggo belly! Check it out!