Part 1 History of Baby Showers 新生儿派对的历史
Although the custom of helping expectant parents plan for a new baby has been a tradition for centuries, the origin of the modern baby shower is unknown. There is evidence that ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed small gifts upon newborn children, or presented the parents with a hand-made gift after the child was born. However, baby showers as we know them today were not common until after World War II - possibly one of the first manifestations of the baby boom.
Baby showers have always served several purposes. They allow friends and family to share the joy and excitement of welcoming a new life into the world, and they provide emotional support to new parents. It is not uncommon for an expectant mother or father to be nervous about their new role as a parent. A friendly word of advice from a friend or family member can be extremely helpful, and the presence of everyone who attends the shower is a supportive gesture that many appreciate.
The expense of a baby can put quite a strain on a couple's budget, especially if the mother will no longer be working. Baby showers offer a chance for friends and family to help expectant parents with the costs of preparing for and caring for a newborn. New parents always need both fun and practical things, and hand-made gifts or toys create memories that last a lifetime.
Traditionally, baby showers were celebrated by a new mother and only her closest friends after the baby had been born.
At the time, it was considered presumptuous to hold a baby shower before the child was born (which is still the case in some cultures.) Over time, however, old traditions have relaxed, allowing for "couple showers" to which men are invited, and celebrations in the workplace that co-workers can attend. It is no longer necessary to wait until the baby is born, unless the mother-to-be prefers to wait until after she has given birth.
就像准新娘在新婚前夕的“新娘送礼派对”bridal shower一样，“新生儿送礼派对”baby shower就是为了庆祝新生儿诞生所举办的温馨派对。shower原意是“阵雨”的意思，但是baby shower上，其实没有baby 也没有水。
在这里指baby得到大批礼物，或许是因为礼物多得像大雨中的雨点。当一个妇女怀了baby后，她的亲朋好友会聚在一起，送baby很多衣服、玩具等礼物。比如说，The baby shower will be held for Amy tomorrow. 明天将给Amy举行一个新生儿送礼会。
准备一场新生儿送礼派对要花费很多心思，主办人大多是准妈妈的好朋友，主办人要一手包办邀请函、派对主题、布置、餐点、宾客的小礼物等等。来参加的宾客，也是以准妈妈的女性亲友为主。
在派队上，宾客除了问候准妈妈外，主办人也会带着大家玩小游戏，让大家和准妈妈互动起来，或者彼此多认识，小游戏的赢家也会另外得到奖品。baby shower 的压轴好戏是拆礼物的时间，准妈妈看到大家带来的礼物，惊喜之余也会感谢大家帮忙省下许多婴儿用品的费用。
Part 2 Prepare a Baby Shower 准备新生儿派对
Dialogue script 1 对话原文 1
Sam: Oww. Ooh-OUCH!
Tina: What's wrong with you?
Sam: I don't know. I've had a really bad stomachache the last couple of weeks.
Tina: Doesn't sound too good, Sam. You should go to the doctor.
Sam: We've been so wrapped up in baby shower planning. I haven't found the time. I'll go later.
Tina: Oh, speaking of the shower, did you get the party supplies yet?
Sam: Well, I got these stick-ons for the car, some diapers and...
Tina: Sam, how do diapers qualify as party supplies?
Sam: I thought we could make a diaper cake. I downloaded instructions for making them from the Internet
Tina: Cool. And how are the invites coming along?
Sam: The invitations are all sent out, and most have already R.S.V.P.'d.
Tina: So now it's just time for the finishing touches and getting ready for the next Thursday.
讲解：
1. 对话中，Sam 和Tina在为baby shower做准备工作，忙得团团转，以至于Sam的胃病犯了也没有时间去看医生。wrap 这个词表示“包或者裹某物”，那么be wrapped up in sth就可以很形象地表示“忙碌于某事的，醉心于某事的”，比如说，They are completely wrapped up in their children.他们的全部精力都用在孩子身上了。 She was so wrapped up in her work that she didn't realize how late it was. 她只顾埋头工作，没注意到天已经很晚了。
2. Sam的准备工作做的怎么样了呢？supplies是一个复数名词，表示“生活用品”，那么party supplies就是指“在派对上使用的各式用品”。看看Sam都准备了什么，有stick-ons，就是指那种以吸盘、背胶黏着的小物品。还有一些diapers，就是“尿布，尿片”。Tina就不明白了，怎么尿布也能算是派对用品呢？qualify as sth，就是“具有…资格的意思”。比如说，A stroll around the garden hardly qualifies as exercise! 在花园里转一圈根本不算锻炼。
3. 还有qualify sb as 这个词组表示“让某人具有某种资格”，比如说，The training course qualifies you as a driving instructor. 参加了培训课程就有资格成为驾驶教练。Sam解释说，他想用这些尿布做一个尿布蛋糕，作为派对的装饰。
4. Sam还特意从网上下载了制作方法。instructions，这个词经常以复数的形式出现，表示“操作指南，使用说明”。Tina又问邀请工作做的如何了？invite这里作名词，表示“邀请”，在口语中很常用，比如说，Did you get an invite to the party? 你收到参加派队的请帖了吗？而invitation除了可以用来表示“邀请”之外，还可以表示“邀请函，请帖”，比如说，The invitations of the party have been sent out. 宴会的请帖已经发出去了。
5. 这里要说一下 How is/are sth coming along? 这个句型，意思是“…进行的如何？”。come along 是“进展”的意思，而在美语当中，想要问事情进展的状况，最常用到的就是How is/are sth coming along?这个句型。而且是不管你对事情的现状感到乐观还是悲观，都可以使用。我们用一个对话来作为例子，---How is the puzzle coming along? ---I'm stuck on the sky. All the pieces look the same. ---拼图拼的怎么样了？---我卡在天空那部分了。每一片看起来都一样。
6. Sam已经把所有的请帖都寄出去了，而且大部分人都已经回复了。R.S.V.P.是在请帖上经常能看到的用语，意思就是“敬请回复”。这个缩写源于法语中的répondez s'il vous pla?t，在美国口语中也把它动词化了，变成“确认回复”的意思，过去式和过去分词就是R.S.V.P.'d。准备工作做的差不多了，现在要做的就是最后再联系参加派对的人，然后准备迎接下周四举行的新生儿派对。
Dialogue script 2 对话原文 2
Ann: I've been meaning to ask - why have the party before the baby comes?
Sam: Do you normally do it differently?
Ann: We wait a month after the baby's born then celebrate with red eggs and presents.
Sam: Eggs, huh? Here, showers are usually a month or two before the baby's arrival.
Ann: Because the mother-to-be has more energy than after birth?
Sam: Yep, and so she knows what else she needs to buy after getting gifts. We're pushing it for time, though. Linda's due in three weeks.
讲解：
1. 对话中Sam在给Ann解释为什么在婴儿出生之前举行新生儿派对。I've been meaning to ask...这个句型表示“我一直想要问某事”，这是在美语对话中常能听到的表达法。当你有些一直放在心里的疑问，想要问对方，就可以用 I've been meaning to ask...这个句型来问。我们来举个例子，---I've been meaning o ask , how do you know which stock to invest in?---Oh, I just took wild guesses. ---我一直想问，你怎么知道该投资哪些股票呢？---哦，我只是瞎猜的。
2. 有时候对方说的话正好是你一直心存疑问的事情，你也可以用I've been meaning to ask you about that. 这个句子来回答。比如说，---I think I broke the radio. ---Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you about that. ---我想我把收音机弄坏了。---对呀，我还想问你呢。
3. 大家知道在中国我们是在孩子出生后一个月的时候才进行庆祝，就是我们平常说的，孩子满月，摆满月酒。但是在美国就不一样了，baby shower都是在孩子出生前的一两个月举办。一个是因为准妈妈在孩子出生后体力会比较弱。the mother-to-be 就是指“孕妇，准妈妈”。
4. 这个-to-be还可以跟很多词连用，表示“即将成为...的人”，比如说，有mother-to-be，那就有father-to-be，准爸爸。还有bride-to-be，准新娘等等。大家如法炮制就可以了。提前准备新生儿派对的另一个原因就是准妈妈在收到礼物以后，才知道还要去买哪些东西，这样才不至于浪费，也是挺有道理的。
5. Sam说他们这个baby shower办的时间还挺赶的，因为Linda的预产期再过三周就到了。be pushing sth for time 表示“做某事很赶时间，时间快来不及的”。
6. due这个词表示“预定到达的，预定生产的”，在对话中表示“预产期”，比如说，Her baby is due on March 12. 她的预产期是3月12号。
Part 3 At a Baby Shower 在新生儿派对上
Dialogue script 1 对话原文 1
Tina: Hello, ladies! this is the first time for some of us to meet...
Sam: ...so we though we'd start the shower off with a few get-to-know-you games.
Tina: For the first one, we need the baby picture of yourself that we asked you to bring.
Sam: The goal is to guess as many people from their photos as possible, so make a list!
Tina: Since Sam is our token man today, everyone is sure to get at least one right!
Sam: The prize is a free manicure at the salon where Tina works!
讲解：
1. baby shower开始了。Tina说首先要大家玩一个get-to-know-you的游戏，就是一个认识彼此的游戏，在baby shower上都会玩这类可以拉近宾客距离的小游戏。
2. start off 这个词组表示“开始进行某事”，比如说，It's impossible to stop him talking once he starts off. 他一打开话匣子就停不了。Don't start her off on one of her boring stories. 不要惹她说她那些无聊的故事。
3. Tina他们的玩法是每个人拿出一张自己婴儿时期的照片，然后大家从这些照片里猜出本人，越多越好，这倒是跟baby shower的主题很契合。Tina开玩笑地说，既然今天Sam是男性的出席代表，所以大家至少可以猜对一位。
4. token 的意思是“象征性的，仅有一点点的”，比如说，a token payment，就是指“象征性的支付”，Our troops encountered only token resistance. 我们的部队只受到表面上的抵抗。如果谁赢得的这个游戏，还有奖品，就是在Linda工作的美容院免费修指甲一次。manicure就是指“修指甲，美甲”。
Dialogue script 2 对话原文 2
Kelly: Linda, how is the pregnancy coming along? Is the little one kicking?
Linda: Boy, is he! This is week thirty-seven. I am so ready to give birth!
Kelly: I hear the last month's the hardest, girl. He's a boy? Congratulations!
Linda: Thanks! I keep having Braxton Hicks, so constantly I think I'm going into labor.
Kelly: No, seriously, do you have any stretch marks?
Linda: Not yet, knock on wood.
讲解：
1. 对话中Kelly和Linda在聊怀孕以来的状况，pregnancy就是指“怀孕，怀孕的状态”，比如说，These drugs should not be taken during pregnancy. 这些药物在孕期内不能服用。She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕三次。
2. 形容词是pregnant，我们可以说，She's six months pregnant. 她那时已经怀有六个月的身孕了。还有一个习语大家也应该记住，就是a pregnant pause or a pregnant silence，表示“耐人寻味或者意味深长的停顿或沉默”。比如说，There was a pregnant pause before she answered my question. 她耐人寻味地停顿了一下才回答我的问题。
3. Kelly问Linda肚子里的小孩子有没有踢她，Linda说踢的可厉害呢，Boy, is he! 这里boy是一个感叹词，而倒装句is he就是起强调作用，正常的语序应该是Boy, he IS kicking！Linda已经怀孕37周了，就快临产了。give birth to sb表示“生孩子”，比如说，She gave birth to a healthy baby last night. 她昨天晚上生了一个健康的婴儿。
4. Kelly说怀孕的最后一个月是最困难的。她知道了Linda怀的是一个男孩，就对她表示祝贺。Linda一直有产前子宫收缩的症状，很频繁以至于她认为自己快要生了，labor在这里表示“分娩是的阵痛，阵痛期”，我们可以说，She began labor.她开始了阵痛期。She went into labor.她进入阵痛期。或者She was in labor. 她处于阵痛期。还有She had a difficult labor. 她难产。
5. Kelly又问Linda的肚子上有没有因为怀孕而撑出来的难看的纹路，Linda说还没有，不过她不想言之过早，就说knock on wood，敲敲木头。这是美国人的一种习惯，他们认为敲敲木头能避免不好的事情的发生，比如说Peter的电脑坏了，而你说，还好我的电脑没有坏过。不过，为了防止以后发生类似的事情，你这时就要说knock on wood而且一定要真的敲敲身边任何木制的东西。
Dialogue script 3 对话原文 3
Linda: These baby booties are lovely. Ooh, contraction. (hears Sam scream) What was that?
Kelly: Sam probably hit his head on something in the kitchen. Open this one.
Linda: OK, it's from Tina - a stroller!
Kelly: Oh, that one will last for all your babies.
Linda: Kelly! We're only going to have ONE child!
Kelly: You'll change your mind, trust me. There's more. Open these.
Linda: Oh, I love it all.
Kelly: Here. This one's from Peter, Sam and me.
Linda: A baby sleep monitor system! I was holding off on buying this until after the shower.
Kelly: Well, now you can spend that money on something else. This is from Lisa.
Linda: Oh, she shouldn't have. Whoa...strong contraction!
讲解：
1. 对话中，baby shower已经进行到最后阶段了，开始拆礼物。这时Linda突然感到阵痛了，就是contraction，分娩时阵发性的子宫收缩。不过还好，不是很严重。Linda拆开的第一份礼物是baby booties，婴儿的毛线袜子。
2. 还有Tina送的一个婴儿车，stroller，真是很实用啊。而Kelly, Peter和Sam合送的是一台婴儿睡眠控制系统，属于一款高科技的产品吧，而Linda正想买这么一个东西，这个礼物真是及时雨啊。hold off sth/doing sth这个词组表示“推迟某事物，推迟做某事”，比如说，Could you hold off making your decision until next week? 你能推迟到下周再做决定吗？
3. 现在Linda就不用买了，她可以把钱花在另外的必需品上面了。Linda正要拆开Lisa的礼物，突然感觉到强烈的阵痛，看来这次是真的了。
Part 4 Linda's Having a Baby Linda临产了
Dialogue script 1 对话原文 1
Sam: Please write some motherly advice in our mother's book, ladies!
Linda: Sam, thank you so much for organizing this all for me.
Sam: Well, it's not like we could let you do it yourself.
Linda: I know, but you guys made me feel so special. You even got candy diaper pin favors.
Sam: They fit our diaper theme - something you'll be expert on soon.
Linda: Whoa...maybe sooner than we think! Start timing!
讲解：
1. 话中，baby shower不得不结束了，因为Linda临产了。Sam最后请大家在派对留言簿上留言，motherly，表示“母性的，母爱的”，比如说，motherly love, motherly affection，motherly care就都可以表示“母亲的疼爱，关怀”。
2. 在等救护车的空当，Linda感谢Sam花心思为她准备了这个baby shower，这些好朋友让Linda感到自己特别的幸福。他们还特意准备了尿布别针形的糖块，因为很切合这次baby shower的主题，而且生了孩子之后，Linda就会成为这方面的专家了，an expert on sth，表示“是某个方面的专家”。
3. 这时Linda的阵痛更强烈了，时间紧迫。timing的意思是“时间的选择或安排，时机的掌握”，比如说，He's not playing his shots well - his timing is faulty. 他没有打好，时间掌握不当。The timing of the announcement was rather unexpected. 选择那个时间公布结果真是出乎意料。
Dialogue script 2 对话原文 2
Sam: What an end to a baby shower!
Tina: Tell me about it. Sending the mother-to-be off to the hospital in labor!
Sam: We really should have the shower a little earlier next time.
Tina: Um...next time? Who else do we know that's having a baby?
Sam: No one. But who knows, in a year or so, maybe you...
Tina: ...will have a baby? Ah! I feel a thirtieth birthday crisis coming on!
讲解：
1. baby shower 就这样结束了，Sam还有点意犹未尽的意思，Tina也是一样，她说，Tell me about it. 意思是“说的是啊。”跟You can say that again. 差不多。把准妈妈送到医院去生孩子，真够惊险的。
2. Sam说，下次记得要早一点举行这个baby shower，不要再出现类似的状况了。说到下一次，Tina不知道他们还有哪些朋友是要生孩子的。have a baby 也表示生孩子的意思。今天我们说到了三种表示“生孩子”的表达方式，可以说give birth to a baby，还有be in labor，还有 就是刚才说的have a baby。大家要注意总结。
3. 虽然现在还没有其他人要生孩子，不过也许再过个一两年，Tina就会有baby了，Tina一听到这个，就觉得好像自己30岁的生日就快到了似的，岁月催人老啊。
