Shower Madness

Everything is going pretty well. We had another sonogram on Friday. This is a profile picture of Evelyn. Both babies are doing well, Evelyn weighs 2 lbs 8 oz and Rowan weighs 2 lbs 11 oz. They are measuring right on track as well and they're definitely girls. They are moving quite a bit now and my belly is taking on all sorts of strange shapes. We had two sonogram Friday. The first was early in the morning and Rowan was head down and Evey was head up. Then that afternoon I went back for another sonogram and they were both head down. Rowan was so far down we couldn't get a good picture of her face. Every once in a while I feel a sharp pain on my bladder so I have a feeling she's staying head down.

As for me, well I have now gained 36 lbs (my doc wants me to gain 45), but it appears to be mostly in my belly. My legs are starting to hurt when I have to stand. I think I probably look like that big cartoon chicken. I have also developed carpel tunnel syndrome in my hands due to the pregnancy. They say it should go away after they're born (fingers crossed...no that hurts).

Mr. Mono and I had two showers this weekend and one last weekend and one the weekend before. One more shower to go. Yes, I know its shower madness, but could it really be any other way? Our first shower was a de la Reza family shower. Then we had a friends shower last Saturday with one group of friends. I had one at work on Friday, that was really nice. Then we had a friends/family shower this past Saturday that was a lot of fun too (different friends). And this coming weekend is the firefighter shower.

They've been lots of fun and exhausting in a good way. This past Saturday everyone stayed until pretty late into the night talking and laughing. It was after midnight when we finally settled down and my toes looked like little sausages after standing and walking around so much. Mr. Mono was very pleased to get his much desired diaper bag...




They make such cool diaper bags for men now. Its from a place called "diaper dude," so now he can take the kids to coffee shops and look as cool as the other dads. It even comes with a black baby changing pad.

But most of all it was just great to share this time with our friends and family. There are really only a few times in your life when it seems absolutely necessary to bring together all your available friends and family and be together to celebrate or to mourn. Graduations, weddings, funerals, new babies, and maybe just a handful of other times--bar mitzvah, quinceaneras, what-have-you. Those times do not come often and yet they mean so much--not only to the person, couple, etc, but also to the whole: to the family and friends. They are not mere get togethers. On the contrary, these are the moments that change our lives and at the end of the occasion (be it happy or sad) we are not the same anymore, nor ever will be again.

We celebrate the arrival of our girls. Our little girls that we thought, many times, would not ever be in our arms--yet now I'm in my 3rd trimester. How difficult it all was and what a joy this time is for us now. Who better to celebrate in this life changing moment then the people we love and cherish. And sitting with family and friends I realize how much these kids mean to other people too. It is my grandmother knitting baby booties, it is my friend giving me motherhood advice, it is my sister tearing up over every pink little dress, it is the thought that one day I will be at my own daughters baby shower celebrating the joys of her life.

And so these showers, these seemingly silly parties we throw at the expected arrival of a new baby--or in our case babies--have been great. And when they are here finally we will throw a huge party (after everyone has recovered) and drink lots of wine and beer (especially Mrs. Mono--since Mr. Mono will be the new designated driver) and eat good food, listen to bagpipes, talk late into the night and properly welcome the girls into the world so that they will see that there is much to celebrate in life and lots of people who love them.