We have a Temco ADF42-5 Vent Free fireplace mounted about 8 inches off the floor (no hearth) in our family room. There is only a mesh screen, no doors. I do not see glass doors as an option on the Temco (or distributors') website... which I assume is because it's a vent free fireplace and the liability of someone operating the darn thing with the doors closed would be too great...LOL. Anyway, we don't use it much (in fact, the gas has been turned off for two years) since we live in Florida and the number of months to turn on the gas just for this (all electric home) is only two or three... not really worth it. The fireplace is a focal point of our great room and is directly opposite the main entry/foyer, so I don't want something gaudy (like a piece of cardboard), but I also don't want something that will be easy for a soon-to-be-walking baby (toddler?) to get around. I don't want her chewing on the little briquets and moving the logs around (or even gnawing on them!). I've toyed with getting a piece of Lexan cut to fit, and seeing if I could somehow wedge it in there while still being able to take it out when/if we wanted to use it. We looked at free-standing fireplace screens, but those just seem to be too flimsy for the strong arms of a strong-willed child. :) Other ideas??

Forty-seven years ago I knitted a blanket for my niece. She was the first-born of our family's children. That blanket then went to her brother. From there my sister-in-law passed it on to her sister. It was used for the sister's son and daughter; then, found it's way back to my SIL, who returned it to me when my children were born. I was cleaning out the linen closet last winter when I discoverd the blanket, looking none the worse for wear, in a box at the back of the closet. Shows what using a good yarn can endure.

Cyn, I have a friend that always gives that gift and it is a hit. I have four baby gifts coming up and although some people do not like books until the first year milestone I'm going to go ahead and help start baby's first library. They are all getting the same thing, Julie Merbergs Dreaming with Rousseau and Julie Merbergs Mini Masters Boxed set that includes Dancing with Degas, A picnic with Monet, A Magical day with Matisse and In the Garden with Van Gogh. I guess even 7 month olds like the Dreaming with Rousseau and as we all know seven months comes up real fast.

Grumpy young woman here. I dislike showers. Honestly, the very idea of a baby shower has always seemed offputting to me. Why am I buying your baby stuff again? And if I do, I just grudingly send the gift and forgo the shower. Same thing with bridal showers. The inane games, the precious weird food, and the utter tedium of sitting and watching a grown person opening gifts forever. Not fun. I stopped going to all non family showers years ago. HOWEVER, I appreciate the fact that lots people enjoy them and the tradition,especially the mother/bride to be. I am no help regarding activities that may make it fun. I wish you luck with that. Better yet,maybe have NO silly games and make it a fun party. I think I (and many others) would enjoy showers if they did not include some pushy person or persons INSISTING that everyone take part in the games and activities instead of letting people enjoy the company. The showers in my family have always been game free,with great food and no sitting and watching people opening gifts. They were enjoyable get togethers.As Kathy mentioned, lots of people make requests for books with special messages written in them,including the last mother to be that sent me an invite to her shower. (I did not go, but I sent her a giant box of diapers, another of wipes, and 6 or 7 different baby shampoos, soap, etc. ) I did not send the book though. This was a coworker and since it is unlikely I will be close with or even have much if any contact with the child, i was unsure what message to write. My only advice would be to at least make sure the food is good. Its the least one can do for people who show up and participate in such an event. I have never had good food at a shower,except those that i did the cooking for. ;) Maybe have a raffle for a pretty gift basket or some other useful door prize rather than some cutesy trinket for everyone that likely will go to waste. I was going through a closet the other day and came upon a stash of useless cutesy garbage that i got at showers. In the trash it went. And with all things in life, I believe that the more pink one can have around,the better. A baby shower for a girl seems the perfect excuse. And sparkles. Never enough sparkles. And hearts. Pink sparkly hearts always bring a smile. To me anyway. I have seen very cute wreaths made of pacifiers and bottles that were cute. The aforementioned coworker dipped into MY stash of mod podge that I use for my halloween bottles to create very pretty glittery bottles that she turned into centerpieces for her shower. Is it an autumn affair??? Paint some pumpkins pink! Use them to mark the house. Instead if tying balloons to the mailbox, tie em to the pink pumpkins. Or, if you know the babies name, use tiny pumpkins. Paint them pink and then paint her name on them, one letter each pumpkin. Bottom line, pink.