Should we stay or should we go now?

It's been awfully quiet around these parts recently. I don't suspect anyone has been loitering around begging for updates, but when I don't write much, my brain starts to get crowded. I haven't avoided posting because I lacked things to say. I've actually haven't written because I had too many things to share. Things that weren't ready to be shared.

But now, the cat is out of the bag, and some of the biggest news in our recent lives is out in the open.

Yep. We're moving.

After seven years in Pittsburgh, it's time to pack up, and head west, for the sunny skies of Columbus. I got a new job, we sold our house, we bought another house…Basically everything we've known has been flipped upside down in a matter of weeks. There is still a tremendous amount of logistics to work out (most pressing: Dustin's job, and childcare for the girls) but God has been paving the way for this move in a way that we can't ignore, so we're trusting that He's not down working out the details for us. It's been an absolutely crazy ride to see how fast life can transform, and as sad as we are to leave this place, we're also thrilled for the next adventure. We've got a little less than two more weeks here, so we're packing in the fun (you know, when we're not literally packing our stuff) and trying to wrap our brains around the monumental changes that are about to take place. Things are on warp speed, but I'm trying as much as I can to soak up every last bit of this sweet season. It's all a bit of a frantic blur as we try to sort and connect the pieces of this life-puzzle, so I won't share the nitty gritty details for now, but know that we are beyond thankful for the experiences we've had and the friends we've made in Pittsburgh.

I'm sure there will be plenty of nostalgia and sweet, sappy musings to come, but for now I thought it would be cool to share a snippet from the process that I jotted down along the way.

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Originally written 2/11/14:

It's happening.

That thing that happens every couple years. Where Dustin I decided maybe, just maybe, it's time to uproot everything and head for the hills. Except not really hills. More like the flatlands of Columbus.

We've been here before, a couple times probably, some times more serious than others. It's always been the eventual goal to move to Columbus I suppose, but that itch has struck again, and we find ourselves seriously exploring the possibility of making a move sooner than later. Sooner like real soon. I'm looking into a job with a retail company there and while I'm at it I'm trying to check out a couple of marketing agencies as well. After a few phone calls and email chains, it's escalated to the point that I actually have an all day in person interview next week. It's far from a done deal, so I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but at the same time I feel that I have to process the possibilities now, in order to be prepared when and if a job comes to fruition.

So I can't take it for granted that I'm going to get this job, and further, that I would want to accept this job if so. But I almost have to pretend like that's happening, just in case it does. So I'm trying not to waste any time dwelling on the fear, the worry and the negative, because it's all too soon for any of that to matter. But I am trying to weigh the pros and cons, and allow myself to sit with a very real possibility that our time in Pittsburgh could be coming to a close. When we moved here I signed a two-year contract. I definitely thought we would stay longer than that, but it was at least a minimum. A starting point. That milestone came and went though and Dustin and I kept renewing our original "five-year plan" (the length of time I figured we would be in Pittsburgh before thinking about starting a family and moving back home.) But somehow that plan kept getting extended, and now this Summer will mark seven years (and two babies) in the Steel City. 

So when we moved here, I knew I was committing to this town, at least for a while, but I didn't know that I would fall in love. Sure, there are things about Pittsburgh that I can confidently say are The Worst. I don't love having a bridge and/or (mostly and) tunnel between me and anything I want to get to. I don't love that fact that the gray days outnumber the sunny ones. But if I was truly going to hate on Pittsburgh, I would have to get kind of picky. It really is an awesome place. We've met some of the best friends of our lives here, and after seven years, I can confidently say that it is home.

And then there's my job. There have been ups and downs; days where I had to pinch myself to believe that this dream job wasn't all truly just a dream. And then there've been days when I've been overwhelmed, frustrated, and dejected. But again, after seven years, this company is as much my home as this city is. It's all I've known here, and further- all I've really known in the working world. I had five internships before I graduated, in three different cities. I got to try out big city living, small-town living, and squatting in my parents basement. I got to test the waters of design, production, kids clothes, uniforms.... But as far as real-deal, big-girl grown-up job? This is it. This is where I learned pretty much everything. It's now my benchmark by which all other opportunities are measured. 

So I now have one foot in both worlds. For as much as I'm prepping mentally to leave, life keeps on going here as if were staying forever. Nothing is a sure thing, so I have to lay the groundwork for what possibilities could be, and at the same time keep our reality in motion. So that means on Wednesday afternoon I have a phone interview with the new company, and Thursday morning I have to remember to call to make future appointments for Piper. It means that I spend evenings working on my resume, and Saturday mornings checking out dance classes for my toddler. We have an exit strategy, and a museum membership. We could be here three more years, or three more weeks. And what all that adds up to, is a serious lack of sleep on my end. (Like I needed that!) I find myself laying awake at night, running over all the possibilities in my mind. Asking myself question after question, to try to make sense of the enormous change that could be coming our way. I can make a list from here that would stretch from here to Ohio, with reasons I want to stay put. I really do love it here. The people alone could convince me to be a Yinzer for life. But then it's not hard to come up with a list equally long of reasons we should go. More specifically- why we should go now. And at the top of that list are two little girls who would benefit greatly from the supportive network of family. Okay, if we're being honest, at the top of that list is one little girl: me, who would benefit greatly from the supportive network of family. No one wants to live with regrets, and I would hate to feel that we left a good thing, or bailed to soon. But at the same time, these years with little ones are fleeting, and the opportunity to spend them alongside family is maybe too great to resist.

So for now, I'll probably keep saying up too late looking at real estate in the suburbs, and checking out LinkedIn for new possibilities, but also keep my nose to the grindstone and stay invested in my current world.

And if after next Tuesday, we do have the option to trade it all in for Part Two of our dream life, then will have a big decision to make. The only thing I know for sure is that God is preparing our path, the same way he has for the last seven years. I just can't wait to see where it leads next. 

Brewer's Ball

 Quick- what are my three favorite things in life?

1. Dustin
2. Beer
3. Helping others

Ok...maybe those aren't my exact top three, but I do love those things an awful lot. So when Dustin and I got the opportunity to attend a beer tasting event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we didn't hesitate.

We got gussied up in our finest "cocktail attire" (turns out its been a while since the two of us had to look presentable. The day of the event we still hadn't figured out our wardrobes. Dustin was worried about his suit fitting...and I had to use my lunch hour to do some speed shopping) and left Piper with her two new best friends (aka our good friends that graciously agreed to babysit. Holla, Craig and Katie!)

See? Even after a full day of work, and a whirlwind of childcare

and baby handoff, we still manage to look somewhat presentable!

The event was held in a large ballroom type space, that was set up with tables around the perimeter- each one representing a different local pub or brewery. There probably hundreds of beers on tap, as well as some fancy bottled options, and even a few ciders. We happily accepted our tasting glasses and started making the rounds.

 

 Dustin found a hometown fav.

And I found out I could double fist with no shame. 

We got to know this guy pretty well...

And of course we had to snap a pic for our girl...

If all that beer wasn't enough, there was also a good bit of food there, which was a welcome treat, as I'm not sure I would have made it through all that drinking without a pretzel or two as a base. Fortunately the offerings were a bit more varied than that though, and we got our fill of some delicious sandwiches, some soup that I may have to buy stock in (if only I wasn't too buzzed to remember the name of the restaurant serving it) and of course, some yummy cheeses.

I'm thankful there is only photographic evidence of the first time we hit up 

the braised beef and pork belly slider bar.

 

Oh...and then a  pic of that time we ate chased our fancy sliders 

with cheeseburger sliders.Classy AND yummy.

Tiny glass, tiny plate, tiny pickle!

  And tiny container of cheese? Yes, I'll have several, thank you.

But it wasn't all belly-bustin' and boozin'. Midway through the evening, they showed a video about CF, and a local guy talked about his personal battle with the disease. I teared up a bit as he told his story, and was reminded how blessed we are to have each other, and a beautiful healthy daughter. Celebrating the gift of life and fighting to find a cure to CF? I'll most definitely drink to that.

Buccos, Baby!

First of all, is the new blogger layout blowing anyone else's mind? For real...I feel like a grandmother on a kindle here. "what's this new fangled thing? Don't know why we need all these fancy-shmancy do-dads. Things were just fine in my day. We had to edit our HTML by hand and we liked it". Oh well. Time (and technology) marches on. I'll get used to it, but forgive me if everything looks a little wonky in the meantime.

Anyway. Last Sunday was potentially the coldest day in the history of spring. So what did we decide to do? Go to Pirates game, naturally.

Thanks to work, we had free tickets in the box, so while it was miserably cold out, we had the luxury of watching the game from a cozy clubhouse, complete with a full spread of food and drink. (We even had the Penguins/Flyers game on for some bonus Pennsylvania sports action.) I typically love a baseball game no matter what (being outside, eating hotdogs, singing songs about old-timey snacks...), but the box is where it's at- if only for the food. We got to gorge ourselves on hot dogs, wings nachos (with sour cream and chilli, not just that orange cheese-ish product the rest of those stadium suckers have to endure), salad, bruschetta, chips and nuts. (not to mention soda and beer). But as much as I love the food, the sunshine (not applicable last week) and the latin rap songs introducing each batter, (and I do love that very much) a new favorite part of the gametime experience is the gear.

Now, I don't actually own any Pittsburgh jerseys (or even a t-shirt) but with a little one around, I'm using anything as an excuse to dress her up. (surprising absolutely no one.) The day before the game involved a quick trip to our local Once Upon a Child for a discount "gently used" Pirates get up. (Yes, our store has an entire Pittsburgh-wear second. Again, surprising absolutely no one.) We scored a practically brand new Pirates onesie, and Piper was thrilled to rep her team. (Don't let Dustin know I said that...He is still convinced she's going to be a Phillies fan.)

And again, despite Dustin's wishes, she even sported a new bow in her scraggly fuzz.

(stop it with those adorable black and gold shoe/socks. Too much!)

And folks, we might just have a baseball fan on our hands here. I'm telling you, she loved every second of it. Maybe it was the bright colors, the crowd noise, or because we cuddled her for hours on end, but she had a blast, and wouldn't take her eyes of the field. 

Or more accurately, wouldn't take her eyes off her own reflection in the glass, or the giant TV just on the other side. Girl loves a screen. (even if it's just my camera phone...)

We did venture outside just long enough to snap a couple pics before our ears fell off...

And while she was a trooper, Dustin eventually tired of my (apparently excessive) picture taking. How do I know? This face:

No for real...stop taking pictures...

After the initial excitement, baby girl drifted off into dreamland for innings 4-7 at least (can't say I blame her..baseball is a slow burn) Tragically, she missed the Pierogie race- practically my #1 reason for attending. But she rallied toward the end, and we made it out of the park without a tear.

P.s. The Pirates lost. But shhhhhh....she doesn't have to know...

Date Night

It's been a while since we've been on a date...two months in fact. Sure, since then we've spent a ton of time together, and we've done a ton of things. We've been out to eat, visited the zoo, taken walks, attended a Penguins game, gone shopping...but all of that involved a tiny tagalong. So while we've had fun, I wouldn't necessarily say our lives are overflowing with romance. And though our monthly goals have moved on, I'm still tied to our tradition from December that encouraged us to prioritize time with each other. Don't get me wrong...family time is great, and an evening on the couch with a movie can be fun...but every once in a while you need to get out, sans kid, for a special husband-and-wife night on the town.

So when my mom called out of the blue to say she wanted to come for the weekend and watch Piper so we could go out...I just couldn't say no.

We didn't have any special plans, but we couldn't squander the chance at a night of childfree fun! We debated what to do...out options were pretty much limitless, but our goal was to take advantage of the evening and plan an outing that we couldn't do with Piper in tow. I mean, she's a great companion most of the time, but she doesn't exactly appreciate things like fine dining or adult conversation.

We figured dinner out was a no brainer, but we wanted to do it up right, and make a night of it with another activity. We thought about seeing a movie (she's definitely not a fan of being quiet for two hours at a time), but there weren't any compelling options. We considered bowling (she might not hate it, but I can't imagine a more disgusting place to bring a baby than a bowling alley), but the weather was so beautiful out, it seemed like a shame to waste the evening indoors. So after some hemming and hawing, we eventually we settled on an old standby- miniature golf!

Once the plans had finally been made, we were excited to go, but a little hesitant to leave Piper for the evening. We knew she'd be in good hands, but it's hard not to feel guilty for leaving her, or like we're burdening whoever is watching her. Dustin felt the worst...he suggested we just go somewhere quick for dinner so we could get back, but my mom assured me that they truly wanted to be with her, and that we should relax, have fun and not hurry home. So we prepared a bottle, layed out some jammies, and hightailed it out of there before any of us could change our minds.

And from the minute we got in the car...we just had a blast. I thought we might have to make a "no Piper" clause to keep our date from devolving into a night of baby-talk, but honestly, we barely mentioned her. We were having too much fun to worry much about how the rest of the family was doing! We laughed and joked, made wagers on the game, and just really enjoyed a chance to relax and be together without any sort of caretaking, schedules or practical concerns to get in the way.

Somehow, after some fierce competition, we ended up tying. What are the odds?!

For dinner, we decided to check out a place several people had recommended for my birthday dinner- Willow. Apparently hitting tiny colored balls around for an hour caused us to work up quite the appetites, because we pretty much ordered the entire menu. In our defense, a lot of the choices were "small plates", so I got a couple of those instead of a real entree, but still...we put a hurtin' on some food:

Clockwise from top left: olive oil and parmesean for dipping; the wedge- baby iceberg, candied bacon, scotch egg, blue cheese dressing, berry compote, grape tomatoes; gnudi- seared ricotta dumplings, veal meatballs, sauteed escarole, sauce bolognese; double cut barbeque pork chop- beer brined bone-in pork chop, grilled with homemade bbq sauce sharp cheddar polenta, collard greens, crispy onion straws; seared scallops and korean pork-seared sea scallops, korean bbq pork belly, miso caramel, marinated shitake mushrooms; grown up mac & cheese- orecchiette pasta, braised short rib, caramelized onions, spinach, brie cream sauce baked with herbed bread crumbs.

Yes, the food was fabulous (I mean, really fabulous). But I think the best part was allowing ourselves to get a few courses, to drink, to talk, to take our time. So many of our meals now are hurriedly eaten while Piper naps, or wolfed down before she gets tired of sitting in her bumbo, or eaten one handed while trying to soothe and/or entertain a cranky baby. To sit next to one another for over an hour, with nothing else to do, and no where else to go, was possibly the most delicious part of all.

Sorry Piper. You are greatly loved, but you weren't terribly missed.

It was a simple evening, but such a wonderful chance to connect with each other. We may have a house, and a baby, and responsibilities, and stress, and wrinkles....But on the inside we're not that far off from the silly kids we were when we met almost nine years ago. I'm still happy to date Dustin, and hope he feels the same way...forever.

Schoolhouse Lessons

When I walked through the doors of School House Yoga for my first Mommy-and-Me class, I knew almost nothing about yoga, and even less about being a mommy. What I did know is that I needed to get out of the house, needed to heal my ravaged, weak body, and needed something to look forward to as I found my footing in the sometimes bleak world of raising a newborn. I started the class feeling out of place, and scared. Worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up. Nervous that my five week old daughter would cry the entire time. Fearful that this would be one more thing that would leave me feeling like an overwhelmed novice, in a sea of confident, together, mommies.

But I was welcomed. The pace was manageable. My daughter slept.

One hour in a steamy, dark studio had given me hope that maybe we could figure this thing out. Maybe being a mom wouldn't always be terrifying. Maybe things would just go right once in a while. I signed up for four more classes on the spot. And as Jen, the instructor asked for the information she needed- name, address, email- she gave me something I desperately needed. Reassurance. Comfort. Encouragement. She told me my daughter was beautiful, asked me her age, and blessed me with the simplest, most perfect words for me in that moment: "Isn't it so hard?"

Yes. Yes it was so hard. And knowing that someone else thought so, knowing that someone I saw as an expert had struggled too...that gave me hope.

As the weeks went on, Wednesday mornings became the bright spot of my week. No errands, nap, diaper blowouts, or sickness, would keep us from showing up to that calm-through-the-chaos room. We might have been late, we might have had to stop in the middle of class to rock, or eat, and we might have ended at least one practice with a giant spit up. But we made it.

And from that first class on, Jen remembered our names. She greeted us with a permanent, genuine smile. She coached us through movements. She reminded me to breathe. With her guidance, my body was strengthened, and my spirit was lifted.

It was in that class that I found strength I thought I had lost. It was in that class I gained confidence I didn't think could have. It was there that I fell into my role as a mama, and fell even more in love with my daughter. It was there that I got to stand on the other side of experience and be the one to gently and truthfully say to another (even newer) mom, "Isn't it so hard?"

I'm thankful for that class, that place, those mornings, and that Jen. Yoga stretched me, and gave me balance beyond what postures and poses can do. It helped me find the Mommy inside of me, and maintain the Me inside of "mommy".

Piper's "1st Birthday"

Almost two years ago, our friends the VanHoudnos introduced us to the idea of the "9 months + 3 months" First Birthday celebration. When their son turned three months old, they commemorated the first official year of his existence (even though he spent 9 months of that time cloaked in mystery...it still counts!) by going out with some friends to celebrate. We had a great time eating Asian food, and sampling bubble tea (I guess the "1 year" birthday is a Chinese concept) and toasting this new little life that was starting to take shape.

I (of course) loved the idea of marking an unexpected milestone, so we decided to embrace the tradition. We thought there would be no better way to commemorate a year of Baby Bowden than by breaking bread (or more accurately: eating pancakes) with some of the people that have been instrumental in Piper's life so far.


So after church this Sunday, a small group of us gathered at Pamela's Diner in Oakland for some syrupy sweet, good times.



The Bday girl was in good spirits, content to sit and pose for pics while the rest of us debated how many pancakes would be appropriate to eat in public.



She even got to play with her friends Mike and Lindsey...

...which went well until Mike called attention to his mustache...


Apparently she's not into facial hair (take a note, Dustin!) Look at her lip! But the crying was mercifully short lived- nothing a little cuddle from Daddy couldn't cure.



There were a couple other little ones in attendance too...and they seemed to approve of the party as well (they got to eat, and carry on like hooligans...what's not to like about that?)



And when they weren't eating, they too took the opportunity to ham it up for the camera:



Before long the little guest of honor was plum tuckered out and spent the rest of the afternoon sacked out in her carseat (it's her party and she'll sleep if she wants to).


But that little lull in the action gave us a chance to give a little toast to tell everyone how thankful we were to have them join us not just for breakfast...but for life.

As parents, we are limited in what we can pass on to Piper. She's been dealt her genetic lot, and beyond that, we have a finite set of skills and knowledge base to share with her. We pray for God to grow us in His wisdom, and for His grace to cover our areas of weakness. Thankfully He's provided us with a group of friends and family to bridge the inevitable gaps in our abilities, and faults in our character, and help us to guide Piper along the path of His divine plan.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then you all have been our cul-de-sac. We are so grateful we are for who God has made you and how you are already helping us shape our daughter into who He would have her become.

Perhaps the greatest skill God has provided me with is the ability to seek out friends better than myself to help us as we muddle our way through the journey of parenthood.


You are each a profound example of the body of Christ, and the church in action. Thank you for all the support, love, guidance and fun through Piper's "first year." She is- and we are- truly blessed.



And for those of you who weren't able to join us for lunch, please know that we are beyond grateful for the extended community of friends and family that have been with us on this journey so far. Thank you for loving our little girl (almost) as much as we do.

Wafflemania

Last week as we were getting ready for church, my friend Meg texted to ask if we'd like to go get "fancy waffles" with her and her husband Sean after the 11'o'clock service. Apparently a new spot Waffallonia had opened up nearby and Meg was anxious to try it. Waffles? Yes. Fancy waffles? Absolutely yes.

So after church we headed out into the frozen tundra that Pittsburgh has become, in pursuit of doughy treats. But we were quickly reminded how a baby can make even the most simple outings into a Big. Fat. Hassle.

Piper was apparently not as excited as we were for Belgain cuisine. She began to make her displeasure known with a frantic wail from the backseat, shortly after we left the church parking lot. As the timing worked out, it was probably about time for her lunch, and she wasn't keen to wait. Perhaps more experienced parents wouldn't have sweated it...after all, it's not that complicated a problem. She's hungry. We should feed her. That's about it. But Dustin and I are still new, and things like this tend to rattle us. (In our defense, I think reasoning skills take a distinct hit when you're trapped in a confined space with a screaming baby.) So we did what seems to come naturally at this point- we got stressed, overreacted and snapped at each other.

Should we still go? Where are we going to feed her? Can we even get in the place? I passed it the other day, it looks small. Look it up! This review says there aren't many tables. Where will we sit? What do you want me to do? Quick! The exit is coming! Call Meg. She's not answering! Where are we going to park? Aaaaaaaaaaaah........

Trust me, I think it's just as dumb as you do in hindsight. But in the moment, it's easy to jump to "It's ruined. Everything's ruined" rather quickly. But thankfully, cooler heads prevailed (this time I was the voice of reason, but in general it's pretty much 50/50 on which one of us is going to have to talk the other one down. Reason #493 that I'm thankful not to be doing this parenting thing alone.) We made it to the eatery, and (bonus!) found a parking space just around the corner. I fed her in the front seat of the car (something that has become increasingly common as we take more chances with midday outings that may- the horror!- conflict with her need to eat), Dustin strapped her in the Bjorn, and we were on our way. Freakout officially unnecessary.

See? We're all smiles again...just keep moving. It's freezing!

And as it turns out- the slight inconvenience ended up being worth it...Because these fancy waffles? Were delicious.

It's a pretty simple system. But it works.

They're pretty specialized- they literally just serve waffles, but they do mix it up with toppings- you can get fruit, fancy spreads, or even ice cream.

Dustin and I opted for plain and I couldn't have been happier. The dough is thicker than regular waffles, and somehow they create this crunchy sugar glaze on the outside. I didn't think they needed a thing.

But Meg and Sean are a bit more adventurous than us (or perhaps just have a bigger sweet tooth) so they went for the fanciest of the fancy waffles. You know, the ones that require plastic cutlery.

The reviews were right, it is a tiny little spot with only a few stools (I imagine they'll do even better once the weather warms up and people are more inclined to take their waffles to go). But don't let that deter you....Even if you are in a bad mood, with a crying baby, and overly dramatic concerns about accessibility...Put on your fur hat, and venture out. You might just like it.

Baby Shower-palooza: Part 2

After a surprise filled Friday, there was more fun to be had...the very next day! That Saturday was my Pittsburgh baby shower (yes, I'm so spoiled that I have to refer to my many parties by city. And let me just say, it's not a bad problem to have!) When I found out I was pregnant, my friend Meg graciously offered to throw me a shower. I was so thankful, but a little worried about overwhelming her with my picky creative nature. I looooove (LOVE) to plan a party, so the thought of having a party that I don't get to be involved in was a tough idea to wrap my head around. And poor Meg was stressed that I had some sort of crazy expectations that she wouldn't live up to. Well she needn't have worried. The shower was perfect. I did make a few requests (striped straws...punch...) but made huge effort to stay out of it, and Meg somehow crawled into my head and made things happen I didn't know I wanted.


But if I know Meg at all, she would want me to mention that she had help...(talented, and humble that girl. I could learn a thing or two...) Luckily, I have a gaggle of ridiculously talented friends that offered to join the fun. Rachel takes the "detail oriented" to a truly impressive level, and is a dedicated crafter to boot. And while Deb prefers to stay out of the craftiness of it all, she's an excellent hostess, and an even better cook. (I know she loves me because she made mac and cheese. Award winning mac and cheese no less.)

So it's safe to say I was in good hands. But don't take my brag-fest word for it...let me show you what these ladies whipped up:

There was a book theme (love!), and every detail was thought out.Check out the spread!

(Which I enjoyed thoroughly, thankyouverymuch.

Punch bar- yesssss.

Custom made sign (complete with an ampersand!)

Book lanterns (one of many adorable book themed crafts):


And if that wasn't enough- we had what many people heralded as the main event of the day- the gender reveal! The girls set up a board where people could vote- and show off their guess with a blue "bow tie" or pink barrette...


How cute is that? (for those of you wondering- the vote ended up tied.)
And the reveal method- Cake!

But not just any cake- a custom made creation by my friend Lindsey.

Seriously. Did I tell you I have talented friends or what? I can't believe she made that with her own hands....all for me! I mean, are you seeing this? Yellow and grey chevron stripes, tiny little decorations, a Baby Bowden bunting? Too much!

But the best part of the cake was the inside. Lindsey was the very first to know the sex of the baby (a secret she kept extremely well!) so that she could make a color coded cake to reveal the news to everyone at the shower. But of course I had to challenge her a bit more, and asked for vertical stripes. If you're not a baker (and I certainly am not!) you wouldn't know that that was a crazy request (I didn't!), but Lindsey is a true pro (seriously....she's an actual professional. As in- you should hire her!) and made my dream come true.

So with everyone watching in anticipation, I cut into the top layer....

....and of course, it was PINK!


Yay!
Everyone was so excited...Meg (and my mom) even cried. It was hard to keep the secret for so long, but it was such a fun moment to hear everyone squeal with glee at the same time.

After all that, I would have been content with all the food and fun so far, but it turns out there were more surprises to be had....not to mention I got presents too!


I got tons of baby gear...but even more fun- everyone brought their favorite children's book to build a library for Baby B. We played a game where we had to guess the books based on a quote from each of them...And lets just say I'm not as well read as I thought. It was hard!


But I got acquainted with some old favorites and was introduced to a few new titles too! (I can't wait to show you the baby's room now that all the books are on display-it's beyond awesome. But actually I can wait...and will wait. Back to the shower...!)

After the "official games" we had an impromptu activity, which could have been titled Courtney Has No Idea What She's Doing- The Babywearing Edition. One of my presents was a Moby Wrap- which for those of you as clueless as I am, is like a sling made out of a HUGE piece of fabric. The instruction booklet is approximately 17 pages, but swears it's So Easy. So we broke it out for a test drive (using a doll as to not subject a real baby to my inexperienced fumbling).

And let's just say, I'm not a natural.
But I didn't let technical issues stop me from working it.



Is it bad that my parenting strategy might be "fake it til you make it"? This baby and I will muddle through somehow...

So that's the story behind my Pittsburgh shower....To say it was an awesome day is an understatement. I'm continually in awe of how blessed I am to have such caring, giving, and utterly fabulous friends. I can't wait to introduce my little girl to this amazing group of women.