They Like Us, They Really Like Us!

Holy crow, my family is having a fit to hear about the shower and see some loot, aren't they? 

Sorry I've not posted sooner, but we've been going nonstop all day long. 

First, Shrike's dad arrived around 9 am, followed shortly by her ex-BIL, niece and nephew. The menfolk stayed here to get the crib put together (but weren't able to get the ceiling fan up, because it needs a stronger bracket) and we girls headed off to the shower. 

Which was wonderful. 

For starters, our friend who was hosting it has a beautiful home (our neice asked her, "Is this house a mansion?") and really knows how to throw a party. 

There were between fifteen and twenty people there, and another five or so who were unable to attend sent gifts. 

So, yeah, we kind of cleaned up!

There was a really good mix of gifts between registry items and surprises, as well as between too-cute-for-words outfits and nitty-gritty, practical stuff. 

Including things from several people who've already gone way above and beyond the call of duty with the giftage, and from whom we certainly weren't expecting anything else: the grandparents, the shower hostess, LiPA, LawyerFriend and his wife, and others. 

We took a few pictures of guests at the shower, while everyone was eating, but didn't take any photos of our own during the giftage itself. 

The hostess took a bunch with her camera, and has promised to email them all to us. That sounded much easier than trying to show someone all the ins and outs and persnicketinesses of our camera. 

I promise that I'm have a big baby-loot-photo-shoot tomorrow, and post them for all to see, but here's a little teaser for now: 

About thirty minutes after we came home, Doula K arrived for our supplemental childbirth education session. 

She had some really good information for us, and Shrike took lots of notes. 

Perhaps we would have looked like better-prepared students (if not better-prepared parents) if she'd not be scribbling them on the back of an envelope, but you know, whatever works. 

When we were done with that, we grabbed a bite to eat, and drove to a nearby town to see the Kinsey Sicks in concert. 

You have to take a look at their website or YouTube, because they are a bit difficult to explain.

Suffice it to say that they bill themselves as "American's Favorite Dragapella Beauty Shop Quartet."

They are hilarious, and political, and filthy and incredibly talented and a whole hell of a lot of fun. 

After the show, we stopped to get me some food and Shrike a beer, and now we're home. 

Quite a day. 

Okay, for those of you who are just dying to see some loot, I do have a few photos of a gift that showed up on our doorstep on Thursday. 

There was no wrapping - gift, shipping or otherwise - just a big box with photos all over it, of this:

Mr. Panda, taking it for a test-drive:


It even has a little Peeper-Peephole!


So . . . so much for surprises, but there was also no gift card enclosed, so I suppose it's still a bit of a mystery. 

But, I'm highly suspicious that it might have come from a certain someone who had given us a heads-up to expect a giant, non-giftwrapped delivery. 

(Am I correct, Anonymama?) 

Sorry about the whole "Don't open it til Saturday" thing. 

I've heard that strollers can be pretty hellish to assemble, so that evening I was telling Shrike that maybe we ought to get some help with it. 

She evidently took that as a personal challenge (I believe she used the term "gauntlet"), because when I got home from work yesterday, it was all set up. 

(Ah, so my evil plan has succeeded!)

And, she said that it was actually pretty easy to do. 

More photos of the other stuff tomorrow - I promise!