Here, entertaining expert Diann Valentine answers viewers' questions on adding creative touches to baby showers.
Q: A friend is having her first baby soon, and I’m hosting a shower for her. We don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl and I’m having trouble coming up with a fun way to decorate.
A: Get a look at the nursery and take your cues from that. For instance, if there’s a duck or bear theme, make that part of your party theme. Let’s say it's ducks. Take white paper bags and get a stencil of a duck (or draw one if that’s your talent). Then, take a pair of scissors and cut out little ducks on all of the bags and you can use these as luminaries around your home. To add accents, get yellow jelly bellies and lemonheads and put them in little mason jars around your house. Keep it very girly. Make sure you have fresh cut flowers no matter what time of year it is. Yellow gerber daisies would be perfect!Q: My sister just had her baby and I want to have a party so everyone can see my nephew at once. I know she’s kind of worried about a lot of people, and germs. Should I still do it?
A: Oh I would! Call the party "Sip and See." I think it's great to give new moms time at home without lots of company. So have this get together when the baby is about a month old. Make up an invitation that reads, "You’re invited to a sip and see...now’s your chance to come meet Jack...and get a full tour of his new nursery." A lot of new moms are concerned about germs at the party, so set up a handwashing station. Make it shiek and interesting by putting hot water in a gold or ornate bowl. Add a little rose scent and rose petals to the water. Have someone standing by to offer each guest a fresh towel and to change out the water after each wash. Get out some robes (or just for fun, see if the hospital will let you have a couple pair of surgical scrubs) for guests to wear when it's their turn to hold the baby. That way, the new mom can let guests hold the baby without being so worried.
And for the guests, take your digital camera and get a picture of everyone with the baby. On your computer, make postcards of those pictures and send them to the guests as thank you cards. That’s a picture I assure you will be on the refrigerator. Q: My daughter wants to have a party so everyone can see her new baby. I'd like to think of a really special keepsake for her. Any ideas?
A: That’s such a thoughtful thing to do, and I have something she’ll love. Give all the guests a page of paper that fits perfectly into a scrap book and have them write down their wishes for the baby, or mom and the baby, and take all of them. Then, make sure you get a picture of everybody with your daughter and the baby. Once the pictures are developed, glue them to the pages and your daughter will have a wonderful book full of memories from a very special day.
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