Charles and I have decided not to have a Baby Shower, create a gift registry, set-up a nursery for AJ, other things along those lines, etc.  However, we have come to realize that life in any form is a celebration…just maybe not the typical “celebration” that may normally go along with the anticipated arrival of a new baby.  Personally, I didn’t feel right registering for and receiving “things” when we may not get to use any of what we would be given.  (Plus, if we do need “stuff”, who doesn’t love a good Target shopping spree?!)  But seriously, these are two of the most frequently asked questions that we get — 1) Are you having a shower?  and 2)  Is the nursery ready?  We also decided not to set-up a nursery, even though we have a beautifully pink room with a fabulously girly chandelier that just happened to already be in the house when we bought it…maybe I’ll move into that room, or make it my closet 😉

Despite Charles and I coming to these decisions, we still have some amazing friends that wanted to celebrate AJ with us, just in alternative ways.  At the end of July, my best best best friends in the whole wide world surprised me with a “Baby/Mama Weekend”.  I thought I was grabbing dinner with just one of them on Friday night, but then 3 of the 4 pulled up the driveway, MUCH to my surprise!  I was blown away with surprise and excitement because two of them live out of town (and Jill lives way out of town!).  On Friday night we enjoyed a dinner at Decca, in which they “showered” me with some baby outfit essentials and the gift of a massage.  Saturday we visited the Farmer’s Market, treated ourselves to manis & pedis, spent the afternoon at the pool, and topped it off with dinner at none other than FABD (BBQ, for out-of-towners).  Below are a few photos from the weekend.  (Don’t worry folks, that’s a virgin cocktail for me in that pic!)  These girls know how much I love them, but it can’t hurt to say it again – I love you all to the moon and back!

If you’re still reading this post, I am still opposed to having a typical baby shower for AJ.  But recently, I had this friend propose having a “Celebration of Life” for AJ, and for Charles and I to enjoy time with our close friends before our lives change forever.  Sweetly, wonderfully, persistently, and graciously, my 39-week pregnant friend Carson, and her husband, Blaine, offered a dinner in our honor at their home this past weekend.  We were able to celebrate AJ with our closest friends, all because of the generosity, hospitality and love of the Lawrence’s, plus all who attended (and brought food!).  All of the beautiful gifts we received were personalized/monogrammed “keepsake” gifts for AJ.  The whole evening was unbelievably thoughtful and moving for Charles and me.  I’m actually really, really glad we agreed for our friends to host this for us.  Please enjoy some pictures from the evening below.  (Thank you, our wonderful friends, from the deepest part of our hearts!)

Through our friends, we have learned that all life is a gift to be celebrated.  This is an invaluable lesson that I don’t know I would have fully realized without the wonderful support system we have around us.  So, while we may not have had a traditional “shower” or set-up a nursery, we are celebrating in other ways, and that’s OK.

(On a sidenote, we had a few other celebrations this weekend — my older brother’s wedding, a great friend’s baby shower, and a gender reveal party!  Congratulations for celebrations all around!  We love you all, and thank you for including us in your festivities!  More pics!)