There was a shower today thrown for my friend Haley and her little boy who is lovely and sweet in all of his tiny movements. He has the most delicate fingers and eyelids and these sweet soft, downy cheeks with the slightest traces of that newborn fur coating they seem to lose in the last days before birth.
At the party I realized that this is the first baby shower I have ever attended. It´s not something really done in France, you´re more likely to get a present in the month after the baby is born. The exception is your parents who will usually contribute to buying the very costly and trendy European stroller everyone seems to have. I guess all this tradition of not buying gifts is left over from old world days of low infant mortality rates and superstitions.
I had forgotten all about showers. I´m not really the silly, party games type so I felt a little out of place a few times with it all but I thought it was wonderful being in the middle of all the female energy that radiates from such an event--laughing and trading stories. It was all good harmless fun and Charlotte had a blast getting passed around like a party favor.
One of my gifts to Haley was to take some photos and I made a video from these photos. This is my idea of a nice gift because so many people forget to take pictures. If you want to see the video I will send you an invite to my private video collection on You Tube since I've pretty much stopped linking the family videos here. E-mail me at misschrisc(at)gmail(dot)com and if I know you then you can have my link.
At the party I realized that this is the first baby shower I have ever attended. It´s not something really done in France, you´re more likely to get a present in the month after the baby is born. The exception is your parents who will usually contribute to buying the very costly and trendy European stroller everyone seems to have. I guess all this tradition of not buying gifts is left over from old world days of low infant mortality rates and superstitions.
I had forgotten all about showers. I´m not really the silly, party games type so I felt a little out of place a few times with it all but I thought it was wonderful being in the middle of all the female energy that radiates from such an event--laughing and trading stories. It was all good harmless fun and Charlotte had a blast getting passed around like a party favor.
One of my gifts to Haley was to take some photos and I made a video from these photos. This is my idea of a nice gift because so many people forget to take pictures. If you want to see the video I will send you an invite to my private video collection on You Tube since I've pretty much stopped linking the family videos here. E-mail me at misschrisc(at)gmail(dot)com and if I know you then you can have my link.
5 comments:
I went to my first baby shower about 6 weeks ago--so you're not the only one to have never experienced this phenomenon!
The games were awkward for me too, but luckily, this shower had wine for all the non-pregnant people.
(-: That DEFINITELY helped!
Also, lots of guys and couples showed up, so it wasn't quite the hen party I had expected.
It was really nice to honor our friend though, and I got through the games (though I didn't actually win anything!).
Also, I wanted to let you know--Last week, I accidentally followed one of your comments to the family videos (on a different blog)--oops! I thought it was going to take me to the blogs I know. Anyway, I deleted all that info from my computer once I realized that it was private, but I WOULD be happy to be added to your video list--this time with your express permission.
Thanks Chris!
Is that one of the pictures you took? It's lovely. She looks so perfect there with her baby. It's such a timeless shot because of the colors, the cut of her dress, and the way you left her head out of the frame.
I have never been to a baby shower. I have so many friends with small children and so many friends who are expecting now, but no one throws a shower here. Our group of friends does chip in though for the stroller or the crib or some other necessity that is needed. I don't know how common that is though. We do it because my husband has a very close-knit group of friends who all group up together and I have sort of inherited them through marriage. The couples who don't have as much money generally get big gifts from the group. It's never spoken of in those terms, but is generally what happens, kind of the way families are I guess. I do love this group of friends, but a baby shower sure would be fun!!!
I love that photo - the sepia adds a beautiful soft touch to it. I'd like to look at your video too - if you don't mind. I love seeing things like that and getting ideas for new projects!
I am having lots of fun (and spending way too much time) taking and playing round with the photos. I've got lots of projects on the go. Sepia and Black and White are really nice, particularly for portraits I find - and they hide a multitude of sins!
I am laughing at your description of the baby shower too - aren't they over the top - just like all parties here! Have you been to a bridal shower yet? 200 women dressed in their finest gossiping and eating!! It's full-on. Imagine what the wedding would be like!
BTW - I just tried to email you in reply to your comment on my blog and your email address was rejected. Not sure if there's a problem with it? Just thought I'd let you know. I just came over here and put it in your comments anyway, so no harm...
A - I am always commenting with my being signed in there. I will send you the link!
Jennifer - That´s me actually holding her baby, littl Jo. I just got her mom to shoot me holding the baby but the picture was way too posed so I butchered it. I like the effect too with the clothes I was wearing and the headless woman effect. I´ll have to recreate this with Charlotte naked.
guera -hmmm got other requests okay so maybe you typed it wrong. There is a c after misschris. Í really want to share the video with you because we both seem to be channeling the same vibe lately!
Showers are funny. I've been to a ton over the years, but when I was pregnant really didn't want one. I loathe the silly games and all-girl stuff. But our friends wanted to do one so we agreed to a co-ed BBQ that was a celebration of the baby rather than a gift-grab. It was tons of fun. Our French friends came too, their first 'shower', and they loved the whole concept. Some really neat stuff was the time capsule - they each brought something from that year to put in a box. They also had a pool to bet on when the baby would come and the gender (actually, there were two pools going!).
Most showers I've been to have been co-ed, and now I'm looking forward to planning some for friends. It's just an excuse for a party.
That's a really cool picture, and what a sweet tiny little baby. I forgot they made them so small ;)Your gift idea sounds really neat. The hosts of our shower made a cd with everyone's photos. I didn't look at it til about a year later. Very special. Those pictures of friends really mean a lot.
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