Lil lady baby shower

I've mentioned a time or two before that the support network of fellow expats here is amazing. I have met many women through the Wuxi international Club that NZ and I joined our first week in Wuxi, and I have to say, we've created quite a village together.

From keeping each other's spare keys (for the inevitable lockouts that happen here), to group walks to Starbucks, to last minute babysitting, to cooking meals for housebound friends, there's always somebody doing something for somebody. This past week--the ladies gave me and our daughter-to-be a baby shower, hosted by Mimi and Heather, and attended by many. 

They chose a ladybug theme for the shower which was adorable. There was punch, a hot chocolate bar (they know I love me some hot cocoa!), cheesy dip and chips, ladybugs made from tomatoes and olives as well as funfetti cupcakes and cookies sent by my sister. 

We played games, chatted, and just enjoyed the afternoon together. 

Oh....and of course, I was spoiled with gifts.

It's really weird being over here in China, and pregnant. Things I looked forward to with my previous pregnancies have seemed to sort of slip by on us without much excitement or build up. We were caught off guard when we were told the sex of the baby four weeks before we expected it. There was no buildup of anticipation prior, because we really didn't think we would have an ultrasound that particular appointment. I didn't register (do people even register for second showers?) at babies r us or target or wherever American's register for baby showers now. I didn't sign up for Enfamil freebies. I haven't shopped to maternity clothes or baby clothes (thank goodness for hand me downs).

It's been all about getting from appointment to appointment without complications. There's less baby preparation excessiveness, I suppose. 

So, to have the women pull together a shower to make this pregnancy as special as it really is for us, really touched my heart. This baby is a miracle. I'm pretty sure all babies are miracles, but to have this one come much sooner after Sal than anticipated (based on our lackluster history of pregnancy successes) and so far be healthy and low risk in a risky country is really a miracle.

A huge thank you for all those who showed up to shower us with love. 

"Bun in the Oven" Baby Shower

Wow, the past week has been a whirlwind. Between coming down with the World's worst cold, and having out of town visitors here, I haven't had time to sit down and do a little bragging about the talents of my sister, Stephanie, and sister-in-law, Charlee who co-hosted ( along with my mom, the "silent partner") a baby shower for the boy.

The theme was "Bun in The Oven". I fell in love with it when my sister-in-law sent me a link to this party. I love the mod-ness ( is that a word?) that the party had--not too babyish at all. My sister then re-created the invites and decor off the inspiration party, using the navy, gray and orange color scheme that I adore.

The tables were borrowed from my husband's work, and beautiful floral arrangements that were put together by my sister-in-law sat on top of gray table runners. Inside the house, I hung some "subliminal messages" that I ran across on pinterest and recreated for our temporary nursery. The colors coordinated well with the onesies & bibs made by Coral Tree, that were hung on an opposite wall. Aren't they cute?

And the food....how could I forget the food?

The girls did a fantastic job incorporating all of my favorites into the shower grub. The sweet spot table, was full of lemon cut out cookies with the letter "Z", my absolutely favorite butterscotch oatmeal cookies, cinnamon "bun" cupcakes, chocolate dipped pretzel rods ( my granny loved them & took some for the road!), and rice krispie treats.

The main course had menus listed, "Between the Buns", and "Beside the Buns", to tell guests which kind of sandwiches were available, as well as what they could choose for the side dishes. Pretty clever play on the theme!

And of course, because of my lemonade infatuation, we had lemonade and water available as refreshments.

These girls know me too well!

My sister in law made a really cute backdrop for photos, from which she hung from a cafe curtain rod. With the leftover cardstock from the invites, my sister used her silhouette to cut out circles of differing sizes. My sister-in-law then hung them from string, making the neatest "photo booth" backdrop.

We played a couple non-traditional games, this one being my favorite.. The object of the game is to hold the baby, hold the phone, and use only ONE hand to remove as many clothespins from the line as possible..and you can't readjust them against your body..it was a handful! It was no surprise that the winner was a mother of 3 kids. Let's just say I need some practice.

The other game was played while I opened presents. In keeping with the shower theme of "BUN in the oven", the guests played "BUNGO", instead of BINGO. Each card had empty squares which each guest filled in typical items received at a shower. As I opened gifts, they could mark off a square if I had received an item they put on their card. I liked it because it sort of took the attention off of me and all those gifts!

And speaking of gifts?!

Holy mackarel!

The boy got a lot of gifts.

The best gift of all, though, I have to say...was being surrounded by the friends and family who have supported us on this journey. I got a little emotional while thanking everyone for their love and support, because it hasn't been easy. I truly appreciate the many lended ears, shoulders to cry on and shared experiences that so many of these women have offered me.

And check this out--Not only am I lucky enough to still have both of my grandmothers very much a part of my life, but they both made the trip south to celebrate their great-grandson.

[great-grandma Dot, Me, great-grandma Pat, and Grandma Sandy]

It was so very, very special.

For more information on the sweets, visit my sister's blog over at

www.sweetcreationsbystephanie.com this week.

She's providing tutorials on all the goodies she made for the shower.

If you like the appliqued onesies, check out my sister-in-law's etsy shop, Coral Tree.

Okay, I'm done plugging, but seriously, aren't those two awesome?

Make It: Rolled Diaper Wreath

I found that it is really really hard to let others do all the decorating for your baby shower, when you love crafting as much as I do. Don't get me wrong, my sister and sister-in-law put my crafting abilities to shame with all that they do, but I just couldn't help myself....I had to make SOMETHING for my shower.

Afterall, I am home all.day.long.bored.off.my......

So, I asked if they had anything for the front door, and the

answer was no. This gave me the green light to attempt a diaper wreath.

Most of the tutorials for diaper wreaths are for wreaths like the one pictured below, where the diapers are opened up, and the wreath form is sandwiched between the two sides of the diaper and then tied or rubber banded shut.

[craftelf.com]

That type of diaper wreath is the most common, but I wanted one more like this...

{photo and wreath from: A busy mom blog}

So, I set out to make one myself.

To make a rolled diaper wreath, you'll need approximately 20-24 diapers. I used a mismatch of leftover diapers I had on hand for our first nephew (he's almost 5 now!) and some newborn ones I have waiting the boy to be born. I also added in some flannel burp clothes I had sewn up, just for an added splash of color. If I were to do this over, I would have used all newborn diapers, because the Pampers I bought don't have prints on them like the leftover ones I used did.

You will also need a wire wreath form, available at most craft stores. They are usually green in color. Mine was 18" which was bigger than I wanted, but it was on clearance, and hey...it's no secret that I'm cheap! 18 inches would do!

I started by opening up each diaper, but leaving the tabs folded in. I started rolling from the top front down through the crotch and up the back until I had a perfect little bullet. I wrapped fabric ribbon ( the gray and white polkadots) around it, and tied it off on the underside..then repeated this 20 something times.

For the burp cloths: I folded them to be the same width as a rolled diaper, and rolled them up, and tied them with the same fabric ribbon.

Once all of my little diaper bullets were rolled, I got out some baker's twine, and threaded it through the fabric ribbon at the underside of each rolled diaper. This made it possible for me to tie each rolled diaper to the wire frame ( sorry, I didn't photograph that step). Just keep threading the twine through each roll, and tying each separate roll to the wreath...making sure to pack them in tight.

You'll end up with something like this...

Since I used actual fabric, cut into 1.5 inch "ribbon", I decided to make a large bow tie out of the same fabric for the top.

To make the large "bowtie", I simply cut two rectangles measuring about 3.5"x6" and placed them right sides together. I sewed around the edges, leaving a 2' opening to turn the fabric right side out. Once turned right side out, press, and topstitch around the edge of the rectangle, making sure to catch the folded in opening.

For the bow "center", cut a strip of fabric, measuring about 2.5" x 3.5" and fold in half, lengthwise ( makes a tube shape) with right sides facing in. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance, turn right side out, and then sew the two ends together, making a "ring".

Fold large rectangle of fabric accordion style, then slip it through the ring you just made. Position ring in the center. Open up the accordion folds and there you go...a huge bow tie for the top!

I tied the bow tie to the top of the wreath in the same manner that the diapers were tied on. Just thread twine through the backside of the "ring" on the bow, and tie to the frame.

Confused yet?

I hope not..but I realize, I might be worse than ikea with these instructions..I reallllly, realllly should have taken photos to do a step-by-step.

Here's how mine ended up..

Best part of it all?? The diapers are useable! Just untie and unroll!

Baby Shower

After losing our little girl, I swore up and down, left and right that I would never have a baby shower for any future children. My sister and I had picked a date, and started getting invites ready, but I never made it to my planned shower. So for me, the thought of letting someone plan another one for a future baby, would jinx everything.

I slowly came around, and warmed up to the idea of having one when my sister and sister-in-law approached the subject of having one this time around. I went back and forth for quite a while before feeling comfortable saying yes, and outwardly celebrating this baby boy, as if he were actually going to make it. Sounds terrible, right? Welcome to the pregnancy after loss brain. I play these horrid games with myself all the time. My "not-going-to-buy-anything-until-after-30-weeks" rule was also a result of these mind games as well.

Yesterday was my baby shower to celebrate our boy.

Yet another moment that I wasn't sure I would ever see in my lifetime.

I spent yesterday surrounded by family & a few of my longtime friends and so much love.

It was evident that everyone in attendance has been pulling for us since day one, and they have shown so much support through the ups and downs of the past few years..I am just overwhelmed by the turnout of women who came to celebrate our boy with me.

I could not ask for more.