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“Bring a Book” Baby Shower

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

The celebrations for our baby girl took a literary turn this April when my Florida family and friends threw us a “Bring a Book” Baby Shower!  ‘Twas a most fitting theme for this former English teacher and lifelong bibliophile.  And the barrage of books we received that day helped us get a head start on our Baby Girl’s library.

My friend Darling created the invitation using Paperless Post, which I personally love for its ability to recreate digitally the process of opening a physical envelope.  When you open up the card via email, you see it slip out of an envelope, all romantic-like.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! This invitation was created through Paperless Post....

On the front of the invitation, she invited guests to “bring a baby book in lieu of a card.”

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! This invitation was created through Paperless Post....
Paperless Post Invitation

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!And then, in the comments section of the invitation, she added this tid-bit:

As a fun surprise for Lauren we are asking, in lieu of a card, that everyone would bring a baby book for Baby Lanker (cardboard or soft books, a favorite childhood book of yours, etc.) and sign the inside so Mark & Lauren will always be able to tell her who that book was from.  This is an excellent way for them to start their “library.”  Thanks!

Well, enough build-up already!  Let’s dig into some beautiful photos of that joyous day as captured by my talented friend Mandy from Kossina Creative.  It’ll be just like you were right there with us for the food, fun, and bookish merriment!

And stick with me to the end because I have a question especially for you that I’d love to hear your feedback on….

The Decor

We ended up having the shower in our home since it worked out best location-wise, but my MIL Rachael, SILs Jodi and Holly, and friend Darling showed up that day with Mary Poppins bags in tow.  And within a matter of a few hours, they had transformed our humble abode into a party palace.  I almost couldn’t believe my eyes!

The gals had assembled beautiful tissue paper flowers that added such a springy and feminine touch.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! Here's a peek some of the beautiful, feminine decor that added to the afternoon tea vibe!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! Here's a peek some of the beautiful, feminine decor that added to the afternoon tea vibe!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! Here's a peek some of the beautiful, feminine decor that added to the afternoon tea vibe!

And there were some other decor elements I snuck into the mix because I couldn’t help myself.  Mark and I have been using our vintage chalkboard to count down the weeks until Baby Girl’s arrival, so we made sure that was updated.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! Here's our chalkboard count-down to Baby Girl's arrival!

Yep, you remember this side-by-side comparison of Baby Lauren and Baby Mark from our “Cute as a Button” Baby Shower.  It made a reappearance at this special event along with a photo of my mom and Grandma-to-be, Carolyn, during her pregnancy with me (all 11 lbs. of me).

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! A side by side comparison of Mom-to-be and Dad-to-be as babies...and a photo of Grandma-to-be when she was pregnant with her first born a long long time ago!

And remember our Pregnancy Timeline Photo Banner?  Here’s where it originally made its debut!  It proved to be such a fun way to share key milestones from our pregnancy journey with our guests while adding some festive flair to the party.

And yes, I’m still planning to use all of the banner elements in a pregnancy scrapbook.  Gotta love a craft project that serves dual purposes.  Click HERE to see how easy it was to create.

Pregnancy Milestone Timeline Banner: From Party Decor to Baby Scrapbook! | Here's how I saved time and money creating a simple photo banner garland for my baby shower. All of the banner elements can be popped into a scrapbook or baby book! Gotta love double-duty crafting.

Pregnancy Milestone Timeline Banner: From Party Decor to Baby Scrapbook! | Here's how I saved time and money creating a simple photo banner garland for my baby shower. All of the banner elements can be popped into a scrapbook or baby book! Gotta love double-duty crafting.

Pregnancy Milestone Timeline Banner: From Party Decor to Baby Scrapbook! | Here's how I saved time and money creating a simple photo banner garland for my baby shower. All of the banner elements can be popped into a scrapbook or baby book! Gotta love double-duty crafting.

Pregnancy Milestone Timeline Banner: From Party Decor to Baby Scrapbook! | Here's how I saved time and money creating a simple photo banner garland for my baby shower. All of the banner elements can be popped into a scrapbook or baby book! Gotta love double-duty crafting.

Prayer

Before we dove into lunch, my sister-in-law Jodi prayed for our Baby Girl a special prayer by Ann Voskamp that rocked me to the core.  In fact, it was just so powerful, I wanted to be sure to include a link to it, so you could check it out, dear reader.  Here it is: A Prayer for a Daughter.  And just a heads-up: you may want to reach for a tissue before clicking over.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!
My sweet sisters-in-love, Jodi & Holly.
"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!
Aunt Susie & my mother-in-love, Rachael

An Afternoon “Sweet Tea”

The food and drink menu felt fitting for an afternoon tea, complete with mini-sandwiches, veggies n’ dip, fruit kabobs, homemade scones…

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! The menu that day was fitting for an afternoon tea!

…and of course, sweet tea and lemonade!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! The menu that day was fitting for an afternoon tea!

The flowers and lace tablecloth really amped up the decor for our tea time, and I felt myself readily slipping into a British accent with my pinky extended.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! The menu that day was fitting for an afternoon tea!

Shout-out to Ocala’s local bakery, Betty Cakes Bakery & Cafe.  The cake was so yummy, my friend from Cape Coral said it would be worth the road trip just to enjoy another slice.  Now, that’s sayin’ something!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! The menu that day was fitting for an afternoon tea!

“Things You Should Know About Babies” Activity

As a meaningful shower activity, my friend Darling set up a “Things You Should Know About Babies” station where guests were encouraged to write some words of parenting wisdom for Mark and me on an adorable onesie cut out of scrapbook paper.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! For a fun shower game, guests participated in a "Things You Should Know About Babies" activity, each writing their words of wisdom on a scrapbook paper onesie. It was compiled into a reference guide and gift for the parents-to-be!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! For a fun shower game, guests participated in a "Things You Should Know About Babies" activity, each writing their words of wisdom on a scrapbook paper onesie. It was compiled into a reference guide and gift for the parents-to-be!

Then, guests displayed them on a clothesline during the party, adding to the decor.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! For a fun shower game, guests participated in a "Things You Should Know About Babies" activity, each writing their words of wisdom on a scrapbook paper onesie. It was compiled into a reference guide and gift for the parents-to-be!

After the party, Darling assembled them all in a beautiful “Reference Book” for us.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! For a fun shower game, guests participated in a "Things You Should Know About Babies" activity, each writing their words of wisdom on a scrapbook paper onesie. It was compiled into a reference guide and gift for the parents-to-be!

And you’ll be happy to know that Cards by Kooper on Etsy creates all of the elements needed for this station in one nifty kit.  Instant shower activity and gift for the parents, all wrapped up in one.

“Bring a Book” Gift Opening

I think the most meaningful aspect of the shower for me was opening the books everyone so thoughtfully gifted us.  I delighted to hear why each book was a favorite…

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

…or why it was particularly chosen for our girl…

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

…or for our kitty!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

It was so special to read the heartfelt inscriptions on the inside covers, as well.  These “cards” are ones we’ll cherish for a very long time.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

I had to resist the urge to turn the shower into “story-time,” but I wanted to read aloud each and every one!  #TeacherMode

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

My MIL Rachael even provided a canvas basket to pop the books into as I opened each one.  Pretty and practical.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! TIP: provide a pretty basket especially for collecting books during the gift-opening time!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

And after all of the gifts had been opened, many guests came up to explore the basket of books themselves, writing down names of books they wanted to add to their own libraries.  I dare say the “Bring a Book” Baby Shower experience was a gift to us all.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

The books are all stacked away in our nursery bookshelf where Mark and I delight to flip through the pages and read to each other (and our girl in the womb).  We can’t wait to share these treasured tales with our little bookworm oh so soon!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

Favors

For party favors, guests got to take home bags of pastel peanut M & Ms along with chocolates wrapped in paper that read, “Lauren’s Baby Shower.”

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! For favors, guests got to take home bags of yummy chocolate.

Confession: I may have had grand intentions of giving the extras out to friends who couldn’t make the shower…and I may have slowly devoured them all myself instead.  Clearly, I am not to be trusted when it comes to chocolate.  Especially when it comes to chocolate while pregnant.  {Grin.}

Sappy Closing

After opening our gifts, I stared out into our living room at the circle of women smiling back at me, and I did my best to take it all in.  What an incredible moment that was.  In fact, I was so overcome by gratitude, I spontaneously jumped up out of my chair and did a quick jog around the room, high-fiving everyone (I’m a cheeseball; what else is new?).

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

And then, there was that time I pretended to go into labor just because I had a captive audience.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

Joking aside, all the high fives in the world couldn’t even scratch the surface on how utterly blown away Mark and I have been by the love from our friends, family, and blog readers during this season of pregnancy.  Our love tanks are filled to the brim, and we know that this love will help carry us through the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes and crying fits to come.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!
Photos by Mandy from Kossina Creative

We know we are not going it alone, and that is worth more to us than we can ever say.

"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!
Our amazing shower hostesses: Darling, Jodi, Rachael, & Holly
"Bring a Book" Baby Shower | A creative way to help build Baby's library is to invite guests to bring a book instead of card! It can be such a meaningful way to celebrate the baby's arrival and also share a piece of your heart with the guest of honor!
“I spy…the stork!”

Your Turn

Okay, dear reader: now it’s your turn to share!  Which book would you bring to a “Bring a Book” Baby Shower?  And why?

This is just the start of our library, so I’m always interested in hearing about new literary gems.  Can’t wait to hear what you share in the comments below.

The Baby Shower Book by Meredith LeRoy from unOriginal Mom | The complete guide to hosting a baby shower.

Want More Baby Shower Inspiration?

Here’s a collection of blog posts related to all-things-baby-shower!

Annnnd, if you have the task of hosting a baby shower for a loved one, then I must share about a resource you are going to love!  My sweet friend Meredith from unOriginal Mom recently published an eBook called The Baby Shower Book!  It it chock full everything you need to prepare for a party to remember—from a 10-page printable planning toolkit to 20 printable baby shower games & activities and so much more.  I can’t wait for the chance to host a shower just so I can put her great ideas to use.  Click HERE to learn more about it.

I hope you gleaned some bookish inspiration during this flashback to my “Bring a Book” Baby Shower!

Next up in this ‘lil series: A Charming Mint & Gray Baby Shower hosted by Mark’s work family.

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6 Comments

  1. My first grandchild was born a few weeks ago. My DIL’s baby shower included this idea and it was wonderful to see all the books. I gave them my son’s favorite book from his childhood — Little Gorilla. I couldn’t find our copy at the time, but got a board book version. I’ve since put the original on my home bookcase for visits 🙂

    1. Aw…I’ve never heard of that book! Will have to check it out for our Junie. I’m sure your grandchild will treasure their copy (as well as the one at your home). Congrats to you, Grandma!

  2. One of the books I had as a child and read to my children when they were small is “A Child’s Garden of Verses.” This may be why I love poetry so much. It is a book filled with child appropriate poetry. Most of them short and a few that were Little Golden Book length poems. I loved it and used it as a source for poetry when I had assignments throughout my school years.

  3. Ooh, what a fun idea! Books are some of the best gifts to give and to get! Some of my favorite children’s books are A Porcupine Named Fluffy, and Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree – both classics in our family!

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