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IU Themed Baby Shower

This past weekend three of our best friends threw us an awesome couples’ baby shower.

The theme was Indiana University, where Brad and I met. Brad also proposed on campus and we were married in Bloomington, where IU is located. So it only made sense to work IU into the next major event in our lives.

The shower was a laid back cookout type of shower where both guys and gals were invited to celebrate with us.

shower welcome sign

Our friend and one of the hostesses, Kristin, made this amazing IU diaper cake.

IU diaper cake

They set up the indoor drink station on their dining room built-ins.

The smaller lemonade pitcher was my preggo non-alcoholic lemonade. The larger drink dispenser was designated for the electric lemonade. I didn’t expect our friends not to drink just because I can’t. I’m not that cruel.

hoosier baby sign

There was a pretty awesome spread of food.

The menu consisted of steak burgers, hot dogs, chips and dip, strawberry salad, cole slaw, veggie tray, tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole.

food table 2

No party is complete without paper straws and mason jars. And most importantly, an IU themed party isn’t complete without Nick’s mason jars.

food table

How cute is the ice cream sundae bar?

They put vanilla ice cream on ice in the big white bucket and guests were able to build their own sundaes.

ice cream bar

The centerpiece of the sundae bar table was this adorable IU baby carriage by Lynsey’s Custom Diaper Creations.

Lynsey is a loyal, local reader who was sweet enough to offer to make us a diaper creation for the shower. You seriously have to check out her stuff. She can make anything into a diaper creation— castle, fire truck, airplane, tank, guitar, etc. She also makes bridal towel cakes, wipe cases, diaper cakes, and more.

IU diaper creation

Outside, my best friend, Natalie set up different carnival games for people to play. We had fish bowl, pin drop, ring toss, gun show, and Bozo Bucket.

carnival games

Bozo Bucket was a staple at every childhood birthday party my brother and I had growing up. I’m pretty sure if you grew up in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area it was mandatory to have Bozo Bucket at your birthday party.

bozo buckets

The prize table was a wonderful smorgasbord of random awesomeness.

Everyone took home a scratch off lotto ticket, mustache sunglasses, and a miniature bottle of vodka as their favor. We keep it classy around here.

prize table

All in all it was a wonderful shower. Brad and I are lucky to have friends who are like family to us celebrate the nugget’s arrival.

And while I’m talking baby showers, a few weeks ago Brad’s mom, grandma, and aunts threw me a great baby shower in Brad’s hometown.

It was a whale/under the sea themed shower.

baby shower 3

Miniature cupcakes from Gigi’s and cookies from our favorite bakery in Evansville, Donut Bank, were served.

We actually had the same kind of cookies as the favors for our wedding, only they were IU themed– obviously.

baby shower 2

The candy bar served as favors for the guests.

baby shower 1

Well, that’s it for baby showers.

The nugget is due to make his appearance exactly one month from today.

Which I’m really looking forward to since developing sciatica this weekend. Holy smokes, you guys, this stuff is no joke. I could barely walk yesterday, and Brad woke up to me sobbing at 6AM because I needed to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water and I couldn’t get out of bed. (And I like to think that I have a high pain tolerance.)  I’m actually rescheduling my dental visit this morning out of sheer embarrassment because of my inability to walk normally. I see my OB/GYN today so I’m hoping the doctor has some suggestions for me. I’ve been icing it and doing stretches but it’s still extremely painful when I walk. I’ve heard going to a chiropractor can help so I’ll see if the doctor has any recommendations.

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14 Comments

  1. Laura Wilson says:

    I am also preggers- due in 12 days. I had a bout of sciatica and I know what you are going through. Chiro, massage and yoga helped me, and trying to stay moving despite the pain.
    Good luck!

    1. Congrats!

      Thanks for the advice! My doctor recommended PT if the pain doesn’t get any better so I may be starting that next week.

  2. You are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. What wonderful (beautiful) baby showers.
    *Being from ‘the region’ I can attest to Bozo buckets at the birthday parties.

  3. Seriously cannot believe you are only 1 month away from having that baby. It goes sooo much faster when you’re not the pregnant one 😉 What fun showers! Love the build-your-own-sundae bar–that’s a cute idea. Good luck with the butt pain 🙂

    1. I can’t believe I’m one month away either. But I’m looking forward to it with each increasing uncomfortable day. Haha, thanks! I told Brad I can tell this kid he was a pain in my butt before he was even born.

  4. Shirley Lupton says:

    Looks like so much fun! He will be here in no time.

  5. Christine F. says:

    I had sciatia too…I’m sorry that you’re dealing with it. My dr didn’t have any suggestions so I just suffered – hopefully things have changedn 8 years!!

  6. Such a cute idea for a shower theme! Although, as a Purdue alum, I had to mentally change all the colors to black and gold 😉 So sorry about the sciatica pain, I hope you get some relief soon. Around this time in my pregnancy, my husband had to basically lift me off the couch (while I cried in pain), and climbing out of bed was basically a feat of acrobatics. Hang in there.

    1. Haha! You’re not the first person to say that to me today.

      Yeah, I’m crossing my fingers the pain will subside. But at least we’re (hopefully) only a month away. I can usually deal with pain if I know there’s an end, but I’d rather not deal with this pain for another 4-6 weeks to be honest. Hah!

  7. Chelsea,

    I had sciatica the entire 9 months of my first pregnancy, the good news: the pain of labor was easy to take since I was so used to pain. No pain med or epidural with 12+ hours of labor.

    Good luck, this too shall pass.

    1. Thanks, Colleen! I’m hoping I have a super fast labor like my mom’s (2-3 hours, no epidural or meds). The only thing getting me through the pain is knowing that it will most likely end once he is born.

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