I had my first official baby shower a couple weekends ago. AND IT WAS UBER-FAB.
Two of my best friends – Brook & Julia were the gracious hosts and made every bit of the event simply fit for a queen (or for a soon-to-be-new-mom!). Seriously, if I were the jealous type (and I wasn’t me) I would have been totally green with envy over myself. It was that good.
It all began with the handmade invitations. Each one was tirelessly created and sent to all thirty-two of the peeps on the invite list. My favorite part was the fact that they were inspired by my nursery – everything from the owl stamp to the hand-drawn tree to the blue and tan color scheme came straight from all my dreams for Will’s room.
Obviously I was prepped for a pretty awesome event. And the invite was totally indictive of the actual thing. When the day came to celebrate, I walked into the church room which had been transformed into something straight from a woodland fairy tale. And nothing had me jumping up and down like the table centerpieces. You know how big a dork I am for decor when it’s the tablescapes that really have me doing the happy-clap.
Each of the five tables were draped with navy and baby blue tableclothes and the centerpieces were forest-inspired with bird elements. Most of the items came from the home of Brook (except for the little white bird cage below which is straight from my own mantle!) She even took the time to collect the pinecones & natural elements from her backyard. And all the tables were oohed and aahed over by the guests – who slowly but surely trickled into the little room in our church with presents in tow.
But presents for me weren’t the only gifts in the room. Each guest received a little something for themselves as well…a bulb favor. Each one was perfectly packaged in baby food jars (with spray-painted brown lids) and tied with a little name tag for the real guest of honor. I’m pretty sure that there was a good-ole-fashioned cat fight over the bulbs…which I am positive everyone will be prompt to bury in their yard on the day Will is born – just like the instructions say 🙂
As soon as everybody arrived, the buffet was opened for us ladies to get down to business. It. Was. Delicious. Brook & Julia had created a shmorgasboard of delectable items – cupcakes, fruit salad, pizza, crudites, and chocolate covered strawberries were only some of the yummy food served.
And just so you feel like you were part of the group – here are some of the faces you would have seen if you ACTUALLY attended:
Do you feel more included now? Good.
Oh and since you now are part of the guests – you might as well know that I made out. Not with my boyfriend. Well, not right away anyway. I made out as in – I got a boatload (a YACHT sized boat) of stuff to help welcome little Will into this world. All the goodies got loaded up in our SUV and laid out for me to stare at in our dining room. Ok. I didn’t really stare. There was actually a whole lot more gleeful skipping around the table as I joyfully rubbed my giant pregnant tummy.
You now know everything there is to know about our first baby shower (1 down, 1 to go!)…and you probably are doing the raise-the-roof move for me right now, right?! Thank you 🙂 I really appreciate your dance move. It’s funny how even the simpliest gifts (like a little burp cloth or a stuffed animal or even just a prayer…or a celebratory dance) are the things that get me more and more excited about Will’s arrival. And besides being excited – I feel way more prepared too! You never know how much you still need until you receive it.
As for showers, have you ever been the guest at a splendid shower that just knocked your socks off? Maybe it was just a part or special element of the event (like a favor, or a game or even a gift!) that simply blew you away? Were you the source of celebration or maybe it was a wedding shower or a birthday party? Or maybe you were like me – the guest of honor’s incubator? 🙂
My aunts threw me an AWESOME bridal shower. From the little details like the invitations, to the centerpieces to the cake, it was all wonderful. The centerpieces were all kitchen items…a mixing bowl, a pitcher, a bundt cake pan, etc…filled with flowers. It was awesome…not only did I get all the gifts, but the centerpieces were mine to keep afterward…now whenever I am in my kitchen, I usually use something that reminds me of that amazing day! Congrats on Will’s soon to be arrival…what a wonderful shower you had, thanks for sharing!
Yay for showers! In your gift pile… We have that baby bathtub , and it leaks 🙁 we have to place a towel under it every bath (we had already tossed the box). Thought I would pass that tidbit along so you don’t flood your counters!!
Wow that was so gorgeous! You must have had the best time! I had a beautiful baby bird shower and it is something I will always remember. You only get one! Good luck with your baby! :http://bubbymakesthree.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-birdie-baby-shower.html
wow… how lucky are you! those centerpieces were great and i love the idea of planting the bulbs when your baby is born. awesome. not to mention all the gifts you got i mean the baby got. congrats~
I have to say, I can’t stand showers! Not that I don’t like the person who the shower is for, I can’t stand playing games, eating reheated banquet food, and sitting at a table with a bunch of people I don’t know. I have vowed not to do that to my friends and family!!
So wonderful! I love the centre pieces and especially the invites.
I hosted a shower for my sister in the Fall and she was pregnant with twin boys. It was very much Fall inspired with twin baby pumpkins everywhere. We had everything orange, brown, red, gold. The desserts were all homemade pies of every kind made byy the grandmothers and great grandmothers. It was lovely.
Cute! So much thought went into your shower- your friends did an awesome job!
I just held a shower this weekend for my first niece!
http://ourlonghaul.blogspot.com/2010/03/operation-bs-complete.html
Ohhhh…you’re right…the tablescapes totally made me do a happy dance for you! My one and only shower is coming up next weekend and I am so excited! My sister had invitations designed to match my nursery as well…down to the bird image on the front that matches my nightlight!
PS: Looks like Will made out like a little bandit…so much fun stuff!
That is such a beautiful, thoughtful shower. You’re spoiled! (deservedly so) 🙂
wow! what great friends – that’s quite a chic baby shower! glad you got tons of stuff!
My aunt and uncle threw us a great couples shower before we got married! All of our close couple friends came together for great food and fun before our wedding. They took pictures of all of the couples as they came in–with a polaroid, and had them write their best advice for us! They are so much fun to go back and read now 🙂
My bridesmaids through me a great bridal shower at Brio in Dunwoody (have you been to that restaurant?). My color scheme was pink and brown and the the theme for it was bed and bath. From the moment I saw my personal invitation, I was excited! I don’t know what to say without boring you too much, but it was better than my wedding (almost!).
Your friends put together a really nice baby shower for you and Will! The decorations were a brilliant idea, you know, using your nursery as inspiration. And it look like you received so good stuff!
I was able to have a few awesome bridal showers. One of which my sister threw for me down in Atlanta so my friends from college would be able to attend. Everything was laid back and I really enjoyed it. One of the best things was that she made these amazing spoons of key lime pie since I’m not the biggest cake fan. It was quite delicious. Everything else was equally amazing and it was great to have so many wonderful people in one room.
I’m sure you’re getting very excited for the very soon arrival of Will 🙂
Your shower looks like lots of fun! And you did get a boat load of prizes (prizes are what my family calls presents!). Thanks for sharing! 🙂
we were really lucky to have great baby showers – it feels so wonderful to have friends and family celebrating the next generation – and omg our guests were so generous, I am still not over it 6 years later.
oh my goodness…I need to see that sweet little wipes box someone obviously made!!
I love showers, and yours was absolutely beautiful! I have to admit that I like attending more than being thrown one because opening presents with everyone watching makes me feel weird, but I’ve never had a baby, so you have the excuse that all the gifts are for Will. :)Getting very excited for you and Jeremy!
You are tooooo cute!! That shower looks FABULOUS! Seriously! They went all out! Loooove the invites!
Okay, the best so far was a good friend’s rehearsal dinner for her wedding. Her parents lived on an 80 acre cattle farm that had been in the family for over 100 years, and the farm house was almost that old. Perfect old white farmhouse. Anyway, the groom and his family were from Mississippi and Louisiana so they had an authentic craw fish boil. white, tents, newspaper covered tables, rolls of paper towels, big bibs, crawfish, boiled potatoes, little corn-on-the-cobs, eating with your hands, big silver outdoor boilers, torchere’s, louisiana music, dancing kids, Memorial day weekend, sunset, overlooking acres of green pasture with quietly mooing cows. It was GREAT! It’s been 5 years and my husband and I still talk about that party as one of the best ones we’ve ever been too! Great memories! Congratulations on your upcoming memorable day. Trust me, it’ll be up there with your wedding day. It may even pass it up! Have fun and soak it all in. God bless!
Lauren B.
Awwww . . . that totally brings back great memories of my own first baby shower. I moved back home just before Sophia was born, so I wasn’t really expecting anything (hubby was deployed), but my friends threw me an awesome shower that made me feel so overwhelmed with love! It was really special. And hubby made it back for his R+R in time for Sophia’s birth – an answer to prayer! I actually have a baby shower this Saturday for Sophia’s baby brother – due in three weeks!!!! Congrats on your upcoming arrival – hope things go very smoothly!
What an exciting time! Your friends are so sweet to do this for you. Showers are a time of celebration. I can’t imagine not liking showers! Sorry Danielle.
I have been looking forward to a post for your shower–the anticipation has been up there same as viewing the finished nursery (hint, hint). You must feel very special, your friends did a beautiful/creative job.
My comment on a shower in honor of my first baby (16 years ago), my family threw me a wonderful surprise shower and after opening all of the gifts, I happily said, “I have everything I need, the baby can come now.” Little did I know, she would listen–that evening and 3 weeks early, I went into labor and delivered a healthy beautiful baby girl.
Can’t wait to see more blogging.
Congratulations! How fun for you and your whole family! The decorations were beautiful and the idea of your guests planting a bulb on Will’s birthdate is wonderful! Every year when they see those little flowers grow they will be reminded of your little guy. My little one-Parker James- is now 5 weeks old and you will soon see that with wach passing day you will fall more in love with him than the day before, and yet every day you will think it would be impossible to love him more than you do at that moment. It’s a freakin’ miracle, I tell ya!
It looks like your shower was so nice!!! I love that little wipes box with the nest on it. I find joy in the smallest things. 🙂
I hate that my invite got lost in the mail. I would have sent an awesome gift.
I LOVE that your baby is due on April Fool’s Day!! How fun! I’m sure he will be a jokester just like you 🙂
The party looked AMAZING ~ your friends did an incredible job!
I attended a fantastic spring time baby shower for my friend’s sister. Check it out! Your woodland themed shower was amazing!
http://ourlifeinaclick.blogspot.com/2010/03/springtime-baby-shower.html