BABY SHOWERS

Like I have mentioned before my friend Karin and myself are expecting together. We are planning to have our baby shower together. I don't have contact with many of my school or previous work employees, so that will take some of the edge off. Karin was suppose to find out what she is expecting this week. I hope it is a boy too. I had a baby shower for my 1st pregnancy. It was held by my work colleagues. So what goes into planning a baby shower? I don't like the embarrassing games so I won't be participating in any of those.

Baby Shower Planning and Etiquette

Set the Date

A baby shower is a time to celebrate new life and share advice on parenting. Get ideas for invitations, decor, food, and activities -- plus gift suggestions for the new mom.
Anyone from a family member to a coworker can host the event, which is usually held during the last two months of pregnancy. Some couples, however, hesitate to stock a nursery before the child has arrived, and some like to hold out until the baby can be the guest of honor. Ask the couple if they would prefer a pre- or post-birth shower.

Pick a Host

It is said that the mother or sister of the mother-to-be should not host the shower, since it will look like she is soliciting gifts, but this is an area in which etiquette has relaxed. As with bridal showers, baby showers today can certainly be coed, so the father-to-be and his friends can join in the celebration as well.

Showers for Baby Siblings

Traditionally, etiquette holds that a shower for a mother expecting her second -- or third or fourth -- child is a smaller party than the one given in honor of the first child, and includes only immediate family and very close friends. After having their first child, a couple is generally assumed to have most of the items they need, and their friends should not feel pressured to buy gift after gift. But if it has been several years since the birth of the first child, or if the couple already has a boy and knows they're having a girl (or vice versa), they will certainly need some new things.

Get the Word Out

Although a phone call can be sufficient invitation, written ones are more in keeping with the momentousness of the event. Invitations should be sent at least three weeks in advance to an intimate number of friends and family members. The parents-to-be can help make the guest list so that no one is forgotten. Also, decide if men and children will be welcome. Traditionalists prefer a women-only event, while modernists believe that the father should be invited.

Pick a Theme

A party theme, although not necessary, can bring a greater sense of festivity to the event. Inventiveness and thoughtful touches can make the party great. If you opt not to have a theme, a simple, bright decor scheme and flowers are particularly appropriate for a celebration of birth. Remember to keep decorations to a minimum; all attention will be focused, anyway, on the belly of the mother-to-be.

Choose a Menu

Shower horror stories tend to center on intricate yet tasteless finger foods. Rather, rich, full-bodied options set the right tone for an event celebrating the start of a rich, full life. Keep last-minute work to a minimum by choosing foods that are easy to prepare and can be eaten out of hand at room temperature -- cheese-and-vegetable tarts, grilled-chicken salads, homemade pizzas, fruit or green salads. There's no shame in potluck, either, particularly if each guest brings a dish for which she or her local gourmet store is famous.

Let's Play a Game

Gift opening is the main event, but another activity can enliven the gathering. It can tie into the theme (bingo for a polka-dot-themed party), serve as a way to educate the mom-to-be, or simply provide entertainment. Try this activity: Guests write their favorite names for boys and girls on slips of paper that are dropped in jars for the parents' consideration.

 

PREGNANCY JOURNALS

How To Create A Pregnancy Journal, Pregnancy Scrapbook, Or Pregnancy Video

I have run out of ideas of what to add to my pregnancy journal. Corby's one was so scattered and untidy. Yes I can go buy one and just fill in but we are on a budget from now on. I have entered the following so far:

1. My thoughts blocks that I got from a magazine
2. Notes to my baby blocks that I got from a magazine
3. Baby Names I am considering
4. Pages on when I went for m 2 scans
5. What I packed into my hospital bag
6. Page for all my notes
7. Pages on interesting facts on what happens every week
8. Questionnaires: Question on how I'm feeling through my pregnancy and decision I need to make
9. A bar I got from a magazine saying how many weeks is what trimester
10. A page saying what changes in my body I am experiencing
11. A list of thing I need
12. A page on my weight gain so far
13. Articles I cut out from magazines

Keeping pregnancy journals serves many purposes. It can be as complex as keeping a daily record of your diet, weight, and personal thoughts to as simple as an outlet for those uncertainties that roll around in your mind.

 

Traditional Journals for Moms-to-Be

In reality, all it takes to keep a pregnancy journal is paper and a pen. If you plan to keep the journal and pass it on to your child, then you may want to invest in a lovely pregnancy journal designed to inspire you to share those private thoughts your child will appreciate so much when she is grown. Journals are available in most traditional bookstores in the journal or pregnancy section of the store. They are also found at specialty maternity and baby gear and clothing stores.

• The Belly Book: A Nine-Month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly is divided by trimester and features writing prompts and guides. There are also places to put bump and ultrasound photos, too.
• My Pregnancy Journal not only has traditional guided pages for recording memories, it also has 24 photo frames for use throughout the book. Add your favorite photographs to the journal from your 40 weeks using these special frames.
• The What to Expect Pregnancy Journal & Organizer not only has places to put down special thoughts about your pregnancy, but also an organizer for keeping track of all your important appointments and showers.
• Ann Geddes's My Pregnancy Journal features writing prompts with plenty of room for response, plus many beautiful photographs for which she is so famous.

Online Pregnancy Journals

Reading the pregnancy journals of other women is a bonding experience. When you feel like the only woman who can no longer see her toes, when you have received disturbing news from the doctor, or when you just can't see carrying the baby one more day, it pays to know other women are going through the same thing. Read through a few pregnancy journals on websites like StorkNet and TheParentSite.

Once you have read through some online journals, you may be ready to start your own. Sign up at these websites to get started:

• BabyCrowd--features a forum for expectant moms to connect with one another
• Babies Online--allows moms to send out email updates to friends and family if they opt not to sign up for the RSS feed
• BabyZone--where your journal could be featured as "journal of the week"
• Fischer-Price--has a simple template to set up for the not-so-tech-savvy moms

If you want to continue journaling your child's life online, consider starting a blog instead of a specific pregnancy journal. This way, you can easily transition from pregnancy journaling to blogging about family life. Get started at Blogger or WordPress.  

More Than a Collection of Thoughts

Many pregnancy journals offer more than just space to write. They feature pregnancy tips, a pregnancy calendar that highlight week-by-week details into the development of the baby, and pregnancy tips to help you make it through difficult times.

It is not always easy to come up with something to write. You sit down in front of a blank page, and your mind becomes as empty as the page. This is where a pregnancy journal that offers writing prompts comes in handy. And, if you still cannot find the words to express what is inside, consider adding some of these to the journal:

• A sample of the nursery wallpaper
• List the nursery items you need to purchase before the baby arrives
• A packet containing your baby shower cards
• Pregnancy ultrasound photographs
• A picture your older child drew for his new baby brother or sister
• A picture of dad putting together the crib
• List of the foods you are craving

Record Your Happiness

A pregnancy journal is a wonderful place for expectant moms to record their happiness, excitement and even a few fears about their new role in life. Pregnancy ends when the baby is born, so get your thoughts recorded before you forget them.


Pages for my diary I got from these sites:

http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/2stay/abook/babymemories.html
http://homelovelife.blogspot.com
http://ebookbrowse.com/printable-pregnancy-journal-pages-pdf-d40057816

BABY CLUBS WORTH JOINING

Many times Corbynne's dad would ask me how I get new things or afford things if I am not working. I bought my baby's whole hospital bag for next to nothing and I can still benefit because I bought it at Baby Boom with my Boepie Club nr. At my baby shower I will get more items and can exchange or return them without slips and even if it was not bought there! I get free coupons from Clicks yet I don't buy there. I gave all my family members a co-clicks card. They buy, I get points and viola I buy toilettes. Below are two clubs I joined. Clicks has this thing, If you join the baby club with them you get a FREE baby bag with samples and coupons!

Baby Boom's Boepie Club is an exclusive club especially for the expectant moms, who are rewarded with fantastic savings and benefits once you have registered.

Register at no extra cost and be rewarded with these great benefits:

• Specially trained layette consultants will help you put your registry together (whether you are having a baby shower or not)
• Your friends and family will also be able to select gifts for you from these items, knowing exactly what it is that you need.
• If you have or are given a baby shower, and you receive duplicates of any of your gifts, no matter where they were purchased we will gladly exchange these items at our price on the condition that they are stocked at Baby Boom stores.
• Once you have registered you must specify e-mail addresses of friends and family to have your complete layette list e-mailed to them
• In addition we will send a FREE SMS to all your friends and family in the language of your choice (any of our 11 official languages) announcing the birth of your baby.

Babyclub membership offers you Double and Triple Points on selected baby products and services.

This extra benefit is for Clicks customers who are planning,
pregnant and/or with toddlers up to the age of 3 years old.
It provides you with access to exclusive babyclub competitions
vouchers and other special benefits.

The babyclub magazine is mailed to qualifying members three times a year and is packed with advice whether you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or even bringing home your second or third baby. It also showcases the baby offerings available from Clicks, as we know that parenting can be an expensive business. Enjoy these great savings exclusive to Clicks babyclub members. We are doing our utmost to provide you with offers that are relevant, whether you are still pregnant or celebrating the first tooth!  How to use the voucher booklet: present the voucher/s to the cashier, together with your Clicks ClubCard and your purchase. The offers must be used within the validity period stated on the voucher, or while stocks last. The offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.