While I was visiting, my parents' next door neighbor threw a baby shower for the baby and me (and Sam, in absentia.) Many, many thanks to her for her efforts to organize it. It was nice to see a bunch of people and to feel like there is a wealth of support for us, and our baby, as we move into this next phase of life. Also, many thanks to those who came and those who dropped off gifts. Your generosity is amazing and much appreciated.
Having a baby shower is weird and awesome. It is so bizarre to open packages of tiny clothes that seem like they wouldn't fit anyone... but really fun, too. For someone not that inclined to shopping (me) it's also really fun to see the things that other people find/pick out. And it's wonderful to have people remember things that I haven't remembered (like baby towels and wash cloths, which totally weren't on my radar.)
It's also amazing to think that these things will be used by our future daughter. In some ways she feels so real, and in other ways she still feels just like an idea (an idea that kicks.) It's going to be pretty cool to actually meet this little one when she decides to come out (which hopefully won't be too far past 6.5 weeks from now...) It'll be nice to have a face and a person (and eventually a personality) to put with the idea ("the baby") we've been talking about for so many months now.