Conference moira::parenting

    
    This is not a game.  But at my shower they had a "wish basket".
    Everyone brought a small inexpensive gift (Bib, rattle, etc.)
    in addition to the shower gift and put it into a large
    wicker laundry basket.  I now use the basket for toys.
    
    One game I did remember from another baby shower is a memory game.
    There was a box with all kinds of odd items in it (safety pin,
    pencil, button, rattle, etc).  The box got passed around the 
    room, then after everyone had a chance to view it, they were
    asked to list as many items as they could remember.  The one
    with the longest list won a prize.  
    
    There was another game with a stuffed animal or toy.  One person
    started off with a baby question the first one to answer got the
    toy, then they asked another question and it went around the room.
    Don't ask me how anyone won???
    
    There is also a baby naming game - does anyone else remember how
    that works?
    
    Jeanne
    

    This is a fun one.   You take a roll of toilet paper and everyone
    tears off a length that they think will fit around the expectant 
    mother's tummy.   The person who comes closest wins.
    
    This one isn't really a game, but more like a door prize.  You make up
    a bunch of miniature diapers.   In one of the diapers you put a glob of
    grey poupon mustard.   Put all the diapers in a bowl and everyone gets
    to pick a diaper.   The one who gets the poopy diaper wins!  IT's
    pretty funny when you don't tell anyone what they're looking for, you
    just say "Everyone open up your diapers" - It'll be pretty obvious who
    has the dirty diaper!
    
    Lila
    
    

    I played the game of taking a list of about 20 popular brand name
    products, scrambling the letters and letting the guests unscramble
    them.
    
    -sandy
    

   One game I remember playing on a long bus ride was this... take
   logos from popular (and not so popular) companies and put just the
   logos (no company name) on a piece of paper.   Whoever identifies
   the most correctly wins the game.  While this was not specifically
   a shower game, I'm sure you could adapt a bit and select only logos
   for baby-related companies... you could take logos from kids
   clothes, maternity stuff, toy makers, diapers, etc.  Depending on
   the crowd, you could even take logos from pregnancy tests and
   condoms and the like..  I think we had 20-30 on a sheet of paper..
   of course, you can adapt that also.
   
   Another game we've played is an interview game... again, not
   specifically a shower game, but could be... before the event, the
   organizer needs to ask all the participants (or most of them,
   anyway) some questions about specific events in their life.  Its
   more interesting when the events are not commonly known.  Then you
   formulate questions based on the facts you've collected and put
   them all on a sheet.  Pass the sheets out at the start of the game,
   and its up to all the players to talk to/interview all the other
   players to find out who fits which question - for example, some
   questions could be...
   
   o Who had the lead in a high school production of Camelot?
   o Who was president of their own company in college?
   o Whose husband spent 5 years in Japan on business?
   o Who has the most kids?
   o Whose lived in the most different countries?

   ... I think you get the idea... the questions could be anything,
   and I'm sure you could focus on facts that would be appropriate for
   a shower...
   
   - Tom

    Do y'all have prizes for the winners? If so, what?
    
    Mike

    Sometimes they are seasonal - at Easter time maybe a chocolate bunny,
    at Christmas - candy canes...
    
    Nothing spectacular needed - I received a purse sized hand lotion once.
    Something small and inexpensive.
    
    OR you could give away baby hours.  If you win this round - you get
    three hours alone with the newborn while mom and dad go to dinner!!!
    ;^)
    
    (Personally, I'd take the three hours over the hand lotion!!)
    
    -sandy
    

    
    
    Here's one that's fun for a mixed-generation baby shower.  Baby
    Bingo... 
    
    Make a square grid on a peice of paper, with about 5 rows and columns
    one 1/2 inch across for each square.  Place an X in the center.  Have
    each guest fill in all of the empty squares with the name of a baby 
    gift, and as the mom-to-be opens gifts they cross off the correct
    guess.  The first with a row, column, or diagonal filled wins a prize.
    
    The prize is usually a small basket with potporri, a small cookbook,
    etc.
    

    Thanks so much for all of the ideas.  I think I'll definitely do the 
    toilet paper game and the baby bingo.  Also the scrambled words.
    
    I knew you'd have great ideas.
    
    Thanks,
    Bev

    At my shower, my mother-in-law had the following game....
    
    Take about a dozen jars of baby food. Number the tops and take off
    the labels (keep a master list of what's in each numbered jar). Then
    everyone at the shower has to guess what's in each jar. The winner
    gets a prize and, it the shelf life's o.k., the parent's to be get the
    baby food.

    We did this at my shower too!  It was tons of fun watching people
    trying to figure out the peaches from the squash and carrots.
    
    Cathi

    
    If all of the people at the party don't know each other, a real
    ice-breaker is this:
    
    Take the small yellow stickies and write a cartoon name, or infant
    song, or infant 'thing' (baby bottle, etc) on it.  As each person comes
    in, stick one on their back.  They have to mingle and ask people yes or
    no questions about the label on their back until they guess. 
    
    
    Another fun one is to put several baby things (rattle, spoon, nasal
    aspirator is individual lunch bags (brown paper) sealed shut.  You pass
    the bags around and each person or team gueses what the object is. 
    Tomake it fun, put a very ripe banana, inside a ziplock, in one
    bag..... it feels pretty disgusting.
    
    Jamd
    

    This might belong in the baby shower game note.  Moderator, please feel
    free to move it.  
    
    My sister (who lives over 150 miles away) is expecting her first child
    in March.   I guess it's my responsibililty to throw a shower, but I'm
    not sure how to go about it.   Asking relatives in the area to
    volunteer their home isn't an option.   Travelling to mine isn't
    either. I also want to make it as brief, fun, and inexpensive as
    possible (I have very limited cash right now).  Here are the questions:
    
    	1. How do I keep it from being boring?  Some of the games are
    	   a good idea, but I have a bunch of fuddy-duddy relatives
    	2. What's an inexpensive option?  (I think I'll need to dole out
    	   cash for a caterer as the relatives won't even show unless
    	   they're being fed....and...I can't do ALL the cooking)
    	3. What's the best time to plan it?  (She's due March 17th.  
    	   I'm thinking 10am might be good since it won't inconvenience 
    	   an ENTIRE day like a mid-afternoon shower might.  And, I'm
    	   also toying with the idea of 3 weeks b4 the due date).
    
    Thanks,
    Lynn 

    Couple thoughts...
    
    Since you may need your sister's help (house), you may want to talk
    with her about it.  Surprises are fun, but not always do-able.  Since
    you are thinking about a morning thing, you can do brunch foods (there
    are some great recipes in the PAGODA::COOKS file that I used for a
    Memorial Day brunch - more off-line if interested).  For games and
    such, I have done some baby names scrambled, popular brand names
    scrambled, each with a little gift to the winner (purse sized hand
    cream, etc).
    
    If your sister has close friends/otherside relatives etc, maybe they
    can offer assistance.  You may find that his family (pardon the
    assumption) is willing to help out and make it a fun time.
    
    Mostly, I would concentrate on your sister.  The other guests will
    probably make time by "visiting" with each other - especially if they
    are "difficult".  You can't please everyone, so please the guest!!!
    
    -sandy
    

    A friend of mine was thinking of ideas for throwing a baby shower for a
    friend of hers in another state.  I really thought this idea was great
    but I'm not sure it would be applicable in your situation.  She threw a
    video shower.  All relatives and friends in this area attended, her
    husband video-taped it and mailed it to her!  They each said a few
    words, opened gifts on camera and had a blown-up picture of her sitting
    in a chair along side them.  Of course, the usual shower games couldn't
    be done but they did have a pool where everyone verbally chose the sex,
    day etc. She also held this as a potluck since she was watching her
    money as well.   
    
    Good Luck!

    
    Couple more thoughts...
    
    4 wks before the due date is a good time. I was 2 weeks early, and glad
    mine was early enough so that I could pick up the necessities I didn't
    get for my shower before the birth (I didn't get ANY clothes).
    
    Mid morning brunch wold be nice, and as the last reply said, you can
    make some easy dishes for this. Call her best friend and tell her what
    youre planning, I'm sure she'll probably help out. And you could make
    a few quiches ahead of time and just freeze them, so you're not going
    crazy that day.
    
    I don't know about games, they sound fun, but at 27, I've yet to be at 
    a shower that has had them, and I never found anyone really "bored".
    Usually everyone knows at least "someone" and can chit chat. Just don't
    plan on making them wait and hour between their arrival and the
    mom-to-be's.  
    
    Good Luck,
    Chris
    

    I think that making it a co-ed affair makes it much more enjoyable,
    inviting friends/family of both parents-to-be.
    
    Leslie

    How about the possibility of having the shower after the baby is born.
    That way you could have it at your sister's house and the relatives
    would be occupied by visiting with mom and baby.
    
    Also, people would tend not to hang around all day because it would be
    tiring for mom and baby.
    
    Judie
    
    

    Thanks for all the suggestions!  After the baby is a good idea. And, 
    thanks for the pointers to the COOKS notes file.  There's some good
    stuff in there!
    
    Unfortunately I have at least 1 relative that feels it's her job to
    work against everyone and to make planning the event  miserable for
    all parties involved (including calling the guest of honor and telling
    her what an awful strain it is, how no one wants to go (not true),
    etc..,).  As this person cannot be easily ignored,  I've opted to forgo 
    the shower and put the money I would have spent on a caterer toward a big 
    present.  
    
    Perhaps AFTER the baby is born, I'll call my sister's 4 best friends
    and the 5 of us will get together for a small informal shower. 
    
    Thanks again for all the suggestions.  
    
    Lynn  
    

    
    Lynn,
    
    I have one other idea that might be of interest to you.
    
    A couple of months before my son's birth, my friends from
    college and high school got together and made me a "baby
    shower in a box" - since we live in MA and they're all 
    in Illinois.  My college roomate, Debbie, contacted several 
    friends about the idea; each provided a wrapped baby gift
    and card.   Debbie put all the gifts in a box along with 
    baby theme packing - tissue paper, streamers, party favors, 
    and a table center piece.     
    
    What a wonderful surprise from people who would have 
    loved to throw a shower but couldn't because of the
    distance! 
    
    Carol  

    Sounds like a smart move Lynn.  And if I was your sister, I'd
    appreciate spending the time with my good friends instead of having to
    deal with the sometimes bothersome relatives.
    
    Good luck
    
    Judie
    
    

        I need some creative ideas for a baby shower gift.   I was
        thinking of, perhaps, a laundry basket filled with various items
        such as Ivory Soap detergent, baby wipes and lotions and 
        powders.  However, I might be able to go in with 2-3 other
        people so maybe we could fill the basket with other items as
        well.  

        So, I'm looking for ideas on what useful thing to fill besides 
        laundry baskets and what sort of things I/we could put in it. I
        don't plan to contact the family for ideas so it would need to
        be filled with items that it is O.K. to have two or more of.

        Thanks,

        Karen

    
    A cute idea that I saw at a shower and later used myself was an
    "ABC" or "A to Z" basket - putting an item for each letter of
    the alphabet in a big basket (laundry or other), toy box, or
    diaper pail.   A lot of fun - but fairly expensive - to put 
    together!
    
    Carol

    Late in my pregnancy when I was having a sudden urge (one of many!) for
    carmel corn, I went to one of those shops in the mall that has every
    kind of corn imaginable.  They had one of the large cans that was a
    Carousel Theme...which caught my eye becuase that is how Chelsea's room
    is decorated.  You could get one that is a baby theme and fill it with
    stuff....the reason I love mine now is it is her laundry basket.  It
    works out perfect for a load, which of course you do atleast one a
    night.
    
    ..Lori

    My sister put together a basket for me at my shower and some of the
    things in there that I have really appreciated (and didn't/wouldn't mind
    having duplicates of) are:
    
    - baby nail clippers (I keep one in her room and one downstairs)
    - travel size baby wipes (she got me the Huggies brand, it's nice and
       flat, is great for the diaper bag and I can refill it with my brand
       of choice.  A 2nd one is kept in the car.)
    - Box of diaper disposal bags (when you're out and you can't throw away
       the disposable diapers or you have cloth.  They were nicely scented
       (!) and I didn't have to worry about soiling the diaper bag and its
       contents.
    
    I can't think of the other things that were in there, there were lots,
    but these things were very useful and not expensive.
    
    Baskets are a great idea!
    
    Susan
    

    I thought Carol's ABC idea was cute, so I came up with a few
    alphabetical ideas for you:
    
Album (for pictures)

Bag (or book) 

Cloth diapers 

Disposable diapers

Electric bottle warmer

Film 

Guidebook (for new parents)

Hairbrush

Ipecac

Jacket

Kleenexes

Laundry basket

Mobile

Nail clipper

Onesies

Powder

Q-tips 

Rattle

Shampoo 

Thank you cards (all stamped)

Undershirs

Videotape

Wipes

Xmas ornament (baby's first)

Yellow sleeper

Zebra (stuffed)
    
    -Tracy
    

    
    	Sounds like you are getting some good ideas.. One thing that came
    	to mind was a bottle or 2 of Childrens Tylenol, and a couple of 
    	medicine droppers.  As most of you know, Tylenol is not real cheap, 
    	but is just about always used for some reason or another (fever, 
    	teething, etc...), and I just had to go out and buy another
    	medicine dropper after losing one, so they come in handy. 
    
    	A couple of feeding spoons are nice too, I remember picking up
    	one a week for a month at the grocery store so I didn't have to
    	constantly re-wash the first/only one. 
    
    	A pack of cloth diapers too! If you have a spitty baby (like I did!)
        You can never have enough!
    
    	Good Luck, and have fun.
    	Chris
    
    	PS...  I know you are looking at buying a bunch of small things,
    	but I was never so Thankful in my life, than I was at my baby
    	shower when I got alot of the BIG STUFF that we needed. Like
    	a walker, playpen, highchair, portacrib, swing, etc...  Money
    	was really tight for us, and I can't imagine what we would of done
    	without those gifts! You could check with her Mom on brands she 
    	likes etc....or just pick one out, and tell her if she'd prefer 
    	another brand to feel free to exchange it. We were SO grateful!
    	
    	

	Another idea that I've used lately is a "theme" gift.

	I chose the theme of feeding time, and filled a basket with
	all sorts of things neccessary for feeding baby.  I included
	a Playtex bottle kit, bibs, spoon, bottle/nipple cleaning brush,
	cloth diapers (burp cloths), formula can covers.  I could have
	also included Cereal, but I knew someone else was giving that
	in her gift (Hi Carol!).  If you know she will breastfeed,
	a set of washable nursing pads is a great thing to add.

	I also wrote up a little sheet called "The Care and Feeding
	of your Baby", written like one of those info sheets you
	get with nice plants.  I wrote in DECWrite, and copied it
	onto sheet of pink paper.  I included it as a way to show
	the theme of the gift.

	Karen
	

    Along the same theme I have used a diaper bag to put the items in.
    
    Sasha

    
    	Hi, 
    
    	I am having a baby shower for a friend of mine.  I would like to 
        have great favors but I need some help.  My creativity seems to 
        be lacking these days.  All ideas are welcome.
    
    	Jane
    
    
    

    
    
    I went to a baby shower a few years back that they
    gave cookie cutters that were in shapes of teddy bears,
    bunnies, etc.  They wrapped them in either pink or
    blue netting with the opposite color ribbon.   Each
    person received 2 cookie cutters.
    
    Jeanne
    

As a 1st time expectant father (end of June), I'm reading as many books as I can 
on the subject but haven't come across 'baby shower' (baby bath yes, shower no). 
Reading other replies they sound rather fun but can any one give me a 
definition?

Yours rather puzzled

Andy

    
    	A baby shower is a sort of "party" given to the Mother-to-be
    	to celebrate the arrival of her (their child). It usually a
    	"women only" type thing, although, I think that is changing.
    	
    	Guests usually bring a gift, and there is usually some sort of
    	hor-derves & food served. It can be held in a hall, or a private
    	home due to the size of the party. Sometimes "favors" are made, 
    	some little token of "I was there" type thing, as is sometimes
    	done at weddings (matches, candy etc)....Its usually hosted by the 
    	family or friends.
    
    	The main event is usually the opening of the presents by the mom-to
    	-be....then food, games or whatever, the schedule is up to the host.
    
    	Its a nice gesture to help a couple out (usually only for FIRST
    	pregnancies) with the expenses of a new child...(clothes,
    	accessories , etc...)
    
    	Its alot like a "bridal shower"...
    
    	Chris
    	(who never would of made it thru the first year $$-wise without
    	 hers!!!! The gifts were such a help!!!!)
    
    

    
    
    	I went to one.. they had those little soaps a bear (pink) and heart 
    	(blue) in pink or blue netting.. 
    
    	I ve' seen them every were -jordan Marsh - Crabtree, filenes.. 

	My sister-in-law's shower was just 2 weeks ago; her sister
	put pink and blue ribbons on instant "scratch" lottery tickets
	as favors.

	Not really a baby theme...but pretty useful.  Someone actually
	won $10!

	Terri

	I wrote in here a couple of weeks ago asking for ideas for a
	shower present.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find out ideas
	for the big gifts so my mother in law, sister in law and I went
	together on the laundry basket.  We came up with a list of things
	for each to buy then went out and got all the items.  My mother
	in law decorated the laundry basket with lace and bows and
	we wrapped most of the presents in mickey mouse fabric.  It
	was kinda fun since she had to open up about 30 different items!

	Shortly before the gift opening, I had invited the mother-to-be
	and her husband (my husbands best friend) to visit next weekend.
	She commented that she really wanted to go shopping next weekend
	to buy all those little things that she didn't have yet.  After
	she opened up all the gifts though, she told me that the shopping
	no longer necessary and they would be over to visit!  I wasn't
	exactly surprised...

	FYI, the favors were blue and pink bear shaped chocolates and
	also there were little mints in mesh wrapped in a pastel colored
	cocktail napkins fastened with a safety pin, diaper like. 

	Another tip for those shower givers... don't have the guest of
	honor arrive 1 hour after the guest arrive.  This happened yesterday
	and people were really getting bored.  No activities were planned
	so people ate munchies and gabbed.  By the time lunch was served
	I couldn't eat the full meal!  Many people also had to leave
        before the gift giving because they had only allocated a couple
	of hours for the shower based on past shower expectations.  This
	shower lasted 3-1/2 hours... I felt that it was too long.

	Karen

    One thing I remember about my shower was that my mother inlaw (who gave
    the shower) had a very nice cake made in baby pastels.  On it there
    were two plastic baby rattles shaped like diaper pins.  They were a
    special reminder of the day, and just the right size for newborn hands.
    
    I still have them, maybe someday I can pass them on to HIS children?!?!
    
    Lyn

    Hi,
    
    I have a baby showe Sunday, and I wanted to make the Shower Cake.
    
    I recall the basics from my aunt doing it probably 5 years ago...
    
    I wanted to do it, does anyone know the exact way?  Also, maybe the 
    modern one w/ disposable diapers... it used to be made w/ cloth.
    
    Any help would be greatly appreciated!
    
    Thanx
    Lisa
    
    Oh... please send mail to EMDS::CHAMBERLAIN
    
    THANX
    

    I SHOULD BE CLEARER:
    
    This is the gift... not the edible... it is made with 3 sizes of
    diapers, thermomoeter, brusch/comb, spoon, fork, rattle, pins, bibs,
    wash cloths... etc.
    
    
    thanx
    

    could you pls pos t the directions on how to make this, thanks
    

	Question...

	My baby is due on December 5th and my mother, who would like
	to throw a baby shower for me, lives in Florida for 8 months
	of the year.  She is in NH till mid/late September.  Do you folks
	think that is too early to have a baby shower or is it acceptable
	considering the situation?  It would be about 11 weeks before the 
	baby is due.

	Karen

    I don't think timing is important.  We had a shower for my sister about
    2 months prior to her due date becauase she was up visiting from PA to
    MA and wouldn't be back until Christmas (3 months after the baby). 
    Especially if it's your first and lots of baby necessities are needed.
    
    -sandy
    

Well, speaking as someone who delivered 12 weeks early, no, I don't think
11 weeks early is too soon for a baby shower.  I really don't think the timing
is all that important since that's what works best for you.  We had one for
one of my cousins when she was only about 4 months along because they lived
in Florida and weren't going to be up for about another year, so it was the
only time it could be done.  And I think it may also be easier to do the
shower earlier in your pregnancy rather than later.

    I like 7 months - this way you still have time to buy items you didn't
    receive as gifts.  And you feel mobile enough to return those duplicate
    items if you got them (I got 4 Seseame Street Play Sets).
   

    I had my shower at six months because my entire family lives in PA and
    I didn't want to travel in a car for 6 hours too late in my pregnancy.
    
    It also worked out great because I had plenty of time to write nice
    long thank-you notes!  (Last notes like that!)  Plus, I tend to want to
    be organized early, and knowing what else I needed was helpful.
    
    judy

    I'm 8 weeks from my due date, and spent this past weekend getting ALL
    the things ready for the baby.  Right down to a few cans of formula,
    disposable diapers and the works.  I assume that since this is my
    third, there won't be a shower, but I also didn't want to continue to
    wait and have to rush around and get things at the last minute.  If
    there were to be a shower, I'd have hoped that it would've been before
    now.  I too would rather have things set up "too soon" than to wait
    longer and find myself not ready.  Plus seeing all the things there and
    ready is a little reminder to start taking it easy a little more ....
    
    I wouldn't think that 7 months is too early at all!  

    If I had to do it again, I think the shower should be earlier than
    later.  I remember being bloated with swollen ankles, and everything
    else, I felt like one of the air floats in the Macy's parade! and they
    had put the packages on the floor in front of me.  Everytime I bent
    over to pick up a package, or stood up to open one of the bigger ones I
    just felt like I was ten feet wide, and gawd did I ever waddle!
    
    I'd love to have had it before the major bloat stage had set in!
    
    Another enjoyable experience it to have it AFTER the baby is born. 
    I've been to a couple of those, you can oooh and ogle at the baby, you
    know know the baby's sex, and can get to see it up close and inperson!
    
    But the other side of that is it's nice to have everything ready before
    the baby is born, and know what you have to find the energy to go
    shopping for.
    
    Lyn

    OK and opinions are needed on timing from my perspective.
    
    My sister inlaw is due in Mid February, let's just say 6 weeks after
    Christmas for the sake of argument.  Should we think of a shower before
    teh holidays?  Right after the holidays?  Keep in mind that my son's
    birthday is Jan 2, and we usually put his party off one week just to
    recover from the holidays.  Plus from a realistic point, the stores
    couldn't be more bare after the holidays.  I can't imagine even finding
    a decent gift?
    
    Suggestions?
    Lyn

	We had my sister's shower on January 5th last year.

	I had no problems finding a gift, nor finding the time to 
	attend her shower.

	Karen

	Thanks to all the input from you folks regarding a shower 
	11-12 weeks before the due date.  I've told my mother that
	I no longer objected and she is pleased since she wants
	to have the shower for me.  

	I had actually considered suggesting a shower after the baby
	is born but that would fall into the holiday season and Mom
	will only be in the area to see her first grandchild for a week	
	or so.

	To the person asking about a shower for her sister(?), I
	would suggest waiting until after the holidays, only because
	the weekends around the holidays are typically a very busy
	time for people with shopping and other family things.  You
	might have people sending their regrets because of that. If
	you have the shower around January 8th and send the invites
	out in early December, that gives people the chance to pick
	up a shower present while finishing up their Xmas shopping.

	Karen

	I'm hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law on Saturday.	
	She lives in Florida, so we're having a "reverse" shower.  The
	guests (only about 7 of us) will bring unwrapped gifts and wrapping
	paper.  At the shower, we'll wrap the gifts and video-tape the
	proceedings, allowing us to comment on each gift before it
	gets wrapped.  We'll then send all the gifts plus video plus
	decorations plus favors in a box.  It will be a surprise.

	I'm looking for any suggestions/ideas for the video that will
	help Kathy feel like it's a party.  I thought of playing the
	toilet paper game, as I'm due just 3 weeks before Kathy and
	can "body-double" for the measurement.  I hope to get people
	to talk to the camera often, as though it were Kathy.  

	Any other ideas ?

	Karen

	How about sending some cookies or other appropriate treat in the
 	box?  It depends on how strick she is being about her diet.  Cookies
	might be the last thing she wants to see now - then maybe you
	can come up with something more nutritious (a banana bread, muffins,
	etc)  I've sent cookies and breads in the mail for my sister
	when she was in college and they always arrived in one piece.
	Just make sure you wrap them well and use enough padding in 
	the box.

	Karen T.

	P.S. I craved chocolate chip cookies during the last month
	     of my pregnancy - a good treat to eat with all that milk
	     I was drinking.

    I hosted a baby shower in September for my S-I-L.  We had alot of fun. 
    We played guess what is in the baby food jars.  I took the labels off
    and numbered the jars.  I kept the labels and put them back on.  You
    could do this and then send her the jars.  
    
    I also did a scramble the words game.  Then we did a memory game.  I
    filled a shoe box full of baby things, ie, bottle, bootie, baby hat,
    diaper pin, etc.  You could look in the box and then pass it around. 
    Then after everyone has seen the box.  Give them a sheet to see who
    could remember the most.
    
    You might want everyone to include their wished for the new baby on the
    tape.  It really must be hard being so far apart.
    
    Good luck with the shower.
    
    Lillian
    

We did a reverse wedding shower for my sister (who was also living in 
Florida).  We did the same thing - brought unwrapped presents and 
wrapped them, and video taped the event.  We went around the room and
each person said something about their relationship with Jean, their
hopes for her marriage, a little bit about the gift they'd brought to
wrap, and sometimes directed a few comments to her future husband as well.  
We decorated the room -  had balloons and all, and packed the decorations 
up and sent them along with the gifts and video tape to Jean's future 
mother-in-law's house.  (Her mother-in-law was also living in Florida -
actually, they all still live down there.)

Jean's future mother-in-law then hosted a small family shower for her in 
Florida, used the decorations we had sent to decorate down there, filmed 
that event, and sent the tape back up to us.  After opening the gifts down 
there, they watched our tape surrounded by the same decorations as those 
visible in the tape.  And we got to see that "end" of the party so it was 
as good as everyone being in the same place as we could possibly get at that 
time.

Leslie

    
    Another thing they did at my sister's baby shower, was to have a
    "momento" book (basically a blank book), and each person had to write
    in at least 2 of your "best baby tips".  There were suggestions for
    fussy babies, feeding, clothing, regaining that "shape" - all sorts of
    stuff.  It was pretty neat, and I know that my sister used it MORE than
    a few times with her daughter.

    
    I found out that my *surprise* baby shower is to be 2 weeks
    before my due date.  Leave it to my M-I-L to set up a full
    buffet type shindig at a hotel when I should look (assuming I
    make it (; ) like the Goodyear blimp's little sister!
    
    How she expected my husband to get a list of what we wanted
    without telling me what's up is the question! (8
    
    Lynne

    another game played at a shower held for me....
    
    Take 2 4oz. bottles (regular or disposable), fill with 2oz. of juice, 
    punch, cola, or whatever drink you are serving at the shower.  
    
    Have both of the prospective grandmothers (his mom and her mom) race to
    see who can suck the juice out of the bottle first.   This is so
    hysterical, watching grown women sucking really hard on a baby bottle, 
    then get tickled, start laughing, then try to start sucking again and
    NOT laugh!!!
    
    Too Funny!

    Just a little note.....as a gift for a friend of mine at her shower, I
    gave her all the safety things....like...cabinet doors latches,
    electrical socket covers, night light for nursery, visor for the side
    window of a car, and numerous other things and I was the only one who
    thought of the safety things.......Mary