My baby shower was this past weekend, and it was one of the most lovely afternoons I’ve ever spent. About twenty of my favorite women, all in one room, and all there to celebrate the imminent arrival of my daughter. My best friends Kristen and Christine organized the shower, and it was great - yummy food, a delicious black and white cake from my favorite bakery in Silverlake. So many lovely gifts. My friends know me so well - there was a big stuffed woolly sheep (I have a thing about woolly sheep), there were also pink bloomers printed with skulls and crossbones, complete with ruffles on the butt, and in honor of my grease monkey husband, a onesie with a motorcycle print.
The lovely Stacy was also in attendance, and she gave me a beautiful handmade necklace with my daughter’s birthstone (if she is born on time!), and her name - Áine. It’s pronounced Awn-ya, and we chose the Irish Gaelic spelling, mainly because we liked it, but I also have quite a bit of the Irish in me from my Dad’s side. It means brilliance or radiance, and in Irish lore, Áine is the goddess of love, growth and cattle. Can’t forget the cattle!
It was so overwhelming, to see so much love for me, my husband and my daughter in one room. Both my mom and Hawk’s mom traveled to town in order to be there, and that was the best. Friends from work, friends from school, friends from the internet, friends I’ve met through other friends, all together in celebration of new life. So many people love Áine already. She is one lucky little girl, and I am one very blessed mommy, for many, many different reasons.
