That’s a really neat variation, too. I like it. It seems like I’m in the same life stage as well, since *tons* of my friends are pregnant, or thinking about it, or just recently had babies. One of my pregnant friends just put together a really neat spin on the baby shower. Instead of letting her friends buy her *stuff*, she made up a list of chores we could do for her once the baby was born, and is letting us give that to her as our gift, instead of material things (although there are some material things on the list as well, like cloth diapers and breast pumps and the usual, for those who do want to give traditional gifts). The list includes things like: 1) Bring or cook us dinner for an evening or week after the baby is born, 2) Babysit for a night so that we can take a break and catch a movie!, 3) Come over and tidy up our messy, new-baby apartment for an hour on days when we’re too frazzled to take showers, let alone clean. 4) Make us a lasagna or some other meal we can throw in the freezer and defrost when we’re too busy to cook, 5) Pamper us! Bring us lotion, give us backrubs, help us to do something nice for ourselves in the midst of all the baby craziness, etc. etc. I thought it was an amazing list, and a really good way to make sure they’re going to get lots of nurturing and support once the baby is born, so that they can nurture and support the baby. I signed up for a few nights of cooking duty.

Anyway, I’m glad this has sparked your interest, and maybe the interest of your pregnant friends as well. The world needs more blessingways, in my most humble opinion.

One tradition I have heard about is the tying of 9 knots in a cord. A variant way to do that: the woman and/or her friends tie the knots at the beginning of the pregnancy, imagining the baby staying safe and healthy through the full term. Then mom unties one knot at the end of each month, so she is untying the last knot when she is ready to give birth.