Celebrating Our Grandson: Joyful Gender Reveal & Thoughtful Baby Shower Parties

The arrival of our newest family member is just weeks away, and the anticipation is absolutely thrilling! Our grandchild is due in early November, and leading up to this wonderful milestone, the proud parents-to-be have been celebrated with an incredible series of parties. From the vibrant communities of Tennessee to the heartwarming landscapes of Iowa, the outpouring of generosity from family and friends has been truly overwhelming. Thanks to their kindness, nearly 99% of our grandchild’s material needs have already been lovingly met, a testament to the strong bonds and immense excitement surrounding this upcoming arrival.

As we eagerly await the newest little bundle of joy, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the delightful gatherings and celebrations that have unfolded this spring and summer. Each event was unique, filled with love, laughter, and thoughtful touches that made this journey to grandparenthood truly special.

Young couples today are truly ingenious, and one of the most charming trends they embrace is hosting a ‘gender-reveal’ party! This innovative celebration is designed to build suspense and create a truly memorable moment. The beauty of it is that not even the expectant parents know the unborn baby’s gender. The doctor, who alone possesses this secret, carefully writes it down on a piece of paper, seals it in an envelope, and entrusts it directly to the baker. Strictly NO PEAKING ALLOWED! The baker then meticulously layers the cake’s interior with icing colored to match the baby’s gender – a vibrant blue if it’s a boy, or a soft pink if it’s a girl. The exterior of the cake, however, is frosted in a neutral palette, maintaining the mystery. The grand revelation occurs only when the cake is finally sliced, and the interior color is unveiled to everyone present, transforming a simple dessert into a moment of pure joy and shared excitement.

It’s genuinely a brilliant and incredibly fun way to share such wonderful news!

Inspired by this delightful trend, our daughter and her husband decided to host their own gender-reveal party to share the exciting news with all their loved ones living nearby. The celebration took place at their picturesque Tennessee lake home on a beautiful spring day. The air was buzzing with anticipation as family and friends gathered, eager to discover whether they would be welcoming a baby boy or a baby girl into the family.

To engage guests and add to the festive mood, a special table was arranged for attendees to jot down their creative baby name ideas. Alongside this, a collection of fun, traditional “old wives’ tales” for determining a baby’s gender was displayed, sparking lively discussions and lighthearted predictions. Our daughter, Lauren, being an art teacher, possesses an incredible talent for dreaming up and executing these imaginative party decorations. Her artistic flair was evident in every detail, even in the choice of rough-edged pink or blue and white seersucker fabric, which perfectly enhanced the “boy or girl” theme. All the paper plates, napkins, and cups were carefully selected in either blue or pink, further contributing to the enchanting atmosphere of anticipation.

During a wonderful trip to Maui this past May, I stumbled upon and instantly fell in love with this darling painted wooden plaque (as seen in the photo above). Its beautiful blue hue, combined with the vibrant blue hydrangeas decorating the party, should have been a clear premonition of the baby’s gender! Coincidentally, I even chose to wear a blue shirt to the party, perhaps subconsciously sensing the exciting news that was about to be revealed. These little serendipitous moments only added to the magic of the day.

Pure smiles of joy illuminated their faces as the first slice of cake, revealing its beautiful blue interior, was cut and served!

Fast forward from the joyous Tennessee “Gender Reveal” party in May to the first heartwarming baby shower in July, held while we were visiting family in Iowa:

While we were visiting family in Iowa this summer, my dear sister Kelly (a childhood friend of Liz from “That Skinny Chick Can Bake”) and my mother graciously hosted a delightful baby shower for Lauren. This shower featured a fantastic, modern activity that truly engaged all the guests: painting and decorating ‘onesies’! This innovative idea, popular among the younger generation, was a refreshing change from traditional, often ‘silly’ baby shower games. Guests thoroughly enjoyed unleashing their creativity, designing personalized outfits for the baby boy, making each decorated onesie a unique and cherished gift. It was a wonderful way to combine fun, creativity, and practicality, ensuring lasting memories and practical items for the upcoming arrival.

And now, let’s fast forward to the September baby shower in Tennessee, another beautiful celebration for our future grandson!

This particular baby shower embraced a truly refreshing and eco-conscious ‘natural, nature-focused theme.’ I drew abundant inspiration and discovered a wealth of creative ideas on Pinterest, diligently pinning them all on my dedicated Baby Shower Ideas Board. Our commitment to sustainability meant that every item we used was either recyclable or reusable. Even the paper plates, flatware, and napkins were carefully chosen to be compostable right in the garden! The decorations themselves were elegantly natural, incorporating elements like burlap and naturally dyed paper in soothing shades of green and yellow, with subtle touches of blue – a nod to our newly confirmed baby boy. Even the sugar served was natural and unprocessed, perfectly aligning with our holistic theme.

Organizing this baby shower with Lauren’s wonderful friends, Ashli and Amy, was an absolute joy. They handled all the groundwork in Tennessee effortlessly, relying simply on my thoughts and ideas communicated through my Pinterest board. Their collaboration was truly seamless, making them perfect co-hosts. While I was in South Carolina, they executed everything flawlessly; all they needed to do was consult the Pinterest board each week to understand the evolving direction of the baby shower planning. I wholeheartedly recommend this method for long-distance coordination of ANY party or event! The food served was exquisite, and the conversations flowed beautifully, leaving no room for any of those ‘silly’ baby shower games. As a token of appreciation, every guest departed with generous stacks (literally!) of charming, hand-made crocheted pot holders and dish cloths, lovingly crafted by Amy’s mother.

Among the many culinary delights served at the Tennessee baby shower, Lauren’s guests particularly raved about and asked for the recipe for the truly exquisite Raspberry and Italian Mascarpone Stuffed Bread Pudding. This decadent dish was an absolute hit, combining rich flavors and a comforting texture that perfectly complemented the brunch spread. Because it was so beloved, I am delighted to share the recipe here, not only for them but for all of you to prepare and savor. It’s a remarkably versatile dessert or brunch item, absolutely perfect for a festive Christmas morning breakfast, or to add a romantic touch to a Valentine’s Day brunch. For even more detailed instructions and gorgeous close-up photos of this delectable creation, you can simply click on the provided link to visit the original post.

 

Roz’s Raspberry and Italian Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients

For The Stuffed French Toast

• Cooking spray
• 12 slices white bread, cut into pieces (best to use a hardier bread such as Italian or Challah, older bread is also good to use)
• 2 (8oz) packages mascarpone, scooped out into chunks
• 2 cups fresh raspberries, divided
• 12 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups half and half
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

For The Raspberry Sauce

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 Tbsp. butter

Instructions

1. Coat bottom and sides of 7×11″ or 9×13″ baking dish with cooking spray (if using the smaller size, bake it much longer due to the depth of the ingredients – – nearly one hour).
2. Place half of the bread pieces in the dish.
3. Scatter the chunks of cheese over the bread.
4. Scatter 1 cup of the berries over the mascarpone cheese.
5. Top with the remaining bread cubes.
6. In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, and syrup.
7. Pour over the bread mixture.
8. With a flat spatula, gently push down the bread so that every piece is soaked in the egg-cream-syrup mixture.
9. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
11. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
12. Remove foil and bake 30 minutes or more until puffed up.
13. ** As mentioned above, if using the smaller baking pan size, as I did, the baking time is nearly one hour. I also turned the oven up to 375 during the last half hour of baking.
14. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, and cornstarch.
15. Bring to a boil over medium high heat or until thickened.
16. Gently fold in the remaining 1 cup raspberries and the butter.
17. Stir until the butter melts.
18. Remove the French toast from the oven and serve immediately with the sauce.

As we near the exciting arrival of our grandson, reflecting on these beautiful celebrations fills our hearts with immense gratitude and joy. Each party, from the suspenseful gender reveal to the thoughtfully themed baby showers, has been a testament to the love and anticipation surrounding this new chapter. These moments, shared with dear family and friends, have truly enriched our journey to welcoming our newest little blessing.