28 & Pregnant: Baby Shower

Thanks to lovely friends and a visit from mom and sis who traveled to Florida (yay), I had a very nice baby shower. It was wonderful to share the day with family as I prepare to grow my own and a blessing to have the company of friends we have made since living in Gainesville. Not underestimating the third trimester pregnancy hormones it was also a little emotional to think of all the people I would have loved to share this day with as well; family and friends far away, who I miss often and miss most during times when I’m feeling sentimental.

Anabelle’s first celebration was almost surreal at times. I would open one gift and think how cute it was and then open another and suddenly be shocked at the impending reality of the change about to occur. I couldn’t help but get a little sad as I thought of all the people with whom I would love to share special moments as Anabelle grows.

I’ve always liked being on my own and being away from family has never been something that was too difficult but now that I’m about to have Anabelle I wonder if those days are over. My guess is that it’s just part of being pregnant and trying to emotionally prepare for the unknown but maybe also there is a more keen sense of the way time seems to speed up as we move through the stages of life.

I hope the people that I love who just happen to be far away are able to know me as a mom and know and love Anabelle. With every event that brings me closer to this new part of my life I feel the distance of loved ones more and the realization that some people who have been so important to me may be unknown to Anabelle. Leave it to late stage pregnancy to turn a happy day into deep, thoughtful, hormonally charged reflection!

I should also mention that Anabelle has a very talented Grandma Sharon who not only made her crib bedding but also knitted a blankie to match the colors of her nursery. I will love the memory of receiving these gifts more than anything because I know all of the love and work that went into making them. After the shower mom and I sat in the nursery for hours unpacking gifts and talking. Dani, Emma, and Moncho joined us after a while and we all took turns trying to feel Anabelle move (pretty unsuccessfully) and listening to her heartbeat with a fetal heart monitor. These are the moments I miss when loved ones are far away but treasure on the rare occasion that I’m blessed to have them around.