Penelope is here to help.

Forecast Today: Baby Showers

Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun. It’s one of those special opportunities to shower your friends with love and help prepare her for the arrival of the new baby.

As you start your baby shower planning and online invitations, think about showers, rain showers. Use children’s colorful rain boots as vases for your flowers. Just slip slender glasses inside the boots so the flowers will have all the water they need. Tulips or gerbera daisies make the perfect choice for these creative arrangements.  Striped, polka dot or plaid umbrellas also make lively baby shower decorations. You can hang them from the ceiling or lay them open on the floor to hold small gifts and folded blankets with a big splash of color. String a clothes line in the main room of the event to hang baby body suits, burp cloths and itty bitty socks with clothes pins. A panel of shiny blue foil hung from the ceiling will simulate rain while rain music plays lightly in the background. You can also hang a handmade sign on the line that says, Forecast Today: Baby Showers, so the guests can write words of wisdom for the mom-to-be.  The best part about these  decorations is they do double-duty as useful items the child will grow into. My kids love to wear their rain boots regardless of the weather.

Since every new mom needs extra help from her friends, create a “Rainy Day” coupon book for guilt-free favors. Have each guest donate a special task to lend a hand after baby arrives such as, “1 hour of cuddling and cooing for an uninterrupted bath” or “no cooking tonight—the meal is on me.” Have a 24-hour notice redemption policy so she’ll feel comfortable cashing them in. This much appreciated gesture will remind the new mommy how lucky she is to have such thoughtful friends.

The ancient African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child, but I think it also takes a village to care for each other, mom included. A new baby is the perfect time to shower her with love and give her the umbrella of support she’ll need during this new journey.

Enjoy Planning.
Penelope