My beautiful friend Anais (and my best friend here in France) is having a baby girl this summer! I am so sad that we will not be here when her little girl is born, but I am so HAPPY that I was able to throw her a baby shower before we moved back. In France, a baby shower is a foreign concept. (pun intended) In fact, most of the French believe it to be bad luck to give gifts to a baby that is not born yet. The tradition in France is to either give baby gifts at the baby christening (for the Catholics) or at the hospital/ home whenever you meet the baby for the first time. BUT I decided that since I am Anais' AMERICAN friend, they can just chalk it up to me being a "silly American" girl. (Plus, we are leaving next week so there was really no other way to do it!)
The weather on Saturday started off cold and rainy, but by 3pm it was blue skies and BEAUTIFUL! Nicki had brought over a ton of decorations from the US when she came for Spring Break and I was so grateful! (It is impossible to find paper lanterns over here in France- The French ladies were all in awe of them!) I think the shower turned out beautiful! Boy am I going to miss this house...
Anais had a great turnout of 14 family members and close friends. We started the shower with refreshments and then moved to the activity. I had a "Guess the Due Date" game and my sister-in-law translated my "Wishes for Stella" activity into French to use for Anais' baby girl. The endearing term for a baby girl in France is "la petite puce" which is translated to mean "my little flea" - I find it hilarious! Then again, they probably think its so strange that I call Stella my little "pumpkin." Oh cultural differences!
After everyone was finished decorating their pages with scrapbook paper and cute Washi tape, we opened gifts! The few superstitious Frenchies gave gifts to Anais... FOR Anais. They said they would rather give her little girl gifts after she arrived! I can totally respect that and was so appreciative that they came to support Anais regardless of their beliefs. She still received so many wonderful gifts for the baby :)
I could not be happier for my friend. She was glowing! I can't wait for our girls to meet someday... I love that little girl so much already!!!
Note: After the shower, Stella was POOPED out!!! She partied hard :)
C'était une journée inoubliable, Abby merci d'avoir préparé cette jolie fête "baby shower", tout était "super" (comme on dit en France)!!
ReplyDeletej'espère aussi que ma petite fille aura le bonheur de connaître Stella!
Que Dieu vous protège.
I recognize some of those decorations! SO cute! I know you loved getting to do that.
ReplyDeleteYou made me cry... Thank you again and again.. You're the best friend ever!!! I'll be missing you... Need to plan to come to see you in Texas!!!! I love youuuuu so very much ahah!!! Xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!! It turned out soooo beautiful, Abby!
ReplyDeleteAnais, you are such a lovely and glowing mommy-to-be! Please come to Texas so we can meet you and your sweet little flea :)
Thank you Nicki!!!! I'll pray for me to come to visit soon!! Thank you to have helped Abby with decorations!! Hope to meet you soon!!
ReplyDelete