Carolyn Hiykel: Baby Showers

Some of the presents at Wickum's house.

Your parents were lucky enough to have several baby showers thrown for you. Mom and Dad's friends Tammy and Damon Wickum threw a co-ed baby shower at their house. Grandma Katie's friend Sandy Dols threw a shower for Mom and Grandma Katie's friends. Great-aunt Mary and cousins Margot and Sonja had a shower for family at their house. Mom's work colleagues organized a breakfast shower. Even Mom's classmates at St. Thomas took time out from class one weekend and had cupcakes and gave Mom presents for you.

Shower at the Wickum's

Mom and Dad had a lot of fun at the shower that Tammy and Damon Wickum threw them. This was the first baby shower for you. Tammy made homemade lasagna and other delicious food. Many of Mom and Dad's friends were there, and so was your uncle Mark, Katie, Karin, and Darren. Since it was a shower with both men and women, they did not play traditional baby shower games. Instead, Tammy had them play "name that tune" with baby in the song. This was very fitting since your mom and dad love music so much.

You got lots of lovely presents from your parents friends. Tammy and Damon bought them a diaper pail to keep the dirty diaper smell out of the house. Uncle Mark got you your highchair, and Aunt Karin got you a really cute stuffed monkey. She got it partly to tease your dad, because he said he didn't want any baby clothes for his daughter that had monkeys on them. He didn't understand why there were so many monkey things for babies for sale.

Mark Peroutka, Dave Bruce, Walter and Naomi Zeiss, Dad

Dana Foley, Molly Bruce, Jenny Bruce playing games

Mark and Katie thinking about their answers for a game.

Clay Yeoman, Tammy Wickum, Matt Brunner, Jon Olson. Tammy is leading everyone in a game of "Name that tune"--only all the songs had "baby" in them.

Dad by the fancy cakes he'd picked out---a chocolate torte and a Scandinavian princess cake.

Shower at Coomes' House

Your great-aunt Mary organized a shower for your mother in March. Cousins Margot and Sonja helped get ready and decorate their house. Mary invited your mom's female relatives. They had a nice lunch, topped off with delicious cupcakes.

Wonderful presents for Baby!

Great-aunt Mary, Kelsey, Mom, Katie, Karin, Drew, Margot

Margot, Great-aunt Barb, Clara, Kelsey, Katie, Mom, Mary, Amy.

Mom and Ingrid with coordinating sweaters that Grandma Barb made. Clara was a few months old at this time.

Kelsey with a sweater for her baby--Owen was going to be born very soon!

Mom opening up her very favorite children's book--Go, Dog, Go!

After the Showers

Bailey and Kai carefully inspected all packages that came into your house. They were particularly interested in the colorful bags and toys that arrived after a baby shower. We had to put all your stuffed animals away immediately because Bailey thought they were for him! Kai enjoyed playing in all the wrapping the most.