Expanded O'Brien Family: Friend Baby Shower and Pink Hair!

We are into Week 35! Can you believe it?! We only have 4 weeks (30 Days) to go. Keri and the boys fly in in 28 days. The reality of having a baby has still not sunk in and I am at the point where I think I am a lost cause. I think I will have to hold her and bring her home to fully understand that I have a baby. I have to admit that I am starting to get the twinge, late at night, that I am done being pregnant. I am not miserable or anything but I would like my stomach to stop feeling like it is under attack. Really, I am not asking for my body back because I know that after birth comes the feeling of being a milking cow…but honestly if I could just have a solid hour when I get home of non-assault- stomach time I would be so pleased! I have not dropped yet so according to Jane I have a couple of weeks…which makes everyone at work breathe a little easier.

PINK HAIR:

So a long time ago…when I worked at Northwest Kinetics…a group of my friends would sit around and talk about how we would tell each other we were pregnant. I should say that this all stemmed because we had 3 friends get knocked up all at the same time. So my friend Janice Wiggins decided that she would bring in Rainbow chip cupcakes with Rainbow chip frosting (later this seemed to be a bad idea because we could not have it at parties because this was the signature pregnant move!) and I decided that I was going to have peek-a-boo pink highlights because when you are pregnant no-one says anything to you about what you look like…it is an excuse to wear PJs to work!

All of this said, when I found out I was pregnant I wanted to dye my hair pink but I had conferences and weddings that I just did not feel were appropriate to go to with pink hair. Well folks….I went and got pink extensions in my hair last week and I love it. The best part of this is that I do not have a picture to show you…because I keep forgetting to take one and my hair is up today….so I promise you next week you can see my pink hair! It really is not that dramatic but it is fun!

Friend Shower: I had my friend baby shower and all I can say is that I am blessed. I have amazing friends and their support is encouraging! The planning that Pat and Tori did for this shower was amazing! The food was a work of art and the way they decorated was perfect and not “baby themed”! There were no games just good fellowship and a perfect time for all of my friends to meet one another. I had the opportunity to introduce each person at the shower which was a ton of fun and I started to laugh when I was introducing Tori’s mom. I realized that it really did take a village to raise me! I have so many “moms” and “aunts” that it really struck me when introducing Mrs. Vantramp (Charlie) that I have been so blessed to have such diverse and strong women in my life shape who I am! As I looked at all of my friends and family at the table (and picturing the ones that were not there) it made me so excited for Pixie because if she is anything like me it will take the village/community Brendan and I have created to raise her and mold her into the woman she is called to be.

How beautiful is this!!

After I opened a gift from someone, they had to come to my chair and snap a picture with me! This is Elece (of the Bryce/ Elece, Gregg/ Beth Ann combo, think Sounder Game Stories)

You know Lauren by now! Which by the way she is on the market for a man so if you know anyone!!!

Pat's mom, Anita, knitted this for me....I was super hoping I would get one of her amazing blankets! I am always jealous of Pat's blankets!

And you know Laurel...

This is Emily, she transfered to Geneva with me and we have the same wedding anniversary!

This is Jamie and Aspen (the baby). They belong to Brian P Moore, Brendan's BFF. They are so happy!

This is Coreen. She has Jace and Cali. We worked together at CRL for 9 years before I jumped ship!

This is Beth Ann (of Gregg and Beth Ann). Gregg is Brendan's boyfriend.

Mom (Charlie AKA Tori's mom), me and Tori

Gen, me and Gail- We work at Geneva and previously at CRL together. Gen was my office mate and makes one of the best travel partners. Gail's wedding was the very first wedding I ever help plan!

Tori, me, Pat- The ladies that are amazing. Tori and I have been BFFs since 9th grade and Pat and I have been inseparable since PLU! Thank God for these ladies...I know Brendan thinks that every day! I would be a mess without them!

I was also blessed to have Jocelyn come to the shower. She belongs to the group of Cailyn, Ang Ladenburg and me. She could not stay for the entire shower--he husband was watching the kiddos when he should have been sleeping! (He works nights) Thanks David! Oh..from the back of the table it is Laurel and then Jocelyn....it was the only picture I had of her!