Won't you be my neighbor

This baby girl of mine has a full closet and lots of people excited to meet her. My neighbors, whom I affectionately refer to as my "mom friends," threw me a "baby sprinkle" yesterday. We went to a beautiful restaurant in the nearby marina and I enjoyed two and a half hours eating and chatting with the women I most enjoy spending time with these days. They not only treated me to a delicious brunch and adorable (and even more delicious) favors, but they sprinkled showered me with beautiful clothes, toys, diapers and accessories for the baby. Almost all of them have daughters, each one of which is beautiful and always impeccably dressed, so needless to say baby airplane has an enviable wardrobe waiting for her.

The adorable cookie and cupcake favors the hostess set out on the table:



As I drove home and carried the bags of gifts up to my apartment, I started to reflect on the friends I have made here. I moved into my neighborhood just over two years ago and almost immediately felt accepted and included by everyone I met. At the time, I thought it was nice to have (finally) found some other moms to chat with and have play dates with, but I didn't expect to have much in common with a group of mostly-stay-at-home moms. I certainly didn't expect to stay super connected to them once my temporary time at home was done.

But as I got to know them and spend time with them outside their roles as "mom," I realized they were becoming some of my closest friends. The official mom's group in our neighborhood has well over two hundred members, but within that are tons of overlapping close-knit groups of friends. Everyone gets along, is supportive of one another and has very unique and diverse interests.

I didn't really expect to ever find an entire group of good girl friends once I was out of school. I thought new friendships formed would be with a few co-workers and parents I met through little league and the PTA. So sitting yesterday at a table with twelve women that I love spending every minute with (and who could--and do--happily spend hours on end chatting with each other), who each took the time and sacrificed the effort and expense to throw me a shower (for a second child, no less!) made me feel incredibly lucky.

As much as I hate squeezing our family into 1000 square feet and living on top of, next to and below people, I told PJO months ago that I absolutely want to spend my maternity leave living here. I can't wait to see my friends more regularly and be able to take Timmy to playdates again.

So while PJO and I fantasize about an attached two-car garage, a backyard and silly things like space for a crib for our daughter, I try to remember that the neighborhood that goes along with our apartment is something to be very grateful for now.