INTRODUCTION

How wonderful! One of your best friends in the whole wide world has just announced that she’s pregnant. Naturally, you’re delighted, and can’t hold back your tears of joy. It’s hard to imagine that, in just a matter of time, your special friend is going to be a mother (maybe even for the second or third time…or more!).

As you let the amazing news sink in, your friend is envisioning the journey that will usher in a new life into the world: the gynecologist visits, the morning sickness, the ultrasound testing, the roller coaster of emotions that will eventually culminate in an experience that defies description.

Indeed, despite the frequency of births – tens of thousands a day, all across the world – they remain nothing short of miraculous. It’s not hard to imagine, therefore, that your friend is reflecting on issues that are truly hard to put into words.

Your world, however, is rather more pragmatic. You’re thinking of the baby shower; or rather, you’re thinking that you might not know enough about planning and managing a baby shower. And that has you worried.

Well, worry no more! In your hands (or on your screen) is The Quick and Easy Guide to Baby Showers. Within the following pages, you’ll learn everything that you need to know to throw a perfect baby shower. You’ll learn about the elements of:


 Planning a Baby Shower from the Ground Up

 Managing a Baby Shower from Start to End

 Other Tips, Strategies, and Suggestions


Don’t worry if you’ve never organized a baby shower before. And worry even less if, in the past, you’ve tried to organize a baby shower but bumped into some obstacles along the way. This book is designed to be easy, practical, and fun. In fact, if you aren’t careful, you may just become a baby shower specialist, with people calling you up and asking you for your advice and insights. Now would that be fun?
As you make your way through this book, bear in mind that the suggestions in here are meant to be applied – and they do work – but there’s always an element of uniqueness to every baby shower.

So instead of putting together a baby shower in the way you might put together a recipe – adding ingredients exactly as they’re listed and ending up with a predictably tasty dish – you’re gently advised to approach your baby shower project a little differently. Use the advice in here as a guide for creating a magical day for the mother-to-be, and the caring people who attend the baby shower.

Some of the ideas in here you’ll want to take to the bank; others might not fit with what you’re trying to do, or what can be done (such as some of the baby shower games we talk about). Don’t worry if you apply only some of what you read here.

Use your common sense, and remember: baby showers are supposed to be fun and special events. They aren’t meant to be stressful, and the last person who should feel overwhelmed is you.

Now that you have this book, pulling together an excellent and memorable baby shower might be the easiest thing you do all year (or course, you don’t have to tell people it was so easy…).