Baby shower party!

I know this is going back a while but I was browsing through old pictures and thought I'd write a quick post about my baby shower just in case anyone is thinking of organising one!

I was about 8months pregnant for my shower, I got my cream lace dress in H&M, it wasn't actually a maternity dress just a few sizes bigger! My beige wedges I got in Dunnes Stores.
I made the invitations for the shower myself (lots of free time back then!)

Baby Shower Invitations     

I was lucky enough to have my sister and mother do the majority of organising for my baby shower. I didn't know if it was a boy or girl so we went with neutral colours! We had buns and cakes with tea and coffee. The main cake of a baby bump myself and my sister made! It was a chocolate biscuit cake with roll out icing on top, again, I had lots more time on my hands back then before the baby was born!

Baby Shower            

During the baby shower we also had a few games organised, while it seemed a bit awkward to get
them going at first, once everyone got stuck in they were great fun and I would definitely recommend playing some!
The first was easy, everybody had to guess and write down what weight they thought the baby would be (some crazy guesses!) and when they thought it would arrive! My friend Nicola was nearest with the weight and my mother nearest with the date.
The next game was a roll of ribbon was passed around with a scissors and everybody had to cut of a length they thought would fit around my tummy (have plenty of ribbon!) and then I tried each one on, this was great fun and someone actually had the length almost spot on!
Next we had a card with different attributes (eyes, ears, nose etc.) and people had to fill in who they thought the baby should/would take after! Some interesting answers! :)
Our final game was just a quick multiple choice quiz, the questions were aimed around baby facts, it gave us lots to chat and laugh about!
My mother made gorgeous white rose flower arrangements in glass vases as party favours that everyone got to bring home.

It was such a fun, special day with family and friends.

Baby Shower Games

Plaster Paris Bump!

This was one of the most fun things I did during my pregnancy! At about 38 weeks (my bump was nice and big!) I decided to make a plaster of Paris mould of my big bump! I had my sister and some friends over to give a helping hand!
What you need:

• Plaster of Paris (I got it in my local chemist)
• Vaseline
• Cling film
• Towels (it can get messy!) 
• Bowls of water
• Newspaper 

I put newspaper on the floor under the chair. I wore an old bikini top and pair of shorts. I decided to do a mould from my shoulders down to under my bump, some people just do the bump. 

How to do it: 

• Rub Vaseline all over belly and shoulders
• Cover in cling film, it can feel tight if you wrap around your tummy and back
• Next, wet the plaster of Paris and smooth over
• Over lap the layers-no gaps
• Do at least 2 layers 
• Leave to dry/set for about 15 mins.
• Carefully remove and leave to dry

I just left mine as it was but if you like you could paint and decorate it! 

If I'm having a 'fat day' I can just pop on my 'bump' and suddenly I don't feel as fat as I thought I was!! :) 

Keeping the kids busy- Idea #1

With children all over the country getting 2 weeks Easter holidays today I thought I'd share some ways I've found to keep Senan occupied during school holidays!
With all the rain outside today I thought the first one I'd share is very apt!! Senan loved making a toy boat to test out in some of the many puddles and ponds left in the fields beside us! We just used plastic containers left over from fruit and veg, Senan made a sail out of paper and stuck it to a wooden skewer (old colouring pencil would do too) we used blue tack/mala to help it stand up in the boat. Then we wrapped up well and went outside to test it out! Senan had great fun, we just used things we already had in the house and if you want it to take longer encourage your child to put lots of effort into designing and colouring the sail! I hope you have fun trying it out!