Advice on What to Say to Welcome Others at a Baby Shower?

Congrats, Grandma!

I love this piece and would do it as a scroll at each place setting:

JUST FOR THIS DAY
by Sally Meyer

Just for this morning,

I am going to smile whenever I see your face, and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning,

I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your flannel pyjamas, and hold you until you are ready to stir. Just for this morning,

I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how beautiful you are. Just for this morning,

I am going to step over the laundry to pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning,

I am going to eat a huge breakfast , with bacon, eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any. Just for this morning,

I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.

Just for this afternoon,

I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles. Just for this afternoon,

I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you O. if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon,

I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you O. if he comes by. Just for this afternoon,

I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis. Just for this afternoon,

I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to 'fix' things. Just for this afternoon,

I will let you put all kinds of barrettes in my hair and lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look. Just for this afternoon,

I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a Happy Meal, so that you can have both toys.

Just for this evening,

I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born, and how much we love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get angry when you throw water over your sister's head. Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch swing and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle beside you for three hours, and miss my favorite show on TV. Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything. Except just O. more day.

~ Sally Meyer 1999 ~

Here's a site with lots of baby prayers & poems:
http://www.babysite.org/babysite/sidene/poems.htm

I'm big on welcoming everyone formally before lunch when we have these sort of gatherings. I always something along the lines of:
Well we're going to have lunch in just a minute, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for coming out and being here with us today. So if we could all bow our head in prayer please, Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for this very special blessing you have given John & Jane and thank you for this beautiful day in which we can share with family and friends. Lord I hope they feel our love and support not just today but everyday. We are all so excited for the arrival of baby (if they have a name they wish to share you can ask permission to do so here) Bless this food we are about to receive and I pray for a fun day Jane can always remember. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

You just said it all. No one will be expecting a big "official" speech of any kind. If you have a poem or some other thing that you love and that would be meaningful/appropriate for the situation, that would be fine. Don't put any unnecessary stress on yourself about it. You're doing a lovely thing just hosting it :)

Hi J.,
Congratulations on the upcoming grandbaby! Such an exciting time for everyone. When a person prays, they are talking to God. Is your goal in saying a prayer to speak with God about the shower/baby/daughter? If so, just speak from your heart. Say what you said to us and express your joy and love. If you are not in the habit of praying, then this might seem awkward to you. You can just welcome everyone (speaking to them) and express your thoughts to the room. Honestly, I would think it most precious for you to share your heart, rather than the words of someone else. Of course, if you can find a cute short poem to go along with that, that might seem nice. If you are a Christian, then you should pray at least for the food, but also for your gratitude for God's blessings on your family for giving you this precious gift that you are celebrating. If not, then a prayer seems somewhat out of place.

If you would like a blessing for the child, you might begin by thanking everyone for coming and for sharing in the joy of the coming child. If the parents have chosen a name and are willing to share it, you might then ask everyone to join in a blessing for the new child by name. If not, then you might begin each blessing by just saying "Baby (girl/boy) 'Baby's last name' ". As everyone extends their right hand toward your daughter, you say:
(Name of baby), may the miracle of your birth always be a source of joy for you.
__________, may you be blessed by wise, caring people who will guide you and protect you.
__________, may you always keep your openness to wonder and new discoveries.
__________, may you have a healthy body, a keen mind, an adventurous spirit, and a deeply caring heart.
___________, may you be treasured by your family and by all who take care of you.
___________, may you be filled with wonderful dreams and dance through life as a child of the universe.
___________, may you have many friends and be a good friend in return.
___________, may you believe in your goodness and value your self-worth.
___________, may you be aware of the tremendous love that the Creator has for you.
Holy One, we entrust our child into your gracious care.
Compassionate One, shelter our beloved daughter (son) throughout her (his) life.
Beloved of the Soul, fill our child with a deep sense of your radiant presence.
Creator of the Universe, gift our child with the twinkling laughter of the stars.
Eternal Parent, our child is your child. Guide and direct us as we nurture our daughter (son) with the qualities she (he) needs to live life to the fullest.
Thank you for the wonderful gift of this child. We know we are richly blessed.
Amen.
(Taken from "Out of the Ordinary" by Joyce Rupp)