Earlier this month, Queen B and I hosted a baby shower for Shanti and our little Goose; the theme was, not coincidentally, A Silly Little Goose Will Soon Be On the Loose, which we embraced to the fullest.
I used the graphics from the invitation to the shower to create the signage for all of the activities, as well as for the inspiration for the cake, which was baked by my friend Melissa, who just happens to be the two-time Food Network Cake Wars Champion, as well as a totally kick-ass human being.
Shanti has craved lemonade and other lemon-flavored things throughout the pregnancy, so a lemon cake was a no-brainer, and it was as delicious as it was adorable.
The decor followed the theme, including flower baskets with balloons, little geese scattered throughout, pink gingham, and a balloon arch that Queen B, with Kristi's help, whipped together in record time.
Shanti preferred not to spend time at the shower playing a lot of games, so instead we set up a DIY onesie bar where guests could design a onesie, bib, or burp cloth using heat-pressed decals and transfer prints. It was a huge hit with the guests, and Shanti left the shower with an entire wardrobe of specially created items.
In addition to the onesie bar, we held a Play-Doh baby-making contest, where guests were encouraged to create a realistic-looking baby using clay. Shanti awarded prizes for the top two. I had never heard of this game before, and was thrilled when Shanti's mom suggested it and offered to be in charge. It was a lot of fun, and our guests enjoyed it, especially the kids who were in attendance, including Jana's oldest granddaughter, who claimed second prize.
The last activity of the shower was a diaper raffle, and the prize was a basket crammed full of local goodies, gift cards, and other items. Shanti's boss, who we absolutely love, gifted us the basket, and we really appreciated it. Guests who brought diapers got an entry for each package, so it was no surprise to me when Shanti drew Kristi's name as the winner, since she arrived from Albuquerque with a trunk full of diapers. I swear, she had a case of every size and brand.
Of course, you can't have an event without food, so in addition to the cake, we served a fruit tray I ordered from the event space and charcuterie trays that Shanti's mom and sister put together. It was the perfect amount of food for a shower that happened between two and four in the afternoon. We also served lemonade, of course.
You also can't have a shower without gifts; I mean, that's kind of the point, right? And Shanti received a TON of amazing, thoughtful, adorable gifts, including two amazing diaper cakes, one created by her sister and one by her cousin, who could not be at the shower because she was, ironically, in labor.
Shanti gets uncomfortable when she is the sole center of attention, so while she opened her gifts, we encouraged guests to continue at the onesie bar or graze on the food, which made the process relaxed and enjoyable for her. Queen B acted as a secretary, noting what each gift contained and who it was from.
One of my gifts to Shanti was a pair of tiny Converse sneakers that I embroidered. If you've read here for long, you may remember that I embroidered Converse for Shanti and the Man-Cub to wear as their wedding shoes; this was my homage to their wedding and the family that they started that day.
As the shower wound down, we took the opportunity to get photos of the guests with Shanti. She said she felt blessed to have two grandmothers, two great-grandmothers, two aunts, and so many friends there to celebrate her impending arrival and support her as she enters motherhood.
We also all feel so blessed to be part of the journey.
