Baby Shower Ideas?

My best friend of the past 10 years is expecting her first child in September. Her husband is in the marines and is deploying in August, so I want to do the shower before he leaves. I was thinking mid-July. She doesn't know the baby's sex yet.



What are some good ideas (and examples of decorations) either way?



I went to a tea luncheon a few weeks back and LOVED it. I thought maybe it would be cool for the shower? I do want it to be feminine and relaxing for her.



Besides my friend and myself, her mom, sister, and about 12 friends will be there (hopefully).



Is there something I could ask everyone to bring besides their gifts, that is cheap (we had a bridal shower for a friend and everyone brought a packet of flower seeds so they could have a garden at their new house)?



I was thinking of everyone writing a note of parenting advice and putting them in a little box for her at the shower.



What are good foods to serve? I want something light.

Baby Shower Ideas?
Decorations? I love a rubber-ducky theme, very cute and it can be for either a boy or girl.



Everyone brought a book (instead of a greeting card) to my baby shower and my sister-in-laws. They put a little poem with the invitations in lieu of greeting cards buy a book to start a library with, (something along those lines, can't remember it off hand, I am sure you can find something on line).



Your idea is very nice also, you can put the notes in a keep sake box.



Foods, I would make mini sandwiches, salads, few pasta dishes and cake.



Enjoy planning your party!
Reply:We did a necklace for my friends shower. Everyone brings a bead ( or you can supply them). YOu pass a chain or srting around and each woman places the bead on the chain and gives the mommy to be some advice to go with it. She can bring the chain to the hospital to have while she is in labor.
Reply:Decorations could be a combination of pink and blue. Or green and yellow. Pink and blue sends a pretty clear message that you don't know the sex of the baby yet.

Games could be really fun and relaxing for her as well as the other guests.

You could draw a huge diaper on a piece of paper and pin it up. Play pin the poo on the diaper!

Guess Baby's weight is also a good game.

You could also play "baby." where everyone goes as long as possible without saying the word baby.

"Smell the diaper" and guess it's contents. Fun sniffing game! You could put mustard in one, chocolate syrup in one, as long as it has a smell :)



A suggestion for the extra gift- a pack of diapers! They are pretty cheap and mom will really, really appreciate it. Or have everyone bring a meal they prepared at home that mom can freeze to help her stay out of the kitchen for a few days.

Or- volunteer cards. Have everyone volunteer to do something for mom. "One free load of laundry." One free nap." "Dinner at my house."

I am big on the volunteer cards because they really help out the new mom with things that she will need to do and might not have the time.



Foods: Have a cook out! Burgers and hot dogs for everyone! And in case there are any vegetarians have veggie burgers.

And have a cake. Something baby oriented and really cute.



Edit:

I love the gag gift idea!!

How about a gift for mom and mom alone, like a gift card to her favorite store? Or a really nice bath set with bubble bath, lotions and creams in it?

Just throwing ideas out :)
Reply:Ask everyone to bring 1 baby care item (bath wash, diapers, lotion, powder, etc.) for the baby and have a basket by the front door for everyone to put their items in. My sisters did this for me and I probably won't have to buy any soaps, lotions, or powders for a year!

Another cute idea is for everyone to write a note to the baby so the parents can put all of the notes in a scrapbook and give it to their child when they are old enough to read.

A tea luncheon would be really nice! Usually at something like that you would have little finger sandwiches (chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, etc.)



Good luck!