The Rookie really loves to party (whether in MA, or PA, or...)

It's been a wonderful, and busy, two weeks for our little family (incubating and all). On August 1, I flew up to MA and celebrated the Rookie with a great gang of gals. About 25 women gathered in my Mom's backyard on Sunday, August 3. The best part (at least for me, since I rebel against a lot of traditional stuff)-- they were dressed in Red Sox garb!!! It was a really fabulous party, as you can see from Rookie's MA shower (Jen pics) and Merrie's MA Shower (Kate's pics). I am so touched by the wonderful and personal gifts, including a handmade kite quilt by Aunt Lynne, and handknit Red Sox blanket from Mrs. T, plus great blankets, cute onesies, and an Ergo carrier (organic green and all) so we can saunter around the city with the Rookie. The gals of MA were creative, fun and very generous, as you can see from our depleted registry.
Special thanks to the "organizing" team: Mom, Bub, Jen, Kate and Liz. They made us feel special and loved with the creativity, hard work (Jen and Bub made strawberry and blueberry jam-- the Sox colors-- as favors for everyone) and good eats.
After a few days of working from Mom's kitchen table, Jen and I drove to NYC for a short visit with her good UNH buddy Michele (the Rookie is very cosmopolitan!) and then on to Stahlstown, PA for the wedding of my good Pomona buddy Annie and her fab beau Jonathan. Annie's one of the first folks who knew about the Rookie-- got the news back in the winter when she first called me to ask me to be in the wedding party. Of course, I was touched, but felt that I should warn Annie that I'd look like the bridesmaid with the basketball up my dress. Annie was okay with it and I'm so glad-- I was so lucky to be a part of the celebrations! The weekend included lots of time with the bride and groom's wonderful families, laughs with Pomona pals including the Harwood Hotties, and rejoicing in the happiness of the bride and goom. There will be lots of pictures available but here are some photos from one of Annie's family friends, and attached is one of me with the bride (and the Rookie in my big tummy). And, you can see the bridesmaids' handiwork on the photographer's blog (she's a good childhood friend of the bride and was a great person to work with).
Thanks to a ride back from our friends Jeff and Alice (plus time with Maury), we are back in DC and have just ten weeks or so to go! The Rookie is celebrating the Olympics by swimming around, sometimes performing flipturns, and doing some gymnastics as well. I feel big but am still mostly comfortable, walking and getting some hiking (and dancing) in last weekend. I like looking at the bright and gorgeous flowers on our kitchen table and thinking of last weekend, and glancing at the activity gym from our friend Liz (shipped here, but a picture was a part of the shower up north) and all the great women up north who celebrated the Rookie there. We are very lucky to have the network of love and support that includes all of you!
Lots of love,the Rookie's vessel