Hello Internet!
Thank you SO MUCH for jumping in and helping me before the baby shower. I took ALL of your baby shower advice and the shower was smooth and (dare I say?) even fun. I credit the fun to you, for giving me the confidence that I was Doing It Right. Well, and a little credit should go to a) my book club, who all showed up, so I didn’t have to stand in a corner and b) to the mom-to-be’s sister, who planned the shower and made sure it was speedy and painless.
As I am sure you are dying to know, the book I ordered for the shower (to take, as instructed, in lieu of a card) was The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown of Goodnight Moon fame. I have such fond memories of this book from when I was a kid. It’s about a bunny who tells his mother that he wants to run away from home and become various things (a tree, a cloud, a fish – I can’t remember exactly, but things that aren’t really realistic for a bunny.) (A bunny who can talk and has an imagination. So, huh, I guess realism isn’t really a goal here.). The mother assures him throughout that no matter where he goes or what he does, she’ll be there to watch over and care for him. It’s a little stalkerish – but very sweet. The illustrations are fun, too, at least when you’re a kid and not quite as adept at spotting the bunny dressed in fish garb.
Anyway, I wrote a nice inscription in the book… Well, I thought it was nice. It was about how I hoped the mom-to-be and her little bunny enjoyed reading the book as much as my mom and I did when I was a kid. That sounds really corny, typing it out here, but what can I say? I AM A CORNY PERSON.
Side note: I ordered the book from Barnes & Noble – along with The Gift of Fear – over a week ago. We have a Barnes & Noble membership, which means we get free two-day shipping. And yet, I have NOT received my books yet. Worse, when I canceled my order of The Runaway Bunny – since I needed it for a specific date – I got an email saying I couldn’t cancel the book because it was too late. And yet, NO BOOK. STILL. What the eff, Barnes & Noble?
I did reserve a copy of the book at my local Barnes & Noble (listen, I support local booksellers as much as anyone, but there aren’t any within an easy driving distance, and B&N is on my way to the grocery store so LAY OFF) (hmmm… guilt, much?) and picked it up there. I decided at the last minute to get the board book rather than the paperback. I know you care very deeply about all these details.
Per your overwhelming opinion, I did NOT get another present. I DID print out a photo of the present and put it in a card and attached it with (Christmas) ribbon to the book. This worked out well, because the minute I walked in the door, the mom-to-be hugged me and thanked me for the present I’d sent, which she’d already received. (Confidential to Barnes & Noble: You have a lot to learn from Restoration Hardware Babies when it comes to ACCURATE and QUICK shipping.)
The mom-to-be, by the way, is one of those tall slim women whose shape doesn’t change at ALL when she’s pregnant. It simply looks like she has a basketball (or whatever ball is the size of a pregnant belly – I certainly don’t know; I’m not a ball size expert) (hmmm… that sounded unexpectedly dirty) beneath her non-maternity shirt.
The shower was really nice. We only had to play one game – which was Guess the Wrapped Up Baby Items – while the mom-to-be speedily opened gifts. (I scored 7 out of 10, Internet, and I only cheated on one question.) (Seriously though: who knew that babies need both HAIRBRUSHES and NAIL FILES?)
Oh! I wore the grey dress with belt and boots, and it seemed to fit right in with what others were wearing. There was wine – I had a glass with lunch – and cider and coffee and lots of food.
We did have to write on little cards a piece of advice for the mom-to-be, which was a little nerve-wracking. I have no advice. So what I ended up writing was that she was going to be a great mother, no matter what. I think it came out sounding both a little depressing – like, you are going to feel like motherhood sucks – and a little aggressive – “you better remember you’ll be a good mom OR ELSE” – but what do you expect? I know nothing about babies/motherhood/advice.
Turns out in the end that everyone else made the cards out to both parents. Which sort of makes sense, if you think about it. But I have only met the father once, and only briefly, so he really didn’t enter my mind.
Internet, I miss you, and I wish I could devote more time to posting and reading YOUR blog. But work is busy busy busy and I have a work-related Christmas party this Friday, so I’m preoccupied with working and trying to make the agonizing decision to either wear an old dress or buy a new one. Of course, I’m leaning toward buying a new one since new dresses are fun. But old dresses are cheaper and take less time.
I will also admit – with deep shame and embarrassment – that I have yet to buy a SINGLE Christmas present. So I need to get on that.
In the meantime, I wish you a lovely Wednesday and I hope you’ll say hello and tell me whether you would wear a) the same dress you wore to this very Christmas party last year, hoping that no one will notice or b) a dress that may or may not give you armpit fat.
If you choose b, please tell me the best way to disguise armpit fat. “Arriving at the party sufficiently late that all the other party goers will be to drunk to notice” is unfortunately not an option.
Elizabeth and I love that book. I do there think is a poor writing/editing decision in there, where they decided that leaving in the line “if you become the wind and blow me” was a good idea, but you know, I suppose it was a different time. But we read that one all the time and Elizabeth likes all the pictures of Mama Rabbit and Baby Rabbit.
I would wear the same dress, assuming that it is not so unique that people will remember it specifically. You know, if it is just a nice, regular dress, and not like a dress with a huge snowflake on it or something that makes the dress specifically memorable. I am getting around that problem by simply not going to Matt’s office Christmas party this year.
Also, Elizabeth was a poor neglected baby who had no nail file. I, um, bit her fingernails off for a while. (I actually did have baby nail clippers, but the biting method is WAY more effective and less likely to clip off the tiny top of the finger along with the nail.) She did have a hair brush, but only because someone from the internet sent me one. Otherwise she probably would have been all neglected there too.
Oh that’s a tough one…I would probably go with B…but then I think of the armpit fat and then want to go to A. Maybe with different shoes and jewelry no one will notice? (side note-I doubt your armpit fat is really as bad as you think it is.)
I agree with the other comments…change up the jewelry or accessories.
Do you have a cute little sweater or wrap that you could wear to cover up the armpit fat that only you will notice? Otherwise, I guess you can make that huge decision on the day of the party.
I am glad you survived your first baby shower; it sounds like it went very well.
By the way, hairbrushes or combs are very important for baby to avoid “cradle cap” which is a form of dandruff that can accumlate on that soft spot on the head. And baby’s nails can grow very quickly so it is good to have a file or clippers so baby doesn’t scratch it’s face.
This is what I ask myself when I think about wearing the same thing to an event:
Do I remember what anyone else wore last year?
If no, you are good to go, wear the same thing.
Also, are you going to post some new house pictures? We gotta see some before and afters! 🙂
I love how your indie bookseller guilt just came through hard core in this post. 🙂
Also, I never weighed in on the babyshower thing, seeing as I’d never been to one, but another great book, if you have more of these to go to is, I’ll Love You Forever. SUCH A GOOD BOOK.
http://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Forever-Robert-Munsch/dp/0920668364
Same dress, definitely. Also, don’t feel guilty about not reading whoever’s blog (including mine!). Life is busy. We know! I too have not bought a single Christmas present, and have a stack of cards to send out, and a grocery list and piles of dust bunnies in the corners and the only reason I’m reading blogs is because I am IGNORING the dust bunnies. I guess I’d prefer to have a good work ethic, but eh.
I think books are a great baby present, especially for first time parents. I often buy a few books that I Iove, stack them in height order and then tie them with ribbon like a package. Then I add a card that says “babyname’s book club.”
As for the dress, how about wearing a short sweater (shrug? bolero?) or jacket over the dress? Will it ruin the outfit? I bet if you wear the same dress as last year most people won’t remember.
I love Runaway Bunny! I’d go cheap and wear the same dress, but I have no fashion sense or spare money and I’m comfortable admitting it!
Runaway Bunny….ahhhh that is by far my favorite children’s book. The day I found out that I was pregnant I went and got the supersize version of it. When I read the last page to Boo I always shed a few tears. Gets me every time.
Sounds like an awesome baby shower! I love that gift game idea. I might use that in the future 🙂 I am in the process of planning a bridal shower and bachelorette party – I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE those 🙂
You always make me laugh when I read your blog!!! I think it is great you gave her books! I am a total book nerd and I love reading to my little one every night!
As for the dress, I would probably go with plan B. Do you have a killer cardigan you can wear? What about a really bold necklace? That would work if you don’t mind ppl staring at your chest all night. LOL. I think you will be fine. However, if you are going to feel self conscious all night, then go with plan A. The last thing you need to worry about is your outfit!! You should be having fun!!!
Hello! New reader here, by way of Suburban Sweetheart.
I am totally with you on the advice stuff. I also struggled with marriage advice for wedding showers. And now I’ve been married for a couple years and have yet to make it to a wedding shower to share my oh-so-infinite wisdom. lol
As far as the dress situation. I’d go with the same one if you can accessorize it differently? It’s amazing how a scarf, belt, jewelry, shoes or even different make-up or hair style can really change an outift. I’ve only recently discovered this myself. And depending on what you change up, sometimes it can become the focal point, not the dress!
I miss when you don’t post. I already don’t like your friend if she doesn’t look pregnant. I do. Agreed, it is a basketball until widen and drop and it becomes a weirdo watermelon! Bah. It sounds like you did well!!!
Next time take Time for Bed by Mem Fox–excellent book and my new all time favorite for new parents (2nd best is Good Night Moon!) [sorry Ashley, but I’ll Love You Forever just plain creeps me out!!}
Wear last year’s dress and change the accessories or throw on a shrug, cardigan or wrap with the other dress–
Glad you made it through the shower! :))