Friday morning I received a call that my friend Carolyne was in labor and wanted me to come to the hospital for her. I was thrilled to be interrupted from my NCLEX study regime to help welcome a new life. This is her first baby, a girl she named Sanditsi. Baby weighed 9lbs and delivered around 2:30pm on 8/28/09. Mom and baby are doing great and I'm so excited for the new family:-)

Mom and Dad with Sanditsi

Dad and his new baby girl

In other news, I am taking up dancing. This is the year of new and adventurous things for me. Last night Booker and I planned to go swing dancing downtown, but ended up putting on a show at Tim's new place instead. Before and after the dance exhibition, the musicians jammed, as always. Since I am the only one who doesn't sing or play an instrument, I get bored quickly and thus require people to dance with me!

McLovin Does San Diego...Again

I spent last weekend in San Diego for Katie and Steve's bachelorette and bachelor party celebration. Yes, we joined forces during the day, but by night we were like two separate gangs "on the prowl." I endured minor bachelorette party battle wounds from slapping my bachelorette name tag (McLovin) to my chest as it wouldn't stick to my shirt. Other than that, it was an injury free event. We spent days at the beach, on cruiser rides, at concerts, and on jeep rides. It was so much fun catching up with old Denver friends and kicking off what is sure to be the wedding event of the year. Katie tore up the town in her bachelorette gear, although it slowly came off piece by piece. I think she ended up with a sash. Appropriate for this "less is more" bride. By the way, I found your blinking kiss the bride button in my pants pocket. Let me know if you're ready to wear it out again:-)

Heartache

It is hard to believe that while I was celebrating this weekend, one of my long time friends was living a nightmare. Taren's boyfriend Sean drowned off the coast of Mission Bay in San Diego early Sunday morning. My heart is aching for her and all of the pain that she must be feeling right now. She and Sean were a perfect match and I know that they would have spent the rest of their lives together. He was such a smart, witty, genuinely nice guy. And he loved Taren to pieces. Here's to the hope that somehow the peace and tranquility I wish for her could be felt thousands of miles away and that I may be able to see her in San Diego later this week.

Taren and Sean

She's a Master

Two years, and I mean a full 24 months of classes later, I have my MSN. This weekend 21 of my classmates and I celebrated our survival of nursing school with several backyard parties and a formal ceremony in Mr. Jefferson's rotunda. Plans for a Polo game tailgate on Sunday were dampened due to rain, but we still made it out to King Family Vineyards for wine tasting and a picnic. After all of the commotion I nearly forgot that I still had a certification exam to take on Monday. I am now officially able to call myself a CNL, having passed the exam, even if by the hair of my chinny chin chin. I still need to study for and pass the NCLEX before becoming an RN, but we are on the right track.

The stress of being in school full time and essentially unemployed is almost over for me. But three of my classmates are about to embark on a journey that will take over more of their life than school ever did for me. They are pregnant! Two baby girls are due in August and one "sex unknown" baby is due in November. To celebrate their impending arrival, we had a little baby shower this afternoon. I was just excited for the opportunity to bake for everyone, have an afternoon glass of wine, and bestow packages of diapers on everyone. Everyone was counting down the days until graduation....we are officially at 6! Here are a few of the pictures from the shower.

Carolyne the Desperate Housewife! Classic

Sarah, Meghan, Elly and Me

It's like duck duck goose. from the right, pregnant, pregnant, not pregnant, pregnant

Gorgeous moms and babies!

One of my classmates came to visit me on the L&D unit yesterday to take pictures for our graduation slideshow. This is what I look like at work.

I am actively trying to conquer everything on my Charlottesville "to-do" list before I start working. Although, once I finish it, I'll just have to start all over. This weekend I crossed off Polo at King Family Vineyards. I can't believe I've never been before but it is now my favorite Sunday afternoon activity. Jamie and I set up our chairs, brought a picnic lunch and dined in sophistication right outside the winery. They play through September so if anyone wants to come down and join me, come on!

Horses and polo people on the field

In action, there they go

Stomping divits during half time

Jamie and I acting sophisticated

This was the only folding chair I could find. Shouldn't be a coincidence though, I was born to be a director

More action on the field

What a gorgeous day for polo. Look at those mountains and clouds!