My second and final baby shower was just as fabulous as the first. Although the theme was very different, it suited me perfectly. Especially since I got to wear a tiara.
Nothing says “Katie Bower” like a dollar-store Irish Princess crown. And nobody knows me better than these two ladies:
That’s my little sister Lori (whom I affectionately call Nornie…long story) and my dear Little Debbie (whom I lovingly call Mom). You may remember that Lori gave me the recent gift of her mad photog skills…which, by the way, you guys were ridiculously gracious in all your compliments. Seriously…I blushed so bad reading through them that I peed pink. Not really but that would’ve been cool.
Anyhoo…back to the topic. My mom & sis decided that since the event would take place the week of St. Patrick’s day that they would host a Irish themed shower. Not only did it give us a chance to celebrate our friends across the pond but it also honored my dad’s family – who proudly boasts Scotch-Irish blood. Heck – even my maiden name – Katie Hughes – was very ‘green’.
It all started on a Saturday afternoon just in time for lunch. The guests were greeted inside by this stuffed lad and a sign-in mat so that everyone could write a little message to Will. Plus – now my little boy will have the perfect outfit on his first St. Patty’s day. Although…I might have to alter that shirt…that kid’s not gonna need to have an open invitation for the ladie’s lips 🙂
Since the shower was in my mom’s home, she decided to decorate all the tables with greenery including moss, folliage and framed Irish quips and blessings.
Oh – and bowls of green M&Ms were at every turn. Believe me, I wasn’t complaining 🙂
When the majority of people had arrived, my mom opened the buffet and everyone settled in to feast on the food…
…which was green. Yes. Even the deviled eggs were dyed greenish in honor of the theme.
And if the natural color of the item wasn’t lime or apple-hued…then the hosts remedied the situation with food coloring. Can I just take a moment right now to applaud the inventor of food coloring? Seriously…it might be the best invention ever. Like up there with toilet paper and the Sham-wow.
All of the guests were asked to continue the green-theme by sporting something green in their attire. Some people feel like that request would be imposing on the personal sense of style of guests – me? I think it’s just too darn fun. Besides…P. Diddy does it when he throws his Clorox Party. And I am the cheesy girl version of Sean Combs. kinda.
Just look at all my famous friends:
ok. so me and Puff Daddy have very little in common. I am working on it though. Just wait till my rap single comes out – Bacon, Babies & Bad Jokes. I’m on the cover with Lady Gaga makeup. It’s gonna be hot.
Almost as hot as these peeps on the couch with me & Little Debbie…that’s Jeremy’s mom & grandma. It was such an honor to have them come down to attend the shower…and the fact that we got to snap a few shots together before I pop means that we have four generations of family members on this sofa.
Of course, the point of any shower is to get the gear for the new addition – and these women didn’t disappoint. In fact, I was COMPLETELY overwhelmed with the crazy generosity of my friends and family. I even got duplicates and triples of some items! And since Jeremy was in charge of our registry, I was genuinely surprised by the items that were wrapped in each and every box and bag. It really made the gift-opening so much more exciting!
Speaking of exciting…did you know that when you are pregnant that your belly can be touching both your boobs and your inner thighs AT THE SAME TIME?!?!? Yeah. It can. It’s illustrated a little bit right here for all you disbelievers:
So that’s a recap of my final baby shower – an Irish themed party fit for a princess! Afterwards it was so fun to show&tell my boyfriend all the items that we received. And yes, I even verbally explained to my giant belly each and every gift as well as stories of the giftgivers. We want Will to appreciate all his baby gear afterall 🙂
All this baby talk gets me thinking about preparing for little additions…so do you guys have any tips on how to get ready? Or maybe you have a go-to present for prepping new mommies for their babies? Or perhaps you just want to say that you are totally for a themed party or shower and love dictating to people how to dress almost as much as I do? Or maybe…just maybe…you see how me and Diddy are practically cut from the same cloth? Seriously. Just call me K. Biddy from now on, ok?
Looks like y’all had a great time!! I’m looking forward to that belly/boob/leg thing… I have a shower question for you – Did you have any overlap on the guest lists with your two showers? I’ve got 3 people that want to throw baby showers for me, but I don’t have that many friends. Thanks!
Oh, what a special event! Looks like everyone loved showering you with gifts. This is such a special time in your life. Soak in every precious moment.
Ok so I know your MOM from CHURCH!!!! How Hilarious!!! Looked like tons of fun! I am gonna tell her I am a follower on your BLOG next time I see her!!! LOL
Total lurker, but this: “Speaking of exciting…did you know that when you are pregnant that your belly can be touching both your boobs and your inner thighs AT THE SAME TIME?!?!? Yeah. It can.” plus the photo might just be the best thing I have ever seen on any blog anywhere. Hilarious!
K Biddy the belly touching both boobs and inner thighs is crazy – I hope you’re not uncomfortable! When is your due date again? I can’t wait for you all to formally meet Will.
You’re almost there!! Before I had my daughter (a year ago) I cleaned all of the odd places in our house that I knew I wouldn’t want to when the baby came–the fridge, I organized underneath all of the cabinets… and I nested, of course!
Hey Katie! Congrats and hang in there, and yes, I DO know that your belly can touch your boobs and your thighs at the same time. Sigh. You’re due this Thursday, and I’m due 17 days from this Thursday. Ugh. It. Cannot. Come. Soon. Enough! My last ultrasound said Baby Brother is heading towards 9 lbs, which freaks me out as our daughter wasn’t even quite 7! And she wasn’t early! But all I care about is getting him out and getting my body back! Looking forward to your news (along with everyone else)!
Katie,
No one can ever prepare you for the amazing adventure you’re about to have, but if you have a moment, pop over to this post on my blog. I have three fantastic teenagers, and when you and Sherry became moms-to-be, I wrote this just remembering what it was like to have tiny people appear in our lives.
http://sunnyslifeinrehab.blogspot.com/2009/11/ahhh-babies_13.html
The crown just looks like it belongs on your head. What a fun party. I love the green theme – fitting for a little toad that is about ready to crawl out from under a cabbage leaf.
My favorite thing to get new mom’s is a gift card to their favorite clothing place for AFTER the baby comes. I usually get them something they want from their registry and then the gift card. One of my friends did that for me, and it was the greatest thing to be able to go and get some new clothes once my body was getting back down to size.
katie, you look amazing! that seems like such a fun shower! best of luck when little will arrives 🙂
You are killing me! When will we see the baby’s room?????? Not to mention, the basement bedroom….
I have a 16 month old son and am due in 6 weeks with another boy…yikes! I’d have to say that the book “The Happiest Baby on the Block” was the best preparation for me. I also gave it to my best friend recently and she agreed that it was a lifesaver. I highly recommend it! Good luck and Congrats!
The green food is such a cute idea! And I love the centerpieces that your mom made. My mom is planning a shower for me- so I’m just going to have her steal all of your ideas :o)
How fun! My baby shower is at the end of April, and I’m so curious to see what my best friends and mom will come up with. In my book club, we have special showers for the sole purpose of starting a library for the baby, and I always buy “Yummy Yucky” by Leslie Patricelli for the baby-to-be. All of her board books are so cute, but this one always makes me laugh.
I want to know what Sherry and John got you and vise versa!
you look FABULOUS and what a fun fun shower!! I can’t believe Will is gonna be here so soon! Can’t wait to meet him!
Very nice shower!! You cracked me up when you mentioned how your belly can be touching both your boobs and your inner thighs AT THE SAME TIME!! That was one of the most disturbing parts about being preggo to me!! GROSS!!
Your mom looks like Paula Deen!
Hi Elizabeth,
No…I didn’t have any overlap on the guest lists but there are ways to remedy your situation. Maybe two of your friends could go into a shower together…it would save them money and still allow your party to feel full. Or you could suggest that one of the showers is a couple’s diaper shower. This way you don’t have to actually open embarrassing presents like breast pads in front of your guy guests…plus, it allows for some fun games!
Anyone else with a solution for Elizabeth?
XO – katie
hi katie! i love your blog, and just wanted to say good luck with the birth and can’t wait to “meet” baby will! i’ll be checking eagerly for updates as the date draws near! best of luck!
Elizabeth,
It sounds like you have at least three very good friends! But Katie has a good point about combining two of the showers and then having a couple’s shower, or just a couple’s shower period and give it a sophisticated theme.
Ok seriously I had my 1st baby shower this weekend and I recall saying multiple times, “man my belly is on my thighs and my boobs!” Glad to know I am not alone!
K Biddy I think you gave Elizabeth some great advice!!! Loved both of your amazing showers, especially the centerpieces. I see where you get your creativity!!
I’d say to prepare (although my first baby is now 16–yikes and starting to drive,it’s hard to remember!!)…do as much as you can before Will gets here. You feel busy now but you get really busy, really quickly!! Best gift to a new mom is treats they couldn’t indulge in while preggers, like Diet Pepsi and booze! lol!!
Also cooking them a complete meal and just dropping it off is really nice. Limit your visitors that first week home. You’re new little family needs that bonding time. Just savor it all. You blink and they’re 16, believe me!!
Hi Katie,
When I first saw the picture of the teddy bear in the green t-shirt, I thought, cute, but then I took a closer look, and I have the same bear! I got him when I was 5 or 6 and still have him now (I’m 32!) Does yours have a red bow tie? Mine is named Honey Jo and he was purchased at a grocery store long long ago. I’d love to hear about your bear!
We have the same maiden name! That’s fun!
Can you please elaborate on why Jeremy was in charge of the baby registry? I just can’t get past that part…
I agree with Amanda on “Happiest Baby on the Block”… my sister sent me her well-worn used copy right before Willow was born and it was invaluable! ! My tip on how to get ready is to not have too many preconceived ideas or expectations of yourself or new baby Will. Don’t compare yourself & him to other mommies and babies…each baby/parent relationship is God designed and planned and we need to be gracious with ourselves and those new bundles!
As the mom of two GORGEOUS girls the best preparation advice is can give is …..throw all your expectations out the window. You’ll never be prepared 🙂 Just let it happen. The more you “expect” things to be, the more pissed off you’ll be when things don’t go your way – Ha! That counts for labor, delivery, everything – it’s kinda like home improvements – things never go as planned 🙂 Good luck!! And no matter what – it’ll be an amazing journey and one you’ll be so thankful for 🙂
in that last picture, you look a little like britney spears. you know, before she fell off the deep end 🙂 ever gotten that before?
Hi Laura –
I know it’s not exactly normal to put the baby daddy in charge of the registry but if there is one thing evident by this blog it’s that I am not normal 🙂 Basically we went into Babies R Us and I started crying. It was overwhelming to think that I had to learn how to care for a new little human in the first place and the gear represented all that stress. So basically Jeremy took that off my to-do list and thankfully he has better taste than I do 🙂
XO – Katie
Amen to what Deb said. Don’t expect anything to go the way you “planned” it. God’s in charge so just try to remember as much as possible of what it’s like to hold your son for the first time, DON’T forget to take LOTS of (non-gross) pictures, and take people up on offers to help afterwards…even if they offer to clean your toilets, let them do it. 🙂
Thanks for the great suggestions! One of the showers is going to be family only, and I LOVE the idea of a diaper/couples shower since we are planning on using cloth diapers and those suckers are expensive! My mom also suggested having one friend host a “sip and see” party for everyone to meet the baby after it arrives. And if you want to come Katie, I will totally invite you. Athens isn’t too far away!
Looks like you had a great time! Fun theme!
Kelly
Do you have a picture of the baby shower invites you sent out? I am trying to do an irish theme for my sisters baby shower and i didnt see one on your website.
I don’t think I do! It’s been a really long time – if it’s not on there it probably didn’t match 🙂
xo – kb
I can answer your question about that honey Jo bear. I still have mine also, have had it since 1986 (my tag has a blue date on upper right corner… rest of tag red print, some seem to be sewn in too far on edge? I have a friend w/ one, no date?)… mine has the red bow tie also!