Okay, so I have thought off and on about showers for the baby. If you know me, then you know I hate the typical baby showers even before I lost two babies (I just get uncomfortable in big group situations). With the first two babies I never wanted a shower...after all we were doing well financially at the time and I hate asking people for gifts when we could handle the baby things on our own. However...after hospital bills and me being on bed rest (unable to work), we are struggling enough to feel like we aren't just taking from people, but that people are actually helping us when we need the help.
Daniel has an internship this summer and will have a full time job January 2015, but until he starts these positions we are hurting quite a bit. Once he starts working full time we will be well-off, but this isn't until a year from now.
So I have three choices:
Baby Shower: Probably the one I am leaning towards the least because I hate typical baby showers. If I were to have one I would just make it into a lunch/dinner party where spouses are invited, gifts are given, and no cheesy baby shower games are played. It would just be a fun get-together with music, movies, food, and maybe some activities. I want it to be welcoming for those who are struggling for kids (a safe-haven) as well as an enjoyable place for everyone else. This would probably be in July.
Gender Reveal: I am quite interested in a gender reveal, especially because a friend from England might be here in the USA around that time. I think the activities would be more fun and the suspense would be thrilling. This would also be a dinner party, but with a gender reveal item and small games that are bearable (but fun, don't worry). I am thinking about doing this for friends in Utah. This would be around Easter.
Meet and Greet: Call me paranoid...but after two losses it is very easy to imagine never bringing home a baby. This would be the safe option. People could give gifts after the baby comes so if we lose the baby we won't have the heartache of seeing baby items all over the apartment. I am leaning towards doing this for Michigan friends when we bring the baby out to visit family for the first time (maybe for the baby blessing in December or January).
After watching my dreams get crushed over and over again I feel like this baby needs to be celebrated and I would love friends and family to attend if they are available, or at least show support.
For each of these choices I wouldn't ask for gifts, but for money and gift cards so that Daniel and I can buy things we need and not end up with a billion outfits (I am hoping just for hand-me downs) or blankets. That way people can easily send money from further away and I wouldn't have to worry about a registry.
Also, I am a quiet person by nature...this includes me not having many
close friends, so I don't even know if any of these options would be
do-able. Comment (with your name in post) or post on the facebook link if you would be willing to
come to any of these ideas.
I would go to all of these. :)
ReplyDeleteYay!!! Good because you have to come!! :P
DeleteThey all sound awesome! If you're worried about doing the shower, I think that you could do BOTH a gender reveal and a meet and greet. I've noticed that gender reveal parties are often for families and close friends, so you'll have a smaller group of people. The meet and greet could be a lot like what you were talking about for your baby shower and like you said, it's a safe option.
ReplyDeleteI think I have decided on the Gender Reveal in April (if baby cooperates at the scan) and a meet and greet for family who won't see the baby until after the baby comes. :)
DeleteWe would love to send a gift!! We probably won't be able to come to a party, but we wish we could!
ReplyDeleteI like all the ideas. As a friend and a similar person not liking large gatherings, I think that a gender reveal and/or meet and greet would work awesomely (and yes, i'm pretty sure i made that word up). if people want to give 'gifts' (cards) at gender reveal they can or at meet/greet. safe options but i think both would be a spark of fun and excitement, a pick-me-up and lots of positive focus (from my view points), for you, daniel and your friends and family :-)
ReplyDelete