Thread: Suggestions for a toddler shower / help finding things for a 2 year old

My brother and sister-in-law are adopting an adorable 2 year boy after a decade of trying to conceive a child. Nathaniel has cerebral palsy but doctors are hopeful that he will be able to catch up to other children by kindergarten.

Since this is such an exciting moment for them after the heartache of a miscarriage and endless doctor visits over the past 10 years, my sister-in-law's best friend and I want to throw her a 'toddler shower' to celebrate. Now, I've never thrown a baby shower before but Nathaniel is going to be 2, so do you guys have any suggestions of what we can do at this kind of party? I know many of the games I've seen at baby showers may not work in this situation. I'm really open to ideas for games or decorations!

Also, I was thinking brunch, so a shower like 11-1 or something like that... what would be good foods to serve at this time? I'm definitely bringing M&M's and cake (gotta have that at any shower) but I'm not a good cook, so I do need suggestions of simple to prepare foods.

Since they are having to provide so many items at once, in a short time (they got the 90% confirmation mark last week and they expect to have him in about 2 months) that I was wondering if you knew of any inexpensive place to find just about everything for a 2 year boy, from clothes/games/housewares stuff/larger items like a toddler bed/car seat, etc. Nathaniel is defintely a boy's 'boy'... he loves to make messes, be outside in the yard/dirt and "tries" to fix cars and loves Bob the Builder.

This will be the first grand child in our family, as well as my first nephew, so I honestly have no idea what is appropriate for a 2 year old. I never babysat anyone that young and none of my friends have children that age and I can count the times I've been alone with a 2 year old on ONE hand (I know.. I've got quite an education in front of me). Let me know what your kids loved at the age of 2!

If anyone has used, but in good condition, clothes they are willing to sell/part with, let me know as well. Nathaniel is in 2T right now, but they think he'll be growing into 3T very soon. I just bought him the most adorable Nike outfit at Kohl's last week for like $5 (down from $42) so he's going to look just like my brother who also loves Nike, but I'm sure a 2 year old is going to needs lots of clothes. My mom said that when I was two, I loved making messes so much that I went through 3-4 changes of clothes daily. She sound exasperated. Is that normal?

Thanks for any advice!! If you want, please email too Ruatha80 @ yahoo.com

http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=Rua...&IID=232939329
This is my brother, SIL and Nathaniel at his 2-year birthday party last month.