I'm thinking about the gift unwrapping thing, and I think I'm going to have the kids who will be there take turns unwrapping. that way the focus will be on them, and not on me.
I'm thinking about the gift unwrapping thing, and I think I'm going to have the kids who will be there take turns unwrapping. that way the focus will be on them, and not on me.
I am thinking if people really want to see us open gifts at the shower, we'll do it individually as an aside with the people who gave the gift, rather than the traditional "sit in a circle and everyone watches" thing I had to do at my wedding shower.
it's werid how random peole think they should be invited to your baby showers. I had co workers who i really didn't know or talk with ask if they would be invited to the shower. I kinda shruggged it off and said i was unlikley to have a shower with it being my third, and nothing till a few weeks after the baby....
i recenlty went to a shower and it was nice.. they had a few games but nothing ridiclous.. like the diaper game or things like that. it much more about socializing and such. I kinda hope i end up having one but i'm not planning one so we'll see what happens
Definitely doing a mother blessing, because like most of you, I can't stand the crap and superficialness of a baby shower, plus - I'd rather have LOVE than gifts! I really do thrive from being surrounded by strong women and am looking forward to my good friends and i coming together and really connecting on a deeper womanly level than we would day-to-day.
Yes the baby shower dilemma- I pretty much thought that for a second baby there were no more showers (thank goodness!), but some older friends said they would be throwing me one...ugh...and I too hate the idea of an invite list (who will be offended if they get an invite, and who will be if they don't)...plus...
First time around not so good- I ended up having three showers (my family and childhood friends out of state so that was #1, very lovely party- but I agree i HATE the public gift opening). #2 thrown by two good friends- kind of an akward situation, one friend offered to throw me a party and rather than just accepting her invitation I was concerned that another friend would want to throw me a party so I asked her about it (though she hadn't mentioned wanting to throw the party in awhile so I should have left it alone, because now that I asked her she probably felt obligated, oops!)...so she was hardly present at the party- no games, just food and open presents (she actually didn't know who some of my guests were, and didn't do introductions)...it was great to see friends and get together but it was everything I didn't want in a shower...plus my friend that offered got put on the backburner for helping :( #3 was the best one yet- NOT- the host decided not to show up! Yes you read that right- thank goodness it was just for family, but she had all the food and decorations- so I had to try to entertain everyone while we figured out what the heck was going on...opened presents as a filler while we STILL didn't know what was going on...and just as some people were going to leave she showed up- like what's the problem!
All the while all I really wanted is a mother blessing- seemed like a neat idea, but with my mother miles and miles away I really didn't have anyone to throw one for me- most of my friends are mainstream anyways and I didn't know what they would think of it...and if I would want to invite them anyways.
I recently went to a shower after the baby was born and I have mixed feelings about if I have to have one this time if I want them to do it before or after...I like the idea of everyone getting to meet the baby in one sitting- but as others mentioned it's kind of hard to watch your brand new baby being tossed from person to person.
I just realized I missed the second page of comments- what a great idea to have the kids open the gifts!
Most of my family and close friends still live in and around my hometown about 10 hours from where I currently live. My mom and my cousins are planning a baby shower for me. We are planning more of a family and friend get together because we don't all get to see each other very often. My parents live up in the mountains, with sledding hills galore, so we are planning a kid friendly, boy friendly all day informal get together where people can come and go as they please to go play in the snow. That afternoon we are having a luncheon with a few games (my cousins are really into them, not me so much, but compromise). I am really looking forward to seeing everyone, show off my belly to people that haven't seen it in person and let everyone get to know my husband a little better. This is my first.
"most of my friends are mainstream anyways and I didn't know what they would think of it...and if I would want to invite them anyways."
I'm having the same problem :( I want to do a mother blessing but all of my family and friends are WAY mainstream and the few "friends" that I would invite I consider acquaintances anyway, so I'm not sure i even want to invite them. I want this to be something spiritual and special for The baby and I but I feel like others wont respect that as much. then again I keep thinking that it might be a really good way to introduce everyone to the more "natural/spiritual" side of celebrating. They might get weirded out though... i dunno. grrrr wish i had more like-minded people in my life.
I'd like to have a party for the new baby right before or after she's born. I'd really like to have a bounce house for the kids and some baby-shower-type food, without all the baby shower stuff. Maybe a "meet the baby" party? I had a shower for the first. I've had an offer for a small shower, but it makes me kind of uncomfortable. It would mostly be friends passing on hand-me-downs, so I don't know why I'm so uncomfortable with it.
But I would like to have a party and invite all of our friends to meet her once she's here. Is that bad taste?
The Shop Mama (no kids yet, unless you count her DH's son who is only part-custody for him, so-dubbed because she does all sorts of stuff her her and my DH's co-workers and stuff on base) - wanted to throw me a baby shower. I agreed only if she would let me assist. I'm awkward when it comes to receiving gifts anyhow, and it makes me feel that much better that I get to help organize and decide what goes on at my shower. My baby shower will be co-ed - and invitations are sent out accordingly. I only hope the guys we invite do come! I know 3 that will definitely be there - maybe up to 6.
I do want games for ice breakers and to get the men involved, and thank you cards will be easy, I think - because we'll have them there, and people fill out the envelope themselves, and all we have to do is write in it, stamp it, and send it out!
I know the cost will be high for a lot of the stuff, and getting help with a baby shower and registries will be a wonder. As it is, other things are in the works, like possibly deployment for DH, and if that possibility comes to light, then getting me and Alistair moved into Base Housing - oh, what a mess it will be with such a small infant! I hope I have that much help available for moving as I will with baby stuff.
I think this sounds like a wonderful idea and wish I had thought of it....
Wealth of information, tips, etiquette, etc. This is where I got all my ideas for baby shower games - and from that list, my hostess picked some out. Most likely, I'll get to open up the gifts privately, unless people insist, and I hate to disappoint my fans. lol :-D
We decided we're not doing any games. We're having fondue (and finger foods for the kids). It's co-ed AND kids are invited (about 30 people in all, 25 of them adults). I'm going to make tissue paper pompoms to decorate and we're going to have a station set up where people can help make an alphabet book by drawing pictures on sheets pre-labeled with alphabet letters. Gifts are optional, and we're going to open them as people arrive and display them on a table so that people who want to look at them can, but there will be no organized "gift opening" with everyone sitting in a circle watching us. My friend is throwing it for me, but I kind of feel like I should help her out (she's almost as pregnant as I am and has a 2 1/2 year old!), so I'm doing what I can to be a behind-the-scenes helper.
Fondue! That will be so fun! I like your idea for the gift-wrapping!
On the same topic - if a baby shower is being thrown for you - is anyone giving a gift to the hostess for a thank you? I'm probably going to do a gift card to one restaurant,or split the amount I decide on and make it two of their favorite restaurants.
Fondue! That will be so fun! I like your idea for the gift-wrapping!
On the same topic - if a baby shower is being thrown for you - is anyone giving a gift to the hostess for a thank you? I'm probably going to do a gift card to one restaurant,or split the amount I decide on and make it two of their favorite restaurants.
I think since the person throwing the shower for me is pregnant with her second (and wouldn't let me throw her a shower in return), I will take her some cute "boy" clothes (her first was a girl) and give them to her at my shower. I do think even if she weren't pregnant, I'd give her a thank you gift, and I think a gift card to a restaurant is a nice idea.
I have helped host a really (if I say so) great baby shower- co-ed, good food, no stupid games, a celebration of the family, and lots of gifts. Isn't that the best? I would hope for the same.
I sort of stumbled upon the fact that 4 friends of mine are throwing me a surprise shower. DH is in on it... and he doesn't know that I know! I'm coming clean to you all! I'm dreading it, because I don't like being the center of attention, and all my friends and co-workers (with the exception of maybe 2) are totally mainstream. I just keep telling myself to focus on the baby, smile and nod, and enjoy the day as a celebration of motherhood. I have until January to keep my mouth shut about this secret... it is nice to know the real reason why people are asking me weird questions! 
Had my surprise shower yesterday. Lots of friends/co-workers, food, and presents. They brought me in, I greeted everyone for about 20 minutes, they opened the food line, and then I opened gifts for almost 2 hours. People said goodbye and left. I was exhausted afterwards!!! But it was a nice time with a lot of women in my life and we got a TON of stuff. When I got tired of answering the same questions over and over I just started asking people about when they were pregnant and most were happy to talk all about their first child. Nice distraction tactic!
I had my baby shower yesterday - the biggest thing I have received so far is a Graco Play Pen! OMG, and it's one of the good ones! Bassinet attachment, diaper changing station (with support on all 4 sides!), a mobile that plays music, and an organizer to attach to the side for baby wipes and diapers!!! Loads of diapers, got some baby wipes, so much more, and fun games - if anyone wants to friend me on facebook - just find me by my e-mail - I have my baby shower pics posted!
e_dierlam@yahoo.com
If anyone is not on facebook and still wants to see, just holler at me, and I'll upload to photobucket and post the link. :-)
Wow, that sounds sooo great! I'm also dreading a baby shower; I am going to keep your ideas in mind for when my turn comes around. :)
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