A Baby Shower for Kokoro...

A few friends and I threw a baby shower for our friend Kokoro last week. It was my first time, but the others had hosted showers before, so they brought in good experience to our motley crew of various skills. We split up the three jobs of RSVPs/games, decorations and food between us, and everything was so manageable. Delegation is the way to go...


This is Kokoro. I am fascinated with her belly (this is coming from a woman with a closet dream to be a midwife), and she has become quite used to me bending over to kiss her bulge and talk to little "Ren chan". He is due October 7th, a day before my birthday, and I have been invited to be present at her labor! Only three people are allowed to attend, so I feel really honored to have a chance to witness the birth of the little guy! Once I leaned down to coo to him, and some body part lept out and hit me in the face, so I have a hunch that he will be samurai in a big way...


Kristi has mad domestic goddess skills up her sleeves. This is her gift to Kokoro and one of her many creations: a very, very cool monster.


The theme of the party was monkeys. Nicole and I made a "diaper cake" and topped it with a monkey holding a balloon. So cheesy, and so enjoyable. We took the monkey theme from a little Japanesey cartoonish drawing of monkeys Kokoro had made one night months ago as part of a game, and I took her style and made some sketches, which Nicole then made into the shower invitation, thank you cards, etc. This party has served Nicole and I as a creative outlet as well...


Not a hot shot (because I'm so anti-flash, even when I sometimes need it), but here are some of our friends who were in attendance: Ann, Pamela, Pamela, Kaitlin, Alicia and Corvin.


The shower was after-dinner hours, so we kept the goodies simple, and just did Ghiradelli chocolate and yogurt fondue, with tons of fresh fruit, and small desserts, and sparkling punch. Kokoro was the guest of honor, but is a gracious guest, and so she brought home made donuts to add to the smorgasborg!


Nicole, Kokoro, me and Melissa at the end of our celebration. Wouldn't it just be grand if all babies were welcomed into the world with so many people to love them?