The ladies at church threw me a baby shower when I was pregnant with each of my three kids. They were so generous and kind and thoughtful to give me one and especially kind and generous to give me one for #2 and #3. I was looking through my box of stuff that I would like to scrapbook someday, but I don’t scrapbook so it will stay in a box until Brett throws it away, and I came across some of the cards from the baby showers. It got me thinking about some of the cool and useful gifts I received and some of the things I have found out about since then that I would love to give or receive at a baby shower. Here is my list of fav’s:
Raffi: Let’s Play — This is full of fun and catchy songs for kids to sing, dance, and play to. My kids know every song on the disc and never tire of it. It is the cd I feel like playing when the sun finally comes out in Seattle. It just sounds sunny to me. I especially like the added verse to “If you’re Happy and You Know it” that says, “If you’re beautiful and you know it shout hurray!” We like to shout an exuberant “Hooray!!” when we sing it. I also like that my kids could all have a Beatles song memorized by the time they were two years old. (Yellow Submarine)
Martha Stewart Baby: Sleepytime — One of my kids favorite cd’s to fall asleep to (this is the other one). The melodies are soft, simple, and soothing. I just looked through the list of songs to pick out a couple of my favorites and I can’t even do that because they are all so good. But if I HAD to pick a favorite I guess it would be “Baby Mine” by Alison Kraus, because I love anything by Alison Kraus and Dumbo still makes me cry and miss my Momma. Brett’s really likes “Love is Strange” by Everything But The Girl. (by the way, their other favorite bedtime cd is Kenny Loggins: Return to Pooh Corner. Also a great one)
Martha Stewart Kids: Playtime — Another great Martha Stewart music compilation! listening to this cd just makes me smile…and even more importantly, it makes my kids smile! When I hear it it makes me want to be the mom that makes cookies with her kids and lets them pour everything in the bowl and mix it all by themselves (all the while with a smile on her face) and who lets the kids play with play dough whenever they want. The only song I don’t love on this cd is “Mocking Bird” by Carly Simon and James Taylor. Love them, the song just gets a bit monotonous. But I do LOVE “The Fox” by Nickel Creek (we are huge Nickel Creek fans) and “Jump Up” by Dan Zanes and Friends.
Piggies by Audrey Wood and Don Wood — I got this book at Lincoln’s baby shower and it is still a favorite with my kids. It is a book that can be read to babies, toddlers, or kids. The kids like to find each of the pigs on each page and then they search for the balloon and the beach ball.
Anything made by my friend Shae, but especially something with minkee fabric — Her blankets are just the best! She has a great eye for colors, patterns, and fabric matching and she bundles it all up cute with a ribbon and tag. They are well worth the price and you can’t find a softer or better made blanket for what she charges. I haven’t personally seen the shopping cart covers, but I definitely want one if I have another baby.
Kiehl’s baby products — They are a bit pricey, but if you want a special and unique gift this is a great one. I was at a shower for a friend and someone gave her a basket with an assortment of Kiehl’s baby products, ($$kaching!!) and I fell in love with them. They are very gentle for baby’s soft skin and great for little ones with sensitivity to other products.
Anything from Janie and Jack — Again, kinda spendy, but we have always found darling clothing on the sale rack. I like to send it to family in Utah for gifts because they don’t have any stores there yet. The boy’s t-shirts are my very favorite to get for Lincoln and we really like the rugby’s and button ups for him as well.
Kidco Baby Food Mill — I got this at my work shower when I was pregnant with Luca and didn’t realize what a neat little tool it was until a few months later. We could grind up pretty much whatever we were eating for dinner and I wouldn’t have to mix up a separate meal or feed her out of a jar. We ground pasta dishes, steamed veggies, fruit, and oatmeal…just to name a few. I think I even ground up a piece of pizza once and she loved it!
Gift Certificates or anything I have registered for — duh!
And my all time favorite gift to give or receive is anything homemade. The quilts, afghans, bibs, blankets, headbands, and the darling ladybug dress with a pinafore that my boss Mindy made me for Luca are all treasured gifts that have been given to our babies and they are ones that I will always remember.
Four month old Luca in ladybug dress
Whims 