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Saturday, July 28, 2007
Honor Grandma
Thursday, July 26, 2007 You are about to have your first baby and everyone in the family is so excited. Your mom is always smiling, anxiously awaiting the birth of her first grandchild. Perhaps you are wishing there was some way to show your mom how special she is to you and how much you appreciate all she has done. You may want to consider a Grandmother Shower, inviting both friends and family. This could be done with or without her knowledge, though a surprise shower is always fun. You could ask people to bring things that a grandmother might need when the baby is visiting. If it is a large party perhaps some guests can combine funds and purchase a portable crib, an extra high chair, or anything else that grandma might need. You may want to make a gift basket just for her with items that may be useful. It might have extra baby bottles, washcloths, diapers, wipes and bathing supplies. This is also useful for when you go to visit her and may have forgotten something at home. Baby proofing items are also great ideas for little gifts. If you decide not to have a separate shower for grandma you can always include her in your baby shower. Maybe setting aside some time for her to open gifts and let her relish her role of the "proud grandmother". You may want to include a special gift from you like the Personalized Silver Single Bracelet with the baby's name on it. This is a gift she will treasure for the rest of her life. Show grandma just how special she is to you. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, grandmother, mother-to-be, triplets by: Mama Bebe & Co.
It Has My Name!
Friday, July 13, 2007 Whether you are a new parent looking for something that will be meaningful and possibly become a family tradition, or grandparents that want something very special for the first grandchild, trying to find the "perfect" gift for a child can be very frustrating. There are many wonderful gifts that would probably be sufficient. However, when you want more than sufficient it can be a little daunting and overwhelming. Something that is personalized expressly for your child is always a good choice. While the child may not realize the importance of that type of gift at this age, you can rest assured that as they grow older they will learn and come to appreciate exactly how special that type of gift can be. One such gift is a personalized children's book. My Very Own Name is a great example of this type of gift. It comes as a professionally bound hardcover book that is written in rhyme. Animals bring each letter of the child's first and last name, a hippo brings an H, a bird brings a B, etc. until it is completely spelled out. It also includes the child's birth date as well as a personalized printed message from the person giving the gift. For example Love, Aunt Kay or with love from Mom and Dad can be printed on the book. Your child will love hearing his or her name when the book is read aloud to them. And later when the child is learning to read, seeing their own name in a book will thrill them and show them exactly how special you think they are. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, mother-to-be, sister, triplets, twins by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Finally! It's Time to Set Up The Nursery
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 The time you spend waiting for your precious baby to arrive is a very exciting time, especially for first time moms and dads. Whether it is chemical or merely rooted in tradition, most new parents - especially mothers-to-be go through a phase commonly called "nesting". It's basically when one or both parents have the overwhelming urge to make their home more comfortable for their new arrival - the urge is commonly strongest about one month before the baby arrives. Getting organized will go a long way towards making it easy to get your nursery put together. Some of the common nursery necessities include a crib, bassinet, diaper pail, changing table, diaper holder, chest for baby's clothes and all the little things such as wipes, lotions and other day-to-day personal care items your baby will need. In addition to purchasing the safest crib and bedding available, you might find that it is important to you that you find the design that reflects your tastes as well as one that will hopefully be soothing for your baby. Many babies are overly-stimulated by bright colors and have difficulty sleeping. A great choice is something soothing and relaxing with softer tones such as Fish Dreams. With marine life being a popular decorating choice, this wonderful set comes with beautiful colors including light blue and pale lime. Made with only the softest materials, this bedding set has everything that you need to dress up the crib in the nursery to ensure that baby will get a wonderful night of sleep every time! Putting together the nursery will make the time your baby comes home seem even closer and more real. Start putting together your little one's new room and use these tip to make a comfortable and cozy place to dream, play and grow. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, bedding, mother-to-be by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Soothing Your Newborn
Friday, July 06, 2007 One thing many new parents joke about is when they bring their first baby home from the hospital, they felt a little lost. "Would be nice if the babies came with an owner's manual" joked one new mom. Nothing is more upsetting to new parents than a new born that won't stop crying. Something is wrong but what? Before you feel like you're a bad parent out of the starting gate, remember that crying is the only way your baby has to communicate and it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. A good way to keep your newborn feeling safe and secure is to swaddle him. He just spent about nine months wrapped in the tight, constricted womb and that's how he feels the safest and most secure. When his legs and arms aren't wrapped he may feel vulnerable and this is the reason many newborns have difficulty sleeping. Swaddling a baby is very easy, simply lay a blanket out in a diamond shape and lay the baby in the middle. Cross one side over the other and then tuck the excess in the fold. It's fast and easy to do and will normally work within seconds to quiet a fussy newborn. Remember to just make the swaddling secure but not too tight. You will learn quickly exactly what your own baby prefers. If you are looking for a gift a mommy-to-be; a monogrammed blanket that she can use to swaddle her little one as well as keep as an heirloom gift is a wonderful idea. Getting the blanket monogrammed with her baby's name will show it was made with just her little precious one in mind and will make an outstanding gift. Caring for a newborn can be frustrating and confusing at first, but all new parents agree - it's the single most rewarding job you'll ever have - being a mom or dad. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, bedding, heirlooms, mother-to-be, mothers-day by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Helping Relatives Prepare For A Multiple Birth
Wednesday, July 04, 2007Whether it is news of twins, triplets or more, the idea of a multiple birth can come with a wide range of emotions for your entire family. While you feel quite blessed to have more than one baby on the way, there is always the wonder of just how hard it will be to take care of them and all of their needs as they are growing. If you happen to have a relative in your family who gets news of a multiple birth, you can reassure them that you will be there to help them out every step of the way. In addition to offering help in terms of baby care, as a relative you can also help the expecting parents look for local resources geared toward families with twins, triplets or more. There may be some support groups in the local area who not only provide meetings but they may also have a donation system that can help the parents out with formula, diapers and other baby care necessities. Certainly, when the big birth date arrives, you will want to have your own gift to donate to the new babies. The twin baby gift basket is a fun and thoughtful way to provide some lovely gifts to the happy family. Inside this basket, the parents will doubles of bottles, pacifiers, booties, cotton sweaters and more. Once the happy parents find out that they have all of the love and support that they need from family and friends as well as their local community, they will be one step closer to enjoying their precious little bundles. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, mother-to-be, multiples, triplets, twins by: Mama Bebe & Co.
A Soothing, Neutral Nursery
Saturday, June 30, 2007When you are preparing for baby, you are going to be faced with the decision of whether or not you want to find out the gender of the little one before he or she arrives. Either that or the little one may not want to cooperate when you go in and have your ultrasound! In either situation, you may end up having to look to nursery decor that is neutral until your baby is born, shedding light on whether or not you are welcoming a baby boy or a baby girl into the world. Luckily for all expecting parents today, there are plenty of stunning options that you can choose from for a neutral nursery. Not only will you be able to find neutral colors, but they will also be quite beautiful in terms of patterns and lush materials. Any parent is sure to fall in love with some of the neutral bedding options that they will see on first glance. Some parents will end up looking for a theme that is still neutral in nature, such as a popular cartoon or children's character or even some sort of animal including teddy bears or even marine life. The Goodnight Crib Bedding set is a wonderful example of amazing pastel colors set in a way that is just perfect for either gender. Once you have this beautiful crib bedding design all set up and ready to go in your baby's nursery, you are going to be counting down the minutes until you can bring your precious little one home! Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, bedding, mother-to-be by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Unique Shower Gifts and Activities
Tuesday, June 26, 2007When planning for a baby shower, it is always nice to tie things together so that everything flows nicely. These "Recipe for Motherhood" baby shower favors are unique and fun. This is an adorable wooden rolling pin recipe card holder, something nearly everyone can use, so you won't feel like the favors are going to waste. This holder has a notch to hold a standard sized recipe card so that it can be read easily. The holders come with a recipe for motherhood, that details the ingredients needed for a happy and healthy family. To tie this in to the shower activities, give each guest a blank recipe card as well. Have the guests write their own recipe for motherhood, with the best advice they received to share with the mom to be. Little tips, like ideas on how to soothe a fussy baby, and techniques to ease teething discomfort are all good options for guests to write recipes for! Going another direction, guests can write humorous recipes to share with mom, like how to survive sleepless nights without going crazy! Or, simply have guests write out their favorite no fuss recipes for quick (and EASY!) dinners that can be prepared ahead of time, so the mom to be has a set of ideas at her disposal when she is too tired to cook any elaborate complicated meals. Give these to the new mom with her very own recipe holder! No matter which idea you choose to use, this is sure to be a gift that the mom to be will treasure for years to come! Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, mother-to-be by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Don't Forget About Mom!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007When a mom goes to her baby shower, she's sure to be 'showered' with gifts for the new baby. There will be diapers, and toys, and clothes, and all the essentials a new mom needs right? Usually, the only essentials are for the baby, but how about recognizing MOM for her efforts? Mom will need a lot of support during labor and delivery, and would probably appreciate a little pampering herself! All too often, everyone brings thoughtful, beautiful gifts for the new baby, but mom is all but completely forgotten in the gift giving. Heck, even the new dads get cigars and big congratulatory pats on the back. So next time you go to a shower, consider bringing the Labor Day Pack as a gift for the mom to be. This tote bag is filled with all kinds of necessities, as well as extra touches to make her feel pampered. These things, and more importantly, the thoughtfulness that is behind this wonderful gift, will make mom feel very loved and appreciated. This is also a nice thing that the dad to be can give his mommy to be to show her that he loves and appreciates her. This pack includes a canvas bag, a lovely soothing eye pillow, as well as relaxing massage oil and lotion to sooth mom during and after labor and delivery. Also included with this thoughtful gift are Preggie Pops, which were created by nurses for moms in labor. Food and drink aren't usually allowed, so mom can suck on these to help keep her mouth from drying out. In addition, they have natural ingredients that help with energy, and nausea. Also to help alleviate dryness, lip balm is included, which contains natural beeswax to moisten and soften parched lips. Dad will appreciate the smiley face concentration ball that is included, because mom can squeeze this ball instead of dad's hands during contractions. Dad can use the ball to massage mom's lower back to alleviate discomfort. When it's all said and done, there are new mom and new dad buttons for the proud parents to wear after the baby is born! You can always add some personal touches, like room spray in mom's favorite scent, or a CD of relaxing and soothing sounds that mom loves for an added personal touch. Labels: baby-gifts, baby-shower, mother-to-be by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Throwing A Baby Shower On A Budget
Thursday, April 05, 2007Nobody every said that you have to spend your entire paycheck and then some when you are planning a baby shower for a mommy to be that is either one of your friends or family members. However, the unfortunate fact is that many of the supplies that you will want in order to throw a fantastic and perfect shower are going to be quite expensive. That is, unless you use a couple of tricks and some of the other guests to your advantage. When you find that your funds are low, there is no reason why you cannot enlist a group of friends or family members to help you throw a baby shower. This way you can make sure that the shower is amazing, while none of you will have to take on too much of a money burden at the same time. See if some of the guests who will be attending are willing to bring a hot or cold dish. Perhaps one of the guests will even want to help you out with the baby shower cake. Napkins, accessories and even favors can be split amongst close friends and family members to pull together an incredible event. Depending on the type of shower that you are throwing, you might even want to see if a small group will want to go in on the purchase of a large gift basket that is filled with all sorts of goodies for the mom as well as baby items. All in all, with proper delegation, you will still be able to organize an amazing baby shower that she will never forget! Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Planning Your First Baby Shower
Thursday, March 22, 2007Planning a baby shower doesn't have to be a pain, in fact even if it is your first shower you're throwing for a mommy-to-be; you can make it easy if you're just a little organized. First of all, decide if your baby shower is going to be a planned or surprise party. If the mother-to-be knows she can offer hints for items she can use or if she's registered anywhere to make gift giving a lot more convenient for your attendees. If it is a surprise shower you can still pull it off you'll just have to be a little sneakier about it. Make a list of everyone you'd like to invite, include parents, in-laws, close friends and ask those people if they know of anyone else to make sure that everyone is included and there aren't any hurt feelings. The food for a shower is easy. Just provide lots of finger foods such as cold and warm hors hors'd'oeuvres that can be eaten on the run. Small party plates and napkins and a few choices in drinks such as tea, sodas, water, juices or a sparkling punch are all great options. Plan a few games to play, traditional choices are baby changing races (with dolls) and baby naming games. A cake is traditional, but you can opt for healthier choices or go for the old traditional. Remember, there are no real right and wrong ways to throw a shower, only alternative ones. However you throw your shower that is best for the mother-to-be is the correct way. Once you have your initial head count for how is attending, stock up on shower favors for all your guests. A week before your shower confirm who is coming for sure and make sure there are no last minute additions or subtractions. You can prepare cold hors'd'oeuvres the day before and make your hot hors'd'oeuvres and put them in the oven right before guests arrive. A little organization goes a long way and you can have your shower run smooth as can be with a little planning ahead. Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Basics for a Successful Baby Shower
Tuesday, March 20, 2007Throwing a baby shower for an expectant friend or family member doesn't have to be a pain; with a little planning and organization it can be easy! First of all, choose your theme if you're going to have one. If you know the sex of the baby, choose a Pink Princess theme or a Little Boy Blue theme. If you don't know, pastel colors and a generic item like rubber duckies will make a fun theme to build a party around and you can even get little rubber duckies to give away to your guests as shower favors. Traditionally, showers are held four to eight weeks before the due date of the baby so start planning your shower about a month before it will be held so you'll have time to make any changes to your guest list or other adjustments. Which brings us to the guest list. You will need to create a list of people to invite and from that list determining roughly what your budget will be for snacks and favors. The guest list should include family and close friends of the mother and father-to-be. Sometimes, co-workers are invited as well. The future parents should always be consulted on the guest list to avoid inviting people they really wouldn't want at the shower. As far as foods, go light with small sandwiches, fruits, veggies with dip, chips, sweet treats such as cookies and brownies and other light party fare is most often served at showers. Many people get the mother-to-be a cake to celebrate the occasion as well. A traditional baby shower will focus on building the baby's layette, which is the newborn's collection of clothing. A nursery shower will help to build the baby's nursery with all the essentials, such as cribs, swings, and bathtubs. If you want to keep the shower general, create a list of items the mother-to-be could use to give your attendees ideas. Another option is to create a registry at a local store so certain gifts such as infant bathtubs aren't doubled up on. If the mother-to-be already has a children or children, she can still have a shower. Years ago, showers were reserved for only the first babies - however all births are celebrated and many women have a shower for each of their children. These types of showers are often referred to as "sprinkles". Whether it's a shower or a sprinkle, throw a great get together and celebrate the impending arrival of the mother-to-be's that little prince or princess that is soon to be here. Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co.
A Baby Shower for Mom and Dad?
Thursday, March 08, 2007With fathers taking a stronger role than ever in the nurturing of their children, a couple's shower is fast becoming a commonplace occurrence. Another reason is more and more women are returned to the workforce and more men are choosing to stay at home and be the primary care giver, with both parents sharing the burden of housework and other daily chores as equally as possible. Therefore, the traditional baby shower that was traditionally a "female only" event has been expanded to include both parents. The gifts for a couple's shower are still roughly the same. The shower is still thrown in the same spirit since you're welcoming a new baby into the world; however when the man of the house is included in the shower, you can have a little fun with his role as a new daddy and get him a gift such as a new daddy tool belt that is an actual tool belt fitted with items needed in everyday baby care such as pacifiers, rattles and other fun items. The same games are still played at the baby showers, however in a couple's shower you can up the ante and pit the men against the women or have parents versus non-parents. Your guest list can include all your male and female friends. A fun mix of people will make the couple's shower even more fun - the more the merrier! Shower favors are also given out at a couple's shower, just like a traditional shower. If you have a baby shower to throw for an expectant couple, make it a couple's shower for a little something different - you may start a whole new tradition among your family and friends! Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Sure, You Can Throw Your Own Shower!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007Although it has been viewed as a major faux pas during the past couple of decades to throw your own baby shower, the times have definitely been changing. When you are pregnant, whether you are financially set or not, it is always nice to have a shower to both welcome your baby into the world with friends and family, but to also receive gifts that you are going to need after the baby arrives. If you feel as though throwing your own shower for the baby is something that you would like to do, you can always express your wishes to friends and family so they do not try to take on the task themselves. However, because you may get tired or overwhelmed it is always a good idea to take them up on any offers that they give you to help out! Start a gift registry like you normally would want to during your pregnancy. This is a marvelous way to let all of your guests know what kinds of items that you still need to get before the baby arrives. If you are having some sort of a theme for the nursery, the shower is also a nice time to introduce it to everyone. Letting guests know of the theme in the shower invitation is always a nice idea to help them shop as well. Make sure that when you plan your shower that you get everything together that you will need including interesting party games, cute favors and maybe even something personal that you can look back on such as a guest book that your friends and family can use to write down blessings and good wishes. Throwing your own shower can be fun and very memorable for your family! Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co.
Simple Baby Shower Luncheon
Sometimes, all an expecting mother will want to do is relax before her new bundle of joy arrives. Perhaps she is just getting out of work for her maternity leave or she has been busy trying to settle things in at home before the baby arrives. In this case, the hustle and bustle of a gigantic baby shower with tons of guests may not be what she is into. You might want to think of toning things down a bit with a shower for immediate family and the closest of friends only for a luncheon. Certainly, you will not want to exclude everyone else from sharing in the joy of the baby. Some people will even have a nice shower for the baby after he or she arrives. This way, the mom can show off the little bundle while being able to mingle around with all of the guests to hear blessings and wishes. If you are looking to have a small luncheon affair for a baby shower, you can still pay attention to detail and have plenty of fun things for the guests in attendance to enjoy. Make some extra special favors that guests are sure to fall in love with on first sight. Because they are close friends and family members, they are going to need a special place to put their first picture of the baby. Purchase small, elegant frames for everyone, add a cute personalized cookie favor and tie with a ribbon. All of the guests are sure to have a wonderful time enjoying sandwiches and other snacks while talking with the mommy to be about her new baby on the way! Labels: baby-shower by: Mama Bebe & Co. |