Baby Shower Speech — Danielle Shapiro

Bridal Shower Toast, May 2019

It was just past midnight and it was time to start pushing.

My doula was on my right and Sunny was on my left, holding my leg in the air, my parts laid bare. That’s probably all you need to know about our friendship right there. I mean, how good of a friend is the one who shows up for you when you are half-naked, raging like a wildling from Game of Thrones, literal blood and guts coming out of you, and she’s just calmly encouraging you: “you’re getting closer!”

All I could think was, “F you, you’re lying.”

Until my daughter emerged. Sunny was the first one to see her. Auntie Sun Bun. I was raised Jewish and we don’t officially do godparents – don’t know why – but she might as well be for Esme. She kind of locked that one in the bag when she told me, 1.5 years prior, that any child of mine would always have a family, no matter what.

But showing up, reliably, lovingly, regardless of what you throw at her, is what Sunny does. Whether she’s in a boardroom or a delivery room, jacking your leg into the air so you can shoot a baby out, Sunny is in her element. It’s just one of the many reasons she’s so completely qualified to be a great mother herself. Let me tell you about a few more.

Sunny and I met nearly 15 years ago. Her father, Dale, is married to my parent’s best friend, Sandy, and our friendship blossomed over Sunday night dinners at their apartment. Pretty quickly she became one of my dearest friends in the world – see: delivery room. Among the things I love about her most is her sense of humor. There’s a punch line for every situation.

Case in point: Over another dinner years ago, this time with all the parents, my mom and I got to squabbling.

Joan (hoping for an ally): “Sunny, does she ever treat you like this, talk to you like this?”

Sunny (ever loyal): “No. She’s never done that to me, Joan, so clearly the problem is you.”

Joan: nearly pees herself laughing.

Another favorite: I called Sunny from the airport once, having barely made it on time for a crack of dawn flight, because I was out partying too late the night before. (This was a LONG time ago, obviously…)

Me (hoping for some sympathy): “I had to come into the bathroom just now to look at myself in the mirror and make sure I don’t look crazy.”

Sunny: (not mincing words): “Oh, don’t worry. You do.”

If you’ll notice, what’s particularly special about her humor is the straight-talk. I can always count on Sunny to tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. (My mom can now too). But she always manages to do it kindly, with my best interests at heart. It’s a rare quality in a friend and one I cherish. The fact that she can also dose it out with the rapid-fire pacing of a classic Selena Meyer take down on VEEP doesn’t hurt.

While she might sail through life laughing most of the way, Sunny is all business in certain areas. Like with her career. She is a serious boss. Recently, she’s added I Am A Voter to her load and has teamed up with other boss ladies to basically change the world. It’s incredibly inspiring and I’ve rarely seen her so passionate. But, even before her actual title was boss, she acted the part. I’ll never forget how she spent her days at HL Group in NYC in straight-up stilettos. She’s since traded those in for elegant flats, because, even gangstas get bunions.

It was also in those early days of our friendship that I first got to see her make-up skills. That’s no joke either. There are bags within bags within bags of products and supplies. There are a couple of crates too. Caboodles, I think? I could not tell you what half of them are for or do. She knows about shading, contouring, layering, poofing, fluffing, plucking, sprucing… her mastery puts RuPaul to shame. I have to tell you, Sun, that when I was here in April and watching you in front of your multiple mirrors doing the whole thing before work, I looked at your belly and thought, good luck with that!

But, if anyone can manage a newborn and a multi-step, 20-min minimum, make-up application process, it’s Sunny. She is nothing if not capable, determined and organized. When we travel, she’s pro at finding the best restaurants, shops, activities, and the like. I love to let her do it, which is saying something, if you know me. I don’t delegate easily.

That doesn’t mean that Sunny doesn’t also know how to chill and enjoy. She’ll ski, hike, paddle board, parasail, sunbathe, smile through the worst hotel yoga class you can find, brunch it up for hours, motorboat off to weird isolated islands in Colombia – she’s basically game for anything. In fact, the only thing she won’t do is camping. Glamping, however…

Our friend Sunny is humorous, glamorous, pragmatic, flexible and prepared. She has ALL the tools to parent at the highest level – not to mention choosing an amazing partner to do it with. We’ve all gotten a sneak peak of her and Wally in action by watching them with Chloe. Happiness is literally her wiggling body when one of them walks into the room.

Sunny, mothering takes more patience, love and humor than I ever could have imagined. At times it will bring you to your knees like nothing has before. But there are no two people more equipped to get back up and continue on with the job than you and Wally. Watching you get to this point has proven that without any doubt. It’s been one hell of a journey. But you weathered it with a grace and goodness that was remarkable. There aren’t words to tell you how thrilled I am for you both. I love you. And I can’t wait to meet this little baby girl. Congratulations!