A Very Bookish Baby Shower

At the end of July, two of my best friends from college and my mom threw me the most adorable baby shower I could ever have wished for. The shower was children's literature-themed, which is appropriate since I was in grad school to be a children's librarian (I have since graduated...holla!) and Xander's nursery is literature-themed.   Guests were asked to bring a book with a message for Xander in lieu of a card. My favorite part of the shower was seeing which books people brought and reading their messages. Most people brought their favorite childhood book and some of my friend's husbands sent books as well. Everyone really seemed to get into it and had fun picking out their books. 

All the food was based on a different book and two of the games were based on books. One was a children's literature quiz and the other was based on "Guess How Much I Love You" and had shower guests guessing how many Hersheys Hugs and Kisses were in a bowl. The guests also wrote messages on diapers that I was told are reserved for middle-of-the-night changings. I wasn't allowed to read them, but knowing my friends they are highly inappropriate. 

The whole spread

"Green Eggs and Ham" ham sandwiches and dyed deviled eggs

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" made from fruit.

"Peter Pan" cupcakes

 

"Little Blue Truck" Little Blue Punch

"Horton Hears a Who" cotton candy pops

Peter Rabbit's carrots from Mr. McGregor's garden

After eating and game playing it was time to open gifts. I started off looking normal, and then a group of ladies who shall remain nameless insisted I should wear the Dr. Seuss hat which was provided for decoration. So here are some shots of me looking like a wacko. 

Laughing like a crazy person over a mustache pacifier from my sister-in-law.

The two lovely hosts, Stacey and Beth. Click on their names to visit their blogs.

Xander's proud Grammy, also known as my mom.

Paul made an appearance at the end (someone had to load the car).

All the lovely ladies and one tiny gentleman (minus Nola and Titus) who came to celebrate Xander with me.

October Showers Bring November Babies

Beth, my BFF/R4L (that's roomie for life, if you don't know) is prego and I threw her a shower last Saturday to celebrate her and baby Jude.  In attendance were our college buddies, Beth's husband, Kyle, Beth's mom and Maw and my Mama.

This was the first real event that I've hosted since Paul and I moved into the house and I was putting crazy pressure on myself to deliver a good time to my guests.  Hopefully I succeeded!

 I was really excited that I got to use some of the cake stands and drink dispensers from the wedding.  I was also excited that those veggie and dip cups stacked, because that table it t-tiny.  We had hummus and triscuits, cheese cubes, fall-colored snack mix, veggie and dip cups, ham and cheese sammies, cucumber sandwiches, nuts and owl cupcakes.  To drink there was water and punch dyed blue with duckies floating on top. 

 The owls were made with oreos and junior mints for the eyes and candy corn for the nose. Jude's nursery is filled with wide-eyed forest creatures so I thought the owls were fitting.

I'm really not a huge fan of "traditional" baby shower games.  I didn't want anyone to have to eat baby food, guess the size of Beth's stomach or look at melted chocolate bars in diapers.  And that You-Can't-Say-Baby game?  I don't think I hate anything more.  As an alternative, we decorated onesies with bubble paint and markers.  The best part is that the onesies act as a decoration for the rest of the shower!  Here are just a few of the ones we created. 

All the amazing ladies from RC who were in attendance.

Baby Jude is due to arrive the day after Thanksgiving and I can't wait to meet him.  If anyone was ever born to be a mommy, it's Beth, and I know she and Kyle are going to be amazing parents.

By the way, feel free to follow Beth's pregnancy journey at A Life Less Ordinary.