So I'm only about 10 weeks along, but I'm already pondering this issue:
We're recently moved to this new duty station, and I'm wondering what to do about a shower. I'd like to have one, this is our first baby and we're excited, but we have no family anywhere nearby at all (immediate family is a 17 hour drive. next closest are 3 and 10 hours away.)
I don't have many friends in this area, one or two but not enough for a party. And I've decided to not get a job, since I don't want to work once the baby comes so I don't know if I'll be making many more friends, at least probably not close ones to have a shower with.... so what should I do about a shower?
A) Have a shower in December when we go home for Christmas even though it would be very early? (I'll only be like 26 weeks by then)
 Have a shower after the baby is born sometime next summer the next time we go home. 
I suppose there is always the C) option of making another trip home when I'm further along, but I'd really rather not fly all the way home while that pregnant if I can avoid it. Plus, what would I do with all the stuff I got?
If anyone has a D) solution or has been in the same situation let me know! Thanks!
Re: Shower dilema
If it's going to be back home, I don't see a problem with having one as early as 26 weeks. That's about the time mine was because I was having all kinds of problems and we didn't know how long I was going to carry my pregnancy. I think the normal "rules" of what point in your pregnancy you should have a shower can be bent if the location is far away or you're having complications.
I'm having my shower at 19 weeks because I'm moving to Germany 3 weeks later. We won't know the sex yet, so we're going neutral, but the whole family is on board with it and understands that our options are limited. I don't think 26 weeks would be too early at all.
I'd go with option A.
I was in the exact same position -- we live 13+ hours away from family, and my friends planned my shower during a scheduled trip home. I just so happened to be about 26 weeks, as well. Sure, it's a little earlier than usual, but when you live on the other side of the country, people are understanding!
Congrats!
thanks for your help every, your suggestions mean a lot. And yes, I'm going to do the best I can to make some connections around here so I can get out of the house LOL!
Thanks again. :-)
join a playgroup, lol...check out www.meetup.com they have all kinds of groups...i am a part of a playgroup here...
i would do option a btw
Option A all the way. Have fun with it!!
I'm dealing with a similar issue, although with a monkey wrench. My best friend is also expecting baby #1, about 8 weeks before me (her, March; me, May). So I'll be going home in Jan to throw her shower. That will probably be my last chance to be there before start of 3rd trimester (doc says no flying after that), so my shower will have to be the same weekend. Doing a joint shower would be WAY too big, so looks like we'll be having a Saturday/Sunday combo. Sigh!!!