One fun thing they did at one shower was to have people guess the circumference of the baby belly, everyone being give a piece of yarn and the one who came closest one a prize.

Depending on time of day, the food can be more or less. If it's like 2pm, I would think appetizers and cake will do. You can always throw in a cold cut platter with rolls and a side salad if you want. Some kind of punch where people could add a splash of vodka if they want, and coffee, tea and water.

I'm sure others will have better ideas for you than I.

I recently attended a baby shower and recommend NO GAMES. They are ridiculous and there is no reason to subject adults to such nonsense. I felt the same at the very first shower I attended, in my late teens, btw.

If you must have an activity, can't everyone make something for the baby? Stamp designs on white onesies? Get the child a hooded sweatshirt s/he can wear at age one or two that everyone signs with a different color sharpie marker?

Do nothing that involves guessing, writing stupid answers down to ridiculous mad libs type questions, etc. And no making a corsage out of the ribbons from packages!

Also strongly recommend adult beverages.

Congratulations! First though, nowadays it is perfectly fine for a sister or any relative for that matter, to host a shower. Who better than you?!!!!!

My favorite idea was one we did for my boss who was having twins. We were all given pretty notecards in advance and were told to write our favorite bit of advise. It could be serious, it could be funny or it could be about useful products. She read all of the notes at the shower which was fun. But, she also told us later that she asked her aunts and cousins to do it as well.

You can give her a box to keep them in, or an album.

Side story: The surprise shower was on Halloween, so we all came dressed as pregnant women that she wouldn't be the biggest in the room! It was hilarious.

I like the idea of no games and I think the idea of writing some advice is very sweet :) yes there will be adult beverages!! I may need them more than anyone else!!

annie I love the idea of a punch!

Something like these for a small gift. With a few onesies of various sizes to stick the sticker on for monthly photos. One of the best gifts received at a recent shower I attended.

I attended a baby shower last year where everyone brought a child's book and wrote a note to the baby inside the book.

I would rather have a root canal than attend a shower of any kind. I usually send my regrets and a nice gift. Agree wholeheartedly with KSWL regarding games, they are ridiculous and I felt that way from the first one I attended too. Curmudgeons of the world unite!

Hosting the shower for your sister is fine. I did host baby shower luncheons for both my daughters.

ETA: Congrats to you and your sister, a new baby is indeed a reason to celebrate!

Oh what fun! I happen to like themes for some showers.. if you can make it work without being crazy tacky. I did one sweet pea/pea in a pod garden shower and my sister recently did one with an animal theme. I thought both were fine and nicely done.. not overdone. Sister carved a watermelon to look like a frog and filled it with fruit salad.. that was cute and sweet. There were some other animal-themed foods but i can't for the life of me remember them. I like to stick with bite-size appetizers vs anything more substantial. I can't remember if I did finger sandwiches for the baby or wedding shower-- but those were a hit too and so easy and fun.

It's a family tradition to do the same tina suggested-- a favorite book with an inscription.

I was TOTALLY not into it but my sister had us decorate bibs. I much prefer the idea of stamping onesies.. or nothing.

I havent done it but I have seen showers where they decorate with baby photos of mom and dad. It can be cute.. I'd think especially for a sister to do.

One last thought. I really enjoy outdoor/garden showers. When inside people all end up staring at the bride or mom-to-be... or sitting looking around. Outside there's more to occupy guests attention.

My DIL is due soon and we will be having some type of garden shower. It will be after the bigger one held in the town she grew up in and we may have some of the same guests so it will be more about relaxing and having a girls day than gifts. Instead of typical games, I thought a "make a baby girl headband" would be fun....only it will be for the maker and not the baby so we can make some pretty goofy things and mom will not feel like she has to use. I thought I would also do a "name your baby" game and have everyone pick name from a hat. I found the list for 100 years ago and will remove any that are first names of guests or that might be considered for baby. Mom is not comfortable being the center of attention so I thought these two might be fun. It will be a group hostessing, I have the space and want to make sure everyone that wants to can help so we will do salads and other easy foods that each person hostessing can pick to bring (can you tell I don't like being told what I am bringing to a party)

Congrats to you both! Two years ago I hosted a shower for my 47 y/o friend pregnant with twins after years of trying. Oh yes we were celebrating!! I chose a two birds in the nest theme. Her favorite item was the advice tree I made: artfully arranged branches hung with tags containing advice on parenting/child raising from everyone present and others in her life. I solicited the advice in advance, printed them on tags decorated in the theme graphics/colors and hung them using narrow ribbons in the theme color.

Delilah.. the advice tree is a great idea! Love it.

You have to make these:

http://justjennrecipes.com/sleeping-baby-cupcakes

They are actually pretty easy. We had a lot of fun using icing markers to make plaid blankets, polka dot, etc. We also used a white strip for a blanket border, and several of our babies had little tufts of icing hair and mini teddy bears.

I like the idea of making onesies! Esp if you make lots of larger ones .. 9mo, 12 mo

And I would be aghast if people guessed the size of my belly .... pre, during or post-pregnancy!

Geesh Robo, I owe you an apology. You asked for ideas for a shower and I say I don't like them. I apologize. As you can see I suffer from foot in mouth disease.

i think you will make whatever you plan on doing fun! I always enjoy reading about your parties. One idea from both my DD's shower was to bring a book for baby. It was fun seeing all the different books the guests bought and gave new mom and baby a lot of reading options.

All great ideas, and I'm just chiming in that I hope those hosting my niece's shower next week have thought of them, too!

My house has recently hosted two baby showers and, needless to say, I've had to be quite involved! One was an English tea, and it was fabulous- very "proper", and done well. The other was a pasta party - assortment of pastas with antipasto platter, etc- also done well. The first one had no games, second one had a few games, but "loose". I am NOT a game person, but can endorse the "make a onesie"; just provide plenty of sizes, markers, and puff paints! And, absolutely YES on the alcohol!

Mtn - those cupcakes are really something else!

I hear you all loud and clear....no games! ;) I do like the idea of advice and the baby names sound like a cute idea too.

I'm going to be frank...garden parties have always puzzled me because what about bugs? There are so many skeeters and things in my backyard - and I live in a city! (But near a small bog)

Robo, have you tried the Patio Egg mosquito repellant diffuser?

http://www.amazon.com/Skeeter-Screen-90600-Patio-Diffuser/dp/B00BEJP83A

We have four of these---one on the screened porch, one on each deck and one on the patio. I heard about them from a friend who frequents another forum and ordered them last year. They actually work, and I say that as a person who has ponds, creeks and standing water in every direction, and who has owned many mosquito repellent systems including CO2 generators.

May I recommend Lactation Cookies as a goody? They are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that contain ingredients (oatmeal, brewer's yeast, flaxseed) that have been anecdotally known to increase milk production.

Don't worry, they won't start milk production up in anyone who doesn't want to produce milk. But if she doesn't want to share the leftovers, all she has to do is tell her husband that they're lactation cookies... snicker.

For even more wow, try dipping half the cookie in chocolate.

Wrap a gift in this box and watch the faces of the moms as it's passed around..

The last three baby showers that I've attended had adult drinks, a few decorative items for food tables, etc. and no games. Good food was a mix of homemade and pre-prepared (cakes and such).

At two of the showers, the men/husbands came, too. I don't know if that's regional or not. Increased the crowd size and conversation, so we didn't focus on the mom-to-be all the time. I think the family members and close-friend couples appreciated being included.

At the last one, everyone was asked to self-address the envelopes for thank-you notes. There was a table set up by the door, with ink pens. I thought that was such a time-saver for the mom-to-be.

"At the last one, everyone was asked to self-address the envelopes for thank-you notes. There was a table set up by the door, with ink pens. I thought that was such a time-saver for the mom-to-be"

I know this is becoming a common thing at showers but I don't like it. Especially when the Thank You card is a photo of the baby or the wedding couple with a printed thank you, Slipped into an envelope that I addressed.

I don't hold a lot of old time etiquette rules as important as some, but a hand written thank you note is one thing that should stick around.

Update: just had the shower today and it went great! Thank you for all the advice and encouragement.

Mostly family and three childhood friends. It was nice to see friends she had known for 25 years. I also contacted some of sister's best friends from the city she just moved from and they sent video messages. No adult beverages due to being family (mostly teetotalers).

Although I didn't specify potluck, every single human who walked through the door had a plate of food in her hands so the sideboard was groaning. Soooo much food.

My favorite baker is just ending mat leave so I got some lovely cakes and cookies from her

lavander honey and raspberry earl grey cakes from gateaux rose

We did play two games in a nod to my mom who looooves games. One was he said she said, guess which prospective parent said which phrase, and one was price is right. Both non embarrassing, quick and optional.

I also made a onesie banner which was a hit. I forgot to take a photo of the finished product but it was paper onesies spelling out yay baby!

in the end it was a nice way to welcome sister back to our province and make her feel surrounded and supported by family.

our big present (stroller and car seat) has been stranded at the airport depot for two days :( the impending mail strike here has the courier services overloaded and in disarray.

Sounds wonderful! So glad it went so well and was so enjoyable.

looks like it was a wonderful day. Love the pastries.

Robo, so glad you had an awesome day, it sounds like it was a fun time!

Sounds like a wonderful shower. Those cakes look delicious!