Shower power...A.K.A., it takes a village.

FOUR WEEKS TO GO!! I can hardly believe it. Per my pregnancy apps, today we have a large cantaloupe or two plates of beignets. We're into the home stretch with weekly doctor's appointments, and officially not flying anymore. But we're nearly ready with the essentials:

• Car seat: purchased (with an extra base for our second car...yes...it happened), not installed
• Hospital bag: all supplies acquired/list made, just need to pack
• Name: closing in on options, not quite finalized
• Bassinet: set up
• Pediatrician: selected/pre-registered
• Day care: on more (long) waiting lists than I was aware there are day cares in the Greater Boston Area
• Nursery: set up! Already full of love in the form of handmade art and blankets from friends and family, cards from well-wishers, an impressive collection of books and adorable swaddling cloths and outfits to keep our little Bun snug

The last item was all the result of not one but *two* generous and adorable baby showers: one was hosted by Mom and J, the other (surprise!) by my team at work.

At-Home Theme: Woodland Creatures! Featuring a few of these guys:

...an enormous (and delicious) savory and sweet spread, complete with the cutest (most delicious) cupcakes (owls and paw prints)...

...and yes, that's a fruit salad in a watermelon baby carriage:

At-Work Theme: "Baby-Q" (can you tell we're an innovation team?):

...a catered picnic from Sweet Cheeks Q (this plate was one of three rounds for me that day)...

...and cake from the most scrumptious bakery, Blacker's:

This baby is so loved already -- we are so lucky. Even if we're not completely checklist-ready, we're the more important kind of ready.

With hostesses, J and Mom

With Nick's mom and my mom

Yep, that's about right.