Before we head into another beautiful August weekend, we’ve got a darling sip ‘n see adoption party for you, held in honor of the talented Natalie of Natalie Bowen Designs and her little lady Friday Viola. It’s been a long road for Natalie and her hubs to welcome their new daughter, so you can imagine how special this lil’ sip and see had to be! Luckily, Natalie’s sister Alison Guan and her creative industry friends Alison Hotchkiss, Susan Work, and Myka Haddad threw the sweetest pink and gold party to welcome her to motherhood and give their closest pals a chance to meet babe.

Thanks to Kate Webber for the photos!

Gotta have the loveliest florals for a talented floral designer like Natalie. Meg Moir + Aubriana sure delivered on that front.

All balloons should have confetti, right? The Balloon Lady provided the festive balloons throughout.

And the gals enlisted Jessica Lasky Catering on all the yummy bites.

K, ready to meet miss Friday Viola yet? Here we go…

Beyond precious!

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HUGE congrats to Natalie and fam!

Photography: Kate Webber / Hosts: Natalie’s Sister Alison Guan, Alison Hotchkiss, Susan Work, & Myka Haddad / Florals: Meg Moir & Aubriana / Food: Jessica Lasky Catering / Balloons: The Balloon Lady / Nursery Design: Homework / Custom Indigo Paintings: Ginny Haddad / Linens: La Tavola / Glassware + Plates: Frances Lane

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Myka + her guy George’s journey to adopting baby Dayton was 5 years and 9 months, so as you can imagine, when he came to their lives, they were beyond ready to celebrate with a sip and see baby shower in San Francisco. The photos from M’s friend, photographer Abi Q have such an air of togetherness that just warms us right up. Take a look!

Welcome to the family, Day!

Myka says, White flowers, white food, all white outfits for the guests, I mean, these girls really made it so perfectly me. Natalie of Natalie Bowen Designs, Danielle of Brown Paper Design, and Sunna Yassin hosted a bunch of my girlfriends at Natalie’s beautiful home and everyone showered us with a ton of love. My amazing friend Abi Q, who is also an adoptive mama, took these gorgeous photos. It was raining and drizzly that day, which made for the perfect background to our warm celebration.

Eee, such a cutie. And that gorgy dress? It’s Dreamers + Lovers.

When he came into our lives, we were soooooo ready to celebrate. To celebrate the start of our family, to celebrate his amazing birth mom, to celebrate all of our family and friends who were with us on this incredible journey.

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Congratulations M + G! So happy for you.

Photography: Abi Q Photography / Flowers, Design & Décor: Natalie of Natalie Bowen Designs, Danielle of Brown Paper Design, & Sunna Yassin / Dress: Dreamers + Lovers borrowed from dear friend Tori Hendrix

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What is your favorite part about being a mom?

My favorite thing about being a mom is getting to experience love in a new way. The way I love as a mother feels somehow different from how I have loved as a wife or a sister or a friend and it has helped me to grow and deepen. It’s incredible to have the privilege of taking care of someone who needs your help in so many ways. I feel I get to experience one small ounce of the perfect way that God loves me. God uses Asher to change me. He helps me see the ways I am being selfish. He shines a light into the cobwebs of my heart.
Another thing I love about being a mom is helping Asher navigate the world. Helping him discover new things and see them through his eyes. His sense of wonder is contagious.

What’s a typical day for you as a family?

On Saturday, Steve loves to make us all oatmeal for breakfast, or we will all walk to the nearby bakery for cinnamon rolls. Steve and I have a non negotiable little coffee date, while Asher plays by himself for a bit. Then we’ll read books and have a tickle fight. Steve and Asher often go on some sort of father/son adventure together…like hiking or the zoo, while I do projects around the house, or work on vintage clothes. Then we’ll go out for dinner, oftentimes pizza. We’ll probably have a dance party when we get back. Then put Asher to bed and watch copious amounts of our favorite Netflix show. Pretty simple, but it’s so good.

How did you meet Asher and why did you chose the path of adoption?

Steve and I have both felt passionately about adoption for a long time. I think it is just something God put in both our our hearts. So when the time seemed right to have kids, we chose that path. Our first experience was a failed adoption and one of the most difficult experiences of my life. A month after we said goodbye to Baby Emerson, we received a call about Asher. My heart was still raw in a lot of ways, but also open. I was in awe of the chance to be his mother, but still carrying the grief of loss in my heart. When we found out his birth mom chose us, we drove through the night to get to him. His birth mom put him in my arms at the lawyers office; I remember he was wearing a striped shirt and jeans. That little three week old looked up at me with the deepest dark brown eyes I had ever seen and I couldn’t believe that he was going to be ours. The next few days we spent in a hotel in Florida, falling in love with this gorgeous baby. We held him with his skin to ours almost constantly and his body nestled into mine with such contentment.

What’s your favorite thing about Asher?

My favorite thing about Asher is his kind and happy spirit. He has always had a special way of making connections with people even as a very young baby. He is often ready with a big “hi!” everywhere we go. His name means “happy” and it truly fits him. He sees the world as wonderful, and lets me see that too. Plus he’s the life of the party. He makes us laugh all the time.

Such a beautiful look inside their family, isn’t it? This just makes us want to share stories from mothers everywhere, every day!

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Just scroll right back up and view them again. We did.

You can view more photos from this memorable day, and read a little bit about their story here.

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Safe to say she and the team of crazy talented people she gathered together to pull this party off, definitely knocked it out of the park.

Make note, this is like the most gorgeous fall gathering inspiration too!

Completely beautiful. Everyone in attendance must have felt the love for these two special parents, their children at home, and their baby boy they were waiting to meet.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Veronica!

Styling/Event Designer: Veronica Rogers/Fleurish Events
Flowers & Photography: Lauren Brown/Sweet Root Village
China: Something Vintage Rentals
Vintage Furniture: Stylish Patina Rentals
Poptarts: Ted’s Bulletin
Doughnuts: Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

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