Me: “I’m really hungry but I’m too tired to fix dinner.”

Roomie: “Why don’t you fix yourself a salad since you’ve got all the stuff in the fridge?”

Me: “No, I already had a salad today.”

Roomie: “And so you’re trying to tell me that you get to try to make me go on a tour of the labor and delivery ward but I can’t make you have a salad twice in one day?”

Me: “I’ve already had a salad today. Have you had a trip to the local delivery ward? I didn’t think so.”

When I told you about Allie and Ryan getting engaged a few days ago, I mentioned that she had a birthday coming up very soon. Ryan, Roomie and I got together and planned a surprise dinner for her at my new house for Friday night.

Since I couldn’t have all three of you that read the blog over for the party, I shall now take you on a photographic journey of our birthday / engagement / let’s-eat-some-pasta party:

I went with a blue and white theme since those are some of Allie’s favorite colors, especially with the balloons: 24 to be exact as our girl was turning 24 that night!

For her gifts, we did a scrapbook bag (she’s out of control when it comes to the scrapbooking), a wedding picture frame, a notepad with her soon-to-be-new name on it, a wedding magazine and a nice copy of The Velveteen Rabbit (Allie wants to be a missionary for children, so she’s collecting favorite childhood books).

For the table, I did flowers at both Allie and Ryan’s seats with a little something special around each vase:

And for the future bride…

Allie just adores no-bake cookies, so I picked up 24 from the grocery store and Roomie made a little “cake” out of them. And then I had a little Martha Stewart moment while Roomie made fun of me:

And finally, it was time for the big surprise! To get Allie to our house, Ryan created an elaborate scavenger hunt that led her on a walk around our neighborhood. When I say “our neighborhood,” that’s literally what I mean: Ryan lives on our street, Allie lives one street over and they just bought a house together that is on our bordering street for when they’re married.

We had pasta for dinner. ONE of us doesn’t eat sauce on her spaghetti. She’s such a weirdo.

Remember that notepad of paper I got for Allie with her married name on it?

When she showed it to Ryan, he went silent. I thought I had spelled his last name wrong, but it turns out that he was just having a bit of an emotional moment. In his words, “This just makes it real. I’m so excited.” Say it with me: awwwww!

But I’ve got one last picture showing something even sweeter to show you. When Allie and Ryan started going through the wedding magazine we gave her, Allie took the time to cover up the model’s, um, cleavage as she showed the possible dresses to Ryan:

At this point, I’m sure there’s only one person left reading, BUT SINCE YOU MADE IT TO THE END, I have a little treat for you in the form of a video shot during dessert (listen closely and you’ll hear Roomie laugh a few times in the background):

When I sat down for dinner a couple of nights ago, I noticed that Roomie had slipped an obviously homemade card onto my plate.

Inside was a gift certificate for me to get an eyebrow wax. Her only comment?

“Technically the gift certificate was supposed to expire six months from now, but I told them to put Saturday on there. I think the reasons why are quite obvious.”

Needless to say, I went yesterday.

Also, my eyebrows were not as bad as the girl on the front of the card nor the guy on the inside.  But given a few more days…

Today’s question is coming from me; Roomie didn’t get any say in it. I’m just mean like that, ya’ll. RAWR! (That’s me sounding like a mean dinosaur.)

Here’s what I want to know from ya’ll: What are some good ways that I can encourage Roomie over the next couple of months? How can I best take care of her? The way I see it, she’s got three main categories that she needs support in: spiritual, physical (or practical) and emotional.

I already know a few ways to help meet these needs: for example, if I sense that she is in the mood to talk about her fears surrounding the birth or life with a child afterwards, I try to let her talk them out without jumping in to say “Oh, Roomie… everything will be okay!” I feel like she needs someone to listen to her and understand that none of the circumstances surrounding this situation are the usual ones when you announce you’re pregnant.

And with the physical or practical needs — well, a big ‘ol watermelon does the trick. I’m trying to think ahead to what she might need or even just want and do my best to help provide it. Of course, with all three of these categories, I know that her ultimate needs can only be met through God (can I get an amen from the congregation?!?). But at the same time, I feel very strongly that He has placed me closest to her to carry out some tasks that He needs to place in human hands.

Though, should He decide to start delivering watermelons to our doorstep, we would welcome Him with open arms. And the watermelon, too.

So, spill it: what did other people (your husband, mother, friends) do for you when you were pregnant that meant the world to you? And if you’ve never been pregnant, please throw your thoughts in as well ’cause I want to hear general suggestions on how to serve from you, too! Don’t forget to leave your comments related to today’s question in the comments on THIS post.

For those of you who are participating in Fetus Friday via your own blogs, now’s the time to post something not related to this topic on your blog! Unfortunately, our friend Mr. Linky isn’t compatible with my blog design so you’re going to have to leave your links for us in the comments as well. I can’t wait to read what advice you have for us — I can’t tell you how many of your posts from last week that are now printed off and in a binder for me to read at bedtime.

‘Cause there’s nothing like reading about the placenta as you drift off to dreamland.