Baby shower...

It was time for my baby shower. Yeah! I hate showers, especially my own. Ok, so I don't really hate showers. I do hate public speaking and being the honoree of a shower is basically a test in public speaking. I don't care if the guests were related to me or my husband. I don't like all attention on me and I feel awkward accepting gifts in front of the person giving it to me. But my mother and godmother threw a very lovely shower and everyone brought wonderful and useful gifts.

The shower was at a very good restaurant in the area and I had helped plan the menu several weeks beforehand. We had breaded chicken, a couple different types of pasta, salads, veggies and potatoes. I realized when I got there that I couldn't really eat much of it because of my new disease. What I was able to eat was delicious.

One thing that I dread about showers are the stupid games that you are forced to participate in. I didn't want any games but there were a couple of unique ideas so we decided to give them a try.

Game #1 - Play-Doh babies - Each guest is given a tiny tub of Play-Doh and a paper plate. They put their name on the back of the paper plate and used the Play-Doh to make a baby. I thought that people would be annoyed that they had to do this but everyone really seemed to enjoy it. Then all of the paper plates were displayed on a table and the mom-to-be (me) had to choose a winner. The winning baby was adorable and very well made. But I should have had a prize for most creative too. Some were really graphic and anatomically correct. One even showed the birth process with the baby crowning. It was great!

Game #2 - Message in a diaper - This wasn't really a game but it was a cute idea. We got a pack of diapers and a bunch of permanent markers. We took envelope labels and stuck them to the diapers. Each guest wrote a message to the dad-to-be on one of the diapers. The thought was that the dad should be changing the diapers and he could read words of wisdom from all of the ladies. All of the diapers are put back into the pack and not to be read until the you are changing the baby. But my husband and I peeked. The messages were so funny and so heartwarming. I loved it.

Then of course I had to stand in front of everyone and open my gifts. I had to act surprised knowing that most people purchased things from a registry where I had already picked my own gifts. I was actually surprised by the number of people who bought things outside of the registry though. Just really thoughtful gifts. I wish I could be more thoughtful when buying gifts for people because it really means a lot. I actually got pretty much everything I needed. And my mother (first time grandmother) went out and bought everything else from the registry anyway.

All in all, the shower was a great success - even though I couldn't have any cake!