Showers of Love

Justin and I are truly blessed to have many wonderful friends and family members in our lives. Thanks to these people we had, perhaps, an embarrassing amount of baby showers. So many people stepped forward to help us welcome Kennedy. Here is a short description of each one:


Shower One:

Hosted by: Brynn Eastman, Kristy Johnson and Ashley Johnson
Guests: High school and college friends
Description: Brynn, the glue that keeps the high school girls together offered to throw this shower at her Mom's house in WVC. It was so much fun! We played Baby Alphabet and Sitcom Kids, both organized by Ashley. We ate yummy chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, veggies and Brynn made a cute cupcake cake! After eating and playing games I opened presents from my generous friends.

College roommates/friends Kelly Seale, Danielle Christensen and Kirty Jenkins

High school friends Heidi Hamilton, Kristy Johnson, Heather Hendrikson, Brynn Eastman and Ashley Johnson

Shower Two:

Hosted by: Dearie Patterson and Cindy Patterson
Guests: Family from both Hirschi/Miller and Patterson sides
Description: The domestic goddesses Dearie (my sis-in-law) and Cindy (my stepmom) put on a beautiful shower in Kennedy's honor! They made themed cupcakes, goodie bags and had a beautiful spread of food including the most beautiful spinach salad I have ever seen. We played the Price is Right, baby edition and a Nursery Rhyme game that was not for the faint of heart! I was touched by all the family that came and for their wonderful gifts. We received a lot of homemade items at this shower which are precious and irreplaceable to me due to the time and love put into each piece.

A diaper cake! Cute and functional! I like it so much I have been unable to disassemble it!


Designer cupcakes made by the ever-talented Dearie.

(Note: If anyone has more pictures of this shower, I would love to get them from you and post a few more, I only captured a few as you can see!)

Shower Three:

Hosted by: Jen Larson and McKenzie Carlisle
Guests: Friends from grad school
Description: I knew that if Jen and McKenzie were putting on a party, it would be fun and boy was I not let down! At this party people pretty much just sat around and chatted but they also had the opportunity to make Kennedy a personalized onesie using tie-dye! It was so funny to watch people really get into this process! The onesies were washed are going to be quite the fashion statement when Kennedy wears them! I promised a slide show of her in all of them so look to see that in the next few months. I was really touched by the turnout to this party and by how many people showed up with yummy food. I am a bit of an anomaly being a pregnant woman in grad school but their showing of support was warmly felt.

(Note: I have no pictures of this shower but I know several people were taking pics :(. Please if you have some send them to me so I can post your beautiful faces!)

Shower Four:

Hosted by: Helen Langan and Ann Ober
Guests: The Politicos
Description: This shower was a blast! It was the only shower that men-folk were invited to since there were a lot of Justin's friends attending. The guys were great to have! I don't think they minded the party too much since the food was to die for and their was champagne and mimosas enough to take off any girly edge. Helen and Ann decorated beautifully for the event with the crown decoration being a cake they had made where, on a garden path, there was a sign saying "Welcoming the Newest Democrat!" No games played just a lot of fun conversation and more generous gift giving.

"Welcoming the Newest Democrat" cake!

Part of the enormous and beautiful (not to mention delicious) spread!

Jani putting a Hooter Hider on Justin which he wore for the duration of the shower!

Justin and I with the fantastic hostesses Ann Ober and Helen Langan

Our hearts our full of gratitude and love to all of you who put on or came to these showers. Your gifts now fill Kennedy's room with reminders of support and generosity. We are so blessed to have such a 'village' to raise our child in. We love you all so much! Thank you.

Cupcake Bites

I have been looking for projects to keep me busy each day; both school things to feel productive and outside entertainment to keep me in good spirits. Yesterday, I decided to take on a fun baking project that I found on Bakerella.com. If you have not been there, check it out, it is so much fun and the lady who runs it writes so clearly that it made me feel like I could take on this project. I made the cupcake bites and I think they turned out super cute (especially for my first time!).

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

A horrifying thing just happened to me--I ran out of things to do. I have been avoiding my last bit of grading but today I woke up and realized that was all that was on my agenda. Sure I can begin other projects but that is hard to do when I know I will just have to put them on pause any day now...

To speed up the birthing process, so it would not get to this point, I have done the following:

1. Walking: I have gone for several walks, parked in the back of parking lots and just generally stayed busy with chores around the house. So far, hasn't helped.

2. Raspberry leaf tea: My doula gave this to me as a way to ripen my cervix and encourage effacing. I have been drinking at least two cups a day since Sunday and so far, no luck.

3. Black Cohosh: This is another herbal supplement that I have heard is well known for starting labor. I searched several stores looking for it, only to find it at Dave's Nutrition as a liquid supplement which means in very concentrated form. It is pretty gross tasting but I have been drinking it for a day and... nada.

4. Foot rubs and other oxytocin inducing behaviors. Nuff said, it hasn't worked.

I thought I was being responsible by wrapping up my school assignments in a timely manner, getting the nursery set up early and getting hospital bags and other supplies organized and ready. But now I am wondering if I should have put them off! The problem is not only that I want to sleep better and feel like myself again (yes I realize both of those will not come right off!), I really want to meet this girl we have been talking so much about. I want to see whose ears and eyes and nose she got. I want to know if she is fussy or easy-going. I just want to know her!

Alas, I will continue to wait. Perhaps I can do the dishes again?