Showers

Check out me and a couple of my college friends at my shower.

Baby showers. Not my thing. Matter of fact, I've always hated baby showers. Thought they were boring, a waste of time, and couldn't wait until the time was up before making my escape. And the games that were played? They didn't even involve alcohol, for crying out loud. What kind of party was that? And then some women always wanted to turn the party to be about them by bringing their children, usually new babies or toddlers, who would then take over the party. They'd follow their children around to ensure the kids didn't stick their fingers in the cake to taste the icing or would guilt the pregnant mom into letting said kids "help" open all of her gifts.

Yes, baby showers were never my thing. Until, that is, it was my turn.

My dear friend, Miss Arkansas, offered to throw me a shower. Right in the middle of her moving out of state, buying a new house, and moving into the new house. Do I have great friends or what? She spent a small fortune, even flying into town with all of the decorations that she'd bought, and seemed so genuinely excited to be throwing me this shower.

I'm very lucky and grateful for the friends that I have. More than twenty people showed up for my shower, all to celebrate me and the new life growing inside me and about to make his appearance in less than four weeks. They flew into town, drove more than ten hours, drove from the next neighborhood over, all bearing gifts like the three wise men. Some of my closest friends weren't able to make it. One had lost her dear husband less than a couple of weeks prior. And a couple of others simply lived too far away to join in the celebration but sent their love.

The game was fun (especially when I was on the winning team!), the kids were awesome and eager to let me open my own gifts by passing them to me and watching as I opened each one, and those who love alcohol were smart enough to gift me some for me to bring to the hospital after the baby is born and celebrate in true style.

Those who were eager to leave said their goodbyes shortly after the time allotted on the invitations. And then there were those who always turn my house into Party Central (God bless them because we love to entertain!) and stayed until close to midnight.

Yes, I have a whole new appreciation for baby showers.

And for my friends. I love you guys!