The Fizzy Mary

Yesterday, while friends and family were texting, tweeting and posting with sitings of Chris Fowler, Flo Rida, and Versace, live from South Beach; and while Peter provided our neighborhood with quite a site as he cold-smoked salmon with his very own contraption; Mary felt the pressure to perform and bumped up by belly a bit more as she squeezed into a black turtleneck dress and made a debut of her own in front of a very special crowd of women.

Yesterday, I had my second baby shower at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview. It was hosted by the wonderful DG girls - best friends of my mother-in-law from her days at Drake University. Everything was just beautiful: the flower arrangements, the setting overlooking the golf course, the food and company, especially the cookies.

After all the wedding showers, I thought I would have been used to being the object of regalia. But what I have found is that baby showers are really quite different from their bridal counterpart. As the bride-to-be at showers, engagement parties, cookouts and luncheons, I had outfits and ones that fit: cute sundresses, new platform shoes, the clutch to match. I also had a champagne cocktail in my hand and the will power to resist the petifours. I elegantly unwrapped presents with manicured finger nails and knew exactly what I was going to do with kitchen supply A through Z that resided inside. 

Baby showers are a whole different ball game though. Instead of being the one who legitimately looks great, you 'look great' even if you are the guaranteed heavy weight of the room. The outfit isn't quite as cute and you don't look quite as cute in it. While everyone else is having a glass of white Burgundy, you get to sip sparkling water. Present opening becomes a little more awkward because gifts don't seem to rest gently in your lap like they used to, and if you happen to be a nail biter who is anticipating the biggest Notre Dame game in 20+ years, untying the ribbons can be particularly cumbersome. The other tough part is knowing exactly what you are supposed to do with the cloth diapers or diaper rash ointment you are opening. Time will tell they say. I did figure out the Sherpa car seat cover - totally plush - totally practical. 

But there is something way better about baby showers. That is, you always have a little buddy with you, helping you cheer as you unwrap the sweetest little outfits, the most cuddly quilt, a new chair for the dining room table, and a cow-print throne for the car. A little buddy who makes it okay for you to not only have a cookie, but a cupcake as well. And a little buddy who can bring out the double dose of love you feel from everyone in the room.

To say, 'thank you' to my seven amazing hostesses, I gave each of them a bottle of Rose Champagne and instructions on how to make our little lady's signature cocktail on the day that she arrives.

But I'm thinking I might just need to have a sip of my own Fizzy Mary tonight as a toast to Our Lady. Capital O. Capital L. Her team is playing in one big game tonight. And me and my belly dancer are getting really nervous.  

GO IRISH!!

Lo.

The Fizzy Mary

Place a sugar cube with dashes of aromatic bitters in a chilled champagne flute.
Fill the glass with Rose Champagne
Squeeze a lemon twist on time.
Raise your glass and toast, 'to Mary!'