we had a baby shower and loved it! we didnt have family around, so i guess the more arbitrary convention was used.
i was fairly firm (i organised it myself) and didnt want to have games or anything like that. instead we just invited all our neighbours and friends and work colleagues to "Leila's Party". made some scones with cream and jam and sat around on the floor listening to reminisces of our people that had gone before us in parenthood. i found it to be a grounding experience and almost a right of passage in that my community was acknowleging the changes that were about to happen and expressing their joy and support.
presents were par for the course. we didnt ask for them, but part of how our community shows their thoughts and hopes for the baby to come is through bringing gifts; and it was wonderful to open and see the things that they had brought over for our baby, it made me believe that leila was not only welcome by our immediate family but also by my wider community...a community that i didnt realise then, but only after the birth of our baby would become such an important support network of home cooked dinners, cups of teas in the front gardens and sanity breaks during the 'witching hour'.

IMO it is nice to do something to acknowledge this special time. where the baby is still 'unkown' to us yet so dearly dearly loved and welcome. i think it is also a great chance for the mumma and pappa to find grounding and support of the new arrival and be given a chance to fully immerse themselves in that celebration and realisation ITMS.

my friend has asked me to organise her baby shower...she doesnt want to have a big show of it, so we are going to have a bbq at her place where friends and family can get together and just chill. no ribbons, no tulle and certainly no 'what's in the nappy' games LOL! just a get together to celebrate and welcome the baby to the world.