Week 33: Baby Shower

Having a baby and getting married have a lot of similarities. Both are significant life events and take months of preparation; they elicit excitement (and often unsolicited advice) from many well wishers. These are generally the happiest times in an individual’s life, and they both typically involve a shower! No, not that kind (although it’s not a bad idea) but the kind of shower with gals, games, and gifts for the bride or mother-to-be.
I didn’t expect a baby shower, since I figure it’s our responsibility to outfit our son’s nursery, but Arthur and I were fortunate enough to have a beautiful one thrown in our honor by our families and close friend.  An introvert by nature, I usually shy away from events that put me in the spotlight, so I was anxious and nervous about how the day would unfold. Would people show up, and would I socialize accordingly? At the risk of sounding like an ingrate, I’ve also heard horror stories about baby showers where most guests go off the registry for gifts, making a beeline for clothes and blankets (that may or may not be the parents’ taste). This leaves the parents-to-be with a lot of options for their baby’s layette, but maybe not so much room for their own influences.
Per usual, my qualms were all for naught! I was pleasantly surprised by how many people made the time and effort to attend our shower; I was also moved by how excited they all are for Roo’s arrival. We are obviously ecstatic and think our baby’s birth is the most earth-shattering event of the year, but to see how many other people are anticipating his debut just reinforced how much this little boy is already loved.

Overwhelmed by the lengths our hosts went through to put this memorable event together, Arthur and I can’t thank them enough. From the festive decorations to the delicious food and fun activities, it was a labor of love that we appreciate to no end. Not to mention all the presents people were generous enough to bestow on our family! The vast majority of gifts were from our registry, and even those that weren’t were so adorable and sweet that I’m glad those individuals took matters into their own hands. There were also generous guests who weren’t able to attend, but were definitely there in spirit, who sent gifts to Roo in their stead.
The day went by too fast (much like our wedding day!). I’m thankful I was able to put my worries to the side and enjoy the baby shower, and I’m even more thankful for all the family and friends who love us and our unborn son so much. Now we just need him to get here so he can soak up all the love and enjoy his presents in person…