it's me with my sis-in-law and Ate Grace in our single years

As I buzzed last Saturday, I had the privileged of hosting a surprise baby shower for my 8-month preggy sis-in-law and another 8-month preggy dear friend, Ate Grace. I have to forget first my being introvert and have to focus on the goal of blessing the people close to my heart.This baby shower is the brainchild of Ate Dines, the sister of Ate Grace. With her orientation on me about hosting a baby shower and her generous investment for our snacks , the "mission" is accomplished! . I'm so blessed of her desire to reach out and bless her through us coz she's in US. I wanted to emulate her generous ways to be a blessing too to my sisters in times likes this.

Because it is a surprise, I have to make an alibi on how to invite the two "mother-to-be". Holding a party is NOT REALLY ME! Remember my post about our 8 years anniversary of being lovers? I used it to convince them that my hubby and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary with them. Ate Grace is convinced with this but I had a hard time convincing my sis-in-law!...LOL! So talked to my brother and told him about my plan and instructed him to come to our house on Saturday (September 5) instead of their usual visiting day which is Friday.

By the way, a baby shower is a well known tradition and a popular way to celebrate the future birth of a child in US. Parents receive gifts for their newborn or expected child. The party is intended to help parents get items that they need for their baby, such as baby clothes . But for this party I didn't insist on our invited guests to bring gifts...it's up to them. What I wanted from them are their presence, their support in prayers and fellowship.Traditionally, a baby shower is held only for the mother-to-be and only women attend. However, for this occasion I invited all our friends-male and female and of course the husbands.

My sis-in-law, Nona, and Ate Grace are both expecting baby girls and they already prepared names for them. Hyphzybah Jazzyz is the name of my future niece and Xhenexia Gwynne. They're quite unique names, aren't they?... and for the meaning of these names? you better asked them coz I don't know yet...he..he...

The simple decoration:

I asked my school's art teacher to cut these letters for me and he did it for free!..Thank you Ajarn!

Diaper cakes:

I am so proud to say that it's my loving husband who made these diaper cakes for my friends. He's so supportive with me during this time- financier when the budget for our snacks is not enough, babysitter, errand boy ( fetched the pizza and ice cream cake amidst the heavy rain), and photographer! Thank you so much my dear!

Why diaper cakes? We wanted to welcome the special members (the babies) of our family with something unique and absolutely practical new baby gift to express our congratulations. We wanted to give them the gift of SLEEP which is DIAPERS!!!

Reactions of the surprised "mother-to-be's":

Ate Grace

sis-in-law Nona

The Games:
1. Guess Mom's Tummy Size: (Materials- String or yarn and scissors) Have each contestant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mother-To-Be's center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-To-Be's actual tummy. Give a prize to the participant who is the most close! I assigned two male friends to guess my SIL's tummy while two female friends for Ate Grace's tummy. This is a baby shower's favorite.

The winners:

Paul

Ate Josephine

2.Bottle Races: (Materials- Baby bottles with Milk or alternate drink). Have each participant take a bottle filled with a liquid and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most in an alloted time wins the baby shower gift. This baby shower game gets everyone laughing!
I choose the husbands to participate! It's so hilarious!

After the game, they had numb jaws and concluded that it's not easy to be babies!

3. Q & A for Couples - I had sets of questions for the husbands and wives. I let the wives sit on the left corner while the husbands are at the right. They will write their answers on a piece of paper and after an allotted time they have to raise the paper so that we can see their answers. If the answer of the wife is the same with her husband (or vice versa) they earn a point. This game checks how far the wife or the hubby knows his/her partner.

my brother with his wife Nona

Ate Grace with her hubby

The Food:

Thank you Ate Renel and Faith for the spaghetti

Swensen's Miracle 4

6 large boxes of Pizza Company

Our Friends:

with Ate Sarah of Unfailing Love