Baby Shower de Travail

My Friday began fairly normally.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Roy when I came in in the morning, but we had a conversation and I made sure to tell him that we had a meeting with the big boss about the project we had both just finished.  I also made plans to go down to the Employee Benefit Fair, more to see my long lost friend Carl than to learn the gritty details of deferred compensation.

So the time for the meeting came and Roy and I dutifully went into the boss's office for a debriefing.  Apparently we were in there for some time, but I didn't really notice the time pass as I was busy evaluating how well we had done on the project and the room we had for improvement next year.  As we walked out, I asked Roy if he wanted to accompany me to the Fair.  Per usual, I had to visit Tinkle Town, so we agreed to meet outside by the railing.

When we reached the front, Steve mentioned that lunch was ready.  I was told that we were going to have a taco/burrito bar as a farewell to our Session staff, and I had brought two cheesecakes from Cheesecake Factory as a thank you to the office for working so diligently on that project.  Roy walked out and as the door was closing, I saw Mikey coming toward the office.  I acknowledged Steve, then hurried out the door to catch Mikey who, between the time I saw him and the time I got out of the door, seemed to have changed his mind and decided he was going to Tinkle Town too.  It looked like he was trying to run away from me, but I caught him before he went all the way in and we talked a bit.  I asked if he wanted to go to the Fair and after a bit of awkward and suspicious conversation that involved him not having time, we kissed farewell and I began the long trek to the restroom (which gets even longer every day!).

When I came out, Roy was waiting for me and asked if I wanted to go down to the Fair.  I hesitated and then said that lunch was ready, so perhaps we should have lunch first and then go down.  Roy readily agreed and we walked back into the office to find Steve still at the front.  I found that odd, but followed him to the lunch area and into a baby shower ambush!

Evidently, Susan and Alicia had taken point and organized a baby shower for Mikey and I!  And much to Susan's delight, I was completely surprised!  Of course, all the little quirks that led up to the ambush made it that much more fun.

Apparently, the "meeting" was a way of keeping me occupied and went a bit longer than was strictly necessary for the party preparation.  I maintain that, by design, I didn't know the meeting was merely a diversion and so of course I took it seriously!  And then, I had to visit Tinkle Town!  So people ended up waiting while I, blissfully unaware, went about my merry way.  Good thing my coworkers are patient people!

Once I finally got there, I think it was clear that I was surprised.  I thought I was going to a thank you lunch for other people!

Two of the ladies who work Session with us made this gorgeous bouquet.  I actually saw them make it the day before and thought nothing of it, though they told me later that when I walked into the lunch area while they were making it, they made sure not to make eye contact and hope that I wouldn't notice.  They needn't have worried.

Around the office, my little alien is known as Guaco.  This moniker is thanks to Roy, who decided that we should name the kid Guacamole Ng, so we can call it Guaco for short.  Somehow, it just stuck!

There was a taco/burrito bar, it was just meant for the shower!  This is one of the reasons that Susan and Alicia are so awesome--they know Mexican is my favorite cuisine.  And Susan made her homemade salsa!

I was also touched to see how generous everyone was.  Gathering around the lunch table with good food and good company is one thing, but the rest was so unexpected and I was a little overcome.  Guaco is lucky to have so many excellent aunties and uncles!

And of course there were games!  Ali arranged all the games and the "feeding baby" game was my favorite.  How often to you get to see fellow professionals in bibs?

Of course, Roy and Jamie devised the "baby bird" feeding strategy.  Jamie leaned back and Roy just poured the food in.  Jamie was laughing so hard, I thought he was going to spit the entire jar's contents out on the table!

Overall, I had such a wonderful time.  I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it--my coworkers make me look forward to coming to work every morning.  

Oh, and one last thing...

Mikey was in on it the whole time.  That guy!!