Sierra's Baby Shower

May 1

May 1 Sierra's Baby Shower

April 16th 2023

I initially did not want a baby shower. I felt uncomfortable about being the center of attention, and most importantly, I felt intimidated about the amount of work it would be to coordinate a party sufficient for my liking. I ultimately capitulated when Robin offered to plan the whole thing with his Mom as a gift to me after being so sympathetic to how unproductive I’ve felt for most of this last year.

I didn’t expect people to show up with so much love and generosity. I am the first person in my friend group to have kids, and I have been experiencing a rough lifestyle change. Despite this, those who are mostly unable to relate came and offered their regards in the form of gifts and companionship. They used this avenue to show their support when so many of the touch points I had before have gone away. I am starting to understand these rituals more as I get older, as I tease out the complexity of relationships and how our ability to relate to each other is not a stationary capability, but one that changes based on the life experience we are living at any given time. I grew insecure that my friends would have to change, but this party showed me otherwise. There are people in my life that won’t stop speaking to me once my mountain bike goes into long term storage. This party was a way in. And so many people showed up for me.

My Mom braved her fear of flying and flew from Kansas City for just the weekend. Friends drove 3+ hours from Santa Barbara and LA. Robin’s brother flew in from London (en route back to San Francisco). I was amazed by their dedication. It meant a lot to me.

Robin and my mother and law did an excellent job with the party. The party was beautiful. My husband made handmade guacamole using avocados from our trees. He also used utilized our trees by using our grapefruits grapefruit to make palomas. He grilled carne asada tacos and grilled vegetables. It was so delicious. The crème de la crème of the party was a custom made cake from Cute Cakes made to match the nursery mural I painted. The décor was beautiful, with flowers from the florist that did our wedding, and a balloon arch that served as a photo backdrop. It was truly a memorable event.