More Info on Having a Baby Shower

How about a blank book to have people sign and write a loving message in for her and the baby. Also can have a poster board and have them sign it with a picture of the sonagram or couple or mom on it. Could add some pictures of each guest also. If she has a baby book, and you scrapbook, could do something on a scrapbook page to insert in her baby book.
As far as games, been to both with and without games. Most people I've talked with, like it better without games so they can visit and are not rushed. Simple finger foods-chicken salad, mini croissants, fruit and punch are good for and afternoon gathering. Fresh flowers, balloons are pretty. Go with a color theme if you like. Fabric is great to add color. You can pick up remnants pretty inexpensively. You can wrap toole (netting) aroung chandeliers, or banisters for extra punch. You can take mini stuffed animals and tie with skinny satin ribbon to light fixtures and you can easily make a diaper cake. Can find instructions on google.com. best of luck. Cupcakes are great instead of cake. Put on white frosting and color the sugar to match a theme, and dip in colored sugar while frosting is still wet. At my daughters, we gave out cookies from the bakery wrapped in pretty celophane bags and pretty satin ribbon, (which we did). Not too expensive for a couple of dozen. Best of luck.

Game idea - I normally don't like baby shower games because many of them are so silly, but at my shower, we did this: We included a little insert card in the homemade invitations asking each guest to bring a baby photo of themselves to the party. I borrowed one of those ribbon bulletin boards (with ribbon criss-crossed over the board to hold photos at the edges without having to use tape or tacks which damage photos) and we posted each photo on the board, labeled it with a letter next to each photo, and had a numbered list with each guest. Everyone wrote down their guesses of which photo was which person, and the winner got a little prize. Of course the family members will know who some of them are, but not everyone will know every photo, and it's fun to look at all the cute (and old) baby pictures. And since the highlight of the shower was the gift-opening, no other "entertainment" was needed. At my sister-in-law's shower, the game was a matching game to match the unusual celebrity baby names with the celebrity parents. A theme for the shower always makes it look more pulled-together, but it's not necessary. Just use a color as the theme (pink for a girl, etc.) My theme was a frog theme, so there was lots of green. For food, have a cake or cupcakes and standard party snack food (don't forget healthy items like a raw veggie plate, you don't want all junk food and desserts, especially since there is a pregnant girl eating and she should eat nutritious foods!). To save money, you don't need to provide a ton of food. People will just nibble on snacks most likely. And just make a cake or cupcakes instead of buying a fancy bakery cake. And diaper "cakes" are cute (and useful) if someone knows how to make one. Some people sell them pre-made, but that will probably cost more than buying the diapers and some cute things to stuff in with them, ribbons, etc. and making it yourself. Good luck and have fun!

There is no reason why you should spend a lot of money on a baby shower. Think, every penny you spend on balloons and streamers could be given to mom-to-be for diapers! Host the shower at someone's home or in a public park. Serve a cake or cupcakes that you make yourself from a mix, and serve Kool-Aid disguised as punch (just put it in a punch bowl). If your daughter's friends come to a shower expecting to be pampered themselves then they have the wrong attitude. This should be about your daughter and celebrating the major event. There are some good ideas already posted for games that are cheap or even free. However, don't scrimp on thank you notes! Be sure these are hand written and mailed out within a few days. Mark my word, if she doesn't get them sent before the baby comes she never will! Purchase the cards before the shower, hand each person in attendance a blank envelope and ask them to address it and give it back to you before leave. Voila! All she has to do is write the thank you, stick a return address label and a stamp on it and put it in the mail!