The type of shower depends on the age of the Mother and the amount and ages of people who attend; I hosted a baby shower for a coworker last year. It was coed so it was not too silly. A couple of things I did: I had a book set up on my desk a little out of the way and asked everyone to put in good thoughts or suggestions for the mother. I then had beads and string and people put the beads on the string to represent good thoughts and the Mother wore it (or had it in her hand) during delivery. It was a big hit. We didn't play games as it was a big group and most people wanted to socialize. I just had guess the baby food and how many pieces of candy in the bottle but they were off to the side ie people saw the items and guessed as they passed through; it wasn't everyone sit down and guess. Unwrapping the gifts takes quite a bit of time and we had cake. Time-wise it worked out well. Good luck.

I just remembered how we made some baby shoes for a shower once... You cut a pattern shaped like the sole of a shoe...then cut crepe paper about three inches wide and long enough to go around the sole of your shoe. Fold the crepe paper to 1 1/2 in wide . The start glueing the the crepe paper (the side with the two edges on the bottom and the folded on the top) under the sole and stretching it a little as you go... Go all the way around the shoe. When it dries (or use hot or cold melt) tuck your finger into the toe and stretch it rounded and gather the top around the toe to shape it into a toe. You buy the crepe paper in the color you are using for the shower or blue / pink. You can glue a little lace around the top. I glued a bow and a little flower on the top of the toe. You can cut a second piece of carboard sole (I used poster board) and glue it to the bottom. Fill with mints..or whatever... Fill mine with chocolate please...LOL I'll look around to see if I can find the stuff to make one and post you a picture. patti

Some finger foods that are easy to make are crostini topped items. Buy/make a baguette. Slice 1/2" sized rounds. Brush with garlic oil. Place on a baking sheet and put into a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Cool completely. Then top with whatever you feel. We have done spicy shrimp, goat cheese and black olives, mashed cannellini beans and tomato. Whatever you like can be made into a topping. You can also use grilled polenta as the base for toppings. Curried chicken salad tea sandwiches on rye bread, salmon tea sandwiches(sliced salmon onto of a mixture of cream cheese, parsley, watercress and a pinch of cayenne and lemon juice). I love a nicely presented Cobb salad. On top of chopped romaine and iceburg lettuce arrange cooked chicken, hard boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, chopped black olives, and crumbled bleu cheese either in a wedge shape or running straight across. Just a few ideas to get you started. Have fun at the shower and enjoy your new kitchen! NancyLouise

Lisa, Some ideas from an "older" woman! Please take them in the vein they are offered, and do what you please. I'm not really that old, but I can get considerably grumpy at times, LOL. BTW, I just turned 50. The only baby showers I expect to be invited to anymore are for my son's wife if he ever has one, or one child of my very best friend. I know the idea of having the guests address their own thank-you envelopes is an idea that has taken off among the younger set - but seriously, as an "older person", I was shocked the first time it happened to me, and a bit offended, too! Reasoning - I've been invited, I've taken time to either make or shop for a gift, and the bride (in my case) or mother-to-be can't take enough time to write her own thank-you notes? Either thank me, or don't, but don't make me work for a thank-you note. I'd rather not have it. If you're going to be having a large number of older people, you may consider having (assigning) someone to fill out those envelopes, or have it done in advance, or just skip it. The older folks will be offended. And you or your daughter will all ready have the addresses if you've invited the people. Use a computer and print out the address labels in advance. Also, JMHO, favors are not necessary! I came for the party to "shower" the mother-to-be with a gift, and I really don't want a "thing" to take away. A thing means I have to store it, or use it, or pitch it - in other words, it puts an additional obligation on me. And a favor that is a food item will be left by more than 1/2 the guests - been there, seen it happen too many times. Save the money and start a savings account, LOL. If you absolutely must do favors, please, an unscented candle (I have asthma), wrapped in the tulle with a ribbon, but I don't want to have to throw out a plastic safety pin, diminutive bottle or other "baby" thing. And I will throw them out, and so will your guests! But I could possibly reuse the ribbon. I find it wasteful of both money and resources to stick little plastic things on gifts. I much prefer to be provided with a beautiful chocolate truffle to eat AT the shower - and one is enough. I LOVE, LOVE the idea of a clothesline on the wall to pin the outfits on!! I think that's brilliant! I also think the decorated onesies are a wonderful idea! Also great is the idea of having guests sign or draw on a quilt block. Have them all over-sized, with the freezer paper already ironed on. Draw the border, so they don't go into the seam allowance. Have fabric crayons or pigma markers ready, as well as some ideas for simple drawings from coloring books, or a list of "baby sayings" for them to write. As to the games - I'm not hard of hearing, but I also have little tolerance of shower games. I would not participate in a measuring of the mother's belly. I was 29 when I had my baby, and I was horrified when people at work wanted to touch my belly - and work people threw me a shower. Fortunately my DH worked at the same place, and he stopped them from playing that game. LOL. They still made me a fricking hat from all the ribbons, and insisted I wear it for a photo. I didn't like that either, but tolerated it with good grace. Bingo might be tolerable. Understand, all of these shower games started when it was giddy 18 and 19 year old girls having babies, and the people who attended baby showers were all the same age, and the only older people were the mums and grandmums. Friends of the parents didn't usually attend. They showed up AFTER the birth with a lovely blanket or outfit, several days after Mother and baby were home. So I don't know how old your DD is, and you have to consider both her and the audience. I was a good 10 years older when I had my first than my mother was. My sensibilites and preferences were too. Shower food - crudite and dip, fruit and dip, finger sandwiches if you wish, cake, punch, tea and coffee. Maybe a truffle. Please take this in the way I intend it - tongue in cheek for the most part, but also trying to save you some money. I would concentrate on nice food and drink, no favors, only one game at the most. Sit around! Eat! Open presents! Nothing more is required of a good shower. Hoping I didn't sound too grumpy, LOL. Mary