If there are older siblings, make sure they receive a gift each. They may already be feeling somewhat left out with a new baby on way, so this is a great idea.

Irrespective of whether it’s a coed baby shower or not, buy a gift specially for dad. He should feel that he was remembered too.

Record who gave each gift. Essential information when time comes to send thank you cards! Sending thank you cards is essential baby shower etiquette.

Hand gifts to mom-to-be for her to open and take it from her once she’s done with it. This will save her hassle of continually getting up and moving about to pick up gifts.

Sometimes, some guests may need to leave early. They’ll appreciate it if mom-to-be will open presents while everyone is eating.

Food and related arrangements deserve special attention. For one thing, expectant mothers can’t eat everything they normally would. See this page for more guidelines on food at baby showers: http://www.baby-showers-advisor.com/baby-shower-food.html

Start baby shower on time and keep it fairly short. Don’t get bogged down in any one segment like games. Be sensitive to mom-to-be’s energy level and any signs of fatigue she may show. End party if she’s beginning to feel run down. Walk guests to door as they leave and be sure to thank them for coming.

Don’t expect perfection. No party ever is perfect. There’s always unforeseen -- power goes off just as gifts are being opened, you forgot to dust one corner of room, pack of baby shower favors you opened just before party turns out to be a different color than you ordered and so on. You can’t control it all.

Special situations

You might have a friend or relative who just lost a baby, or is infertile despite all treatments. Should you call her for your baby shower? Attending may be a challenge for her. Being confronted with another’s pregnancy may be difficult for her to bear.

The rule in such situations is -- ask. Check with her and find out if she is up to attending baby shower. Don’t just send an invitation in mail. On other hand, don’t presume that she can’t come and not call her at all. If she’s close to mom-to-be, she may well want to come. Or at least, she may send her good wishes and a gift.

But if she tells you that she can’t make it, accept situation with grace. Never hold it against her in any manner. Even if she said she would come and later backed out. Remember, it is probably one of most difficult times she’s ever had, so be generous and supportive.

Once you’ve understood these simple baby shower etiquette guidelines, you’ll be far more confident about hosting a baby shower. Have fun, and create a special time that will live on in everyone’s memories!

1)Every day that is sunny, I’m going to open curtains as wide as they will go, place a chair in front of it and sit facing out for as long as possible. Sound funny, well not really, there is a medical benefit from this as anyone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder – or SAD – knows. 2)Purchase every Home Decorating & Garden magazine that has any articles or pictures dealing with spring that I can find. 3)Looking through Home Decorating magazines, I’m going to begin making a list of all projects I want to do, to change my décor from winter to spring.

4)Since moving from our large home into a townhouse, I don’t have an opportunity to do a lot of gardening anymore. But I love looking at garden magazines anyway; pictures are always so beautiful. Now I do have planters outside back door, so I can still plan on some flowers and getting my hands dirty.

5)Begin watching Travel Channel a little more frequently. I’m not planning on taking any trips, but to sit for a half hour to an hour looking and imagining myself in some warm, sunny places will be wonderful. Well, I think this is a pretty good start. Oh, one more thing, every morning after getting up, going to kitchen to pour my first cup of coffee I’ll then stand at back door look out at mounds of snow and repeat several time

“This will not last, Spring is coming”.

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