When my partner and I discovered we were expecting our third child, we were completely taken aback. Just weeks before, we had happily sent off the last of our baby items, convinced we were settling into life as a family of four. Oh, how wrong we were!
Our older kids were thrilled about the idea of a new sibling, and soon my partner and I were beginning to embrace the news ourselves—until we realized we needed to replace all the baby gear we had just parted with. Cue the panic mode!
The Joy of Anticipation
Of course, with the joy of welcoming a new baby comes the exciting chatter about names, swaddling, and all those adorable outfits. Naturally, this talk leads to the topic of baby showers. But when it came to planning one, we hesitated.
Initially, we thought it would be lovely to host a casual baby shower focused solely on gathering hand-me-downs. Just the thought of receiving cherished baby booties and well-loved books from friends warmed my heart. However, as we discussed creating a registry, I quickly realized that my vision of a simple celebration was slipping away.
Choosing a Baby Sprinkle
So, we decided to scrap the traditional baby shower and instead host a “baby sprinkle.” Turns out, this is quite common in Europe, where the focus shifts to celebrating the baby after they arrive. In countries like France, friends and family gather to meet the new arrival, bringing gifts for both mother and child.
Now, I’m not one to get overly caught up in material possessions. My goal is to steer clear of the mountain of baby items that often accumulates out of goodwill and clearance sales. My partner and I have been gradually purchasing only the essentials—a baby carrier, a crib, clothes, and cloth diapers. My list of necessities, which I stuck on the fridge when I first saw those two pink lines, is getting shorter by the day.
Celebrating Love and Support
As I approach the third trimester, I’ve come to realize that what I truly yearn for is the presence of friends and family who want to celebrate this little miracle with us. Their love and support mean more to me than any gift they could bring.
The French have the right idea by waiting to celebrate until the baby is born. All the heartfelt embraces, the oohs and ahhs, and the joyful tears are what I envision when I think about our new twist on the baby shower concept.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with traditional baby showers; I treasure the memories of my own. They serve an important purpose by helping new families gather what they need for those early months. But this time, as I embark on my final pregnancy (I mean it this time), I’m looking for something less focused on gifts and more centered on welcoming our newest family member. Instead of receiving onesies, I crave stories, hugs, and yes, casseroles.
Resources for Your Journey
If you’re navigating a similar journey, you might find helpful resources on home insemination and pregnancy at MedlinePlus or check out Make a Mom for expert guidance. And if you’re looking for more insights, head over to our other blog post at Intracervical Insemination for additional information.
In Summary
We’ve chosen to celebrate our new addition with a baby sprinkle, focusing on love and support rather than material things.