Category Archives: baby

Should I Have A Baby Shower For My Second Child?

Baby showers are a lot of fun! For your first baby. When you are having a baby shower for your second baby, regardless of having a different gender, things begin to get dicey. Who do you invite? Do you still have a registry? At first I was hesitant to even have a shower, but several family members coaxed me into the idea, assuring me it is perfectly fine. In planning my second baby shower I have been struggling with some of these hurdles and found ways to manage negative connotations that may be associated with the event.

Should I Register?

I want to celebrate the birth of our son, but I do not want anyone to feel that I am gift grabbing. I am not looking to have a baby shower just to receive clothes and toys for the baby. I genuinely want an excuse to celebrate with all our friends and relatives since I am just as excited about this baby as I was about our first. But I know a lot of people who really do want to get us stuff, so I feel as if I should have a registry more as a guide. I did not put down where we are registered on the invitation, and only mention we have a registry when asked. This way, if someone is not looking to get us anything, they should not feel obliged to do so.

What should I register for?

Again, stressing I am not trying to have a shower just to get gifts, I thought it would be best to register for small items that would not set anyone back, but would make everyone feel comfortable giving. This way, those who feel they cannot show up without a gift have something, and the rest of our guest list doesn’t have to worry about it. I comprised my entire registry of onesies, pacifiers, and booties. Nothing is over the $5-$10 range.

Who Should I Invite?

This too becomes a concern. We were so excited when I was pregnant with my daughter we invited everyone we knew to our baby shower. It was a massive event which took almost as long as a wedding to plan and coordinate. Even though my excitement has not weaned, others’ has. This time around, we limited the invite list considerably. We kept it to family, and a few close friends. Now I am beginning to wonder if we limited it too much. I fear some of our friends may feel slighted that they were not also invited. What if they hear about the baby shower from mutual friends and feel as though we do not perceive them as important? Will they wonder why we didn’t want them there celebrating with us? Hopefully not.

What do you think about second baby showers?

25 Things I Hate About Being Pregnant

1. Maternity clothes are super comfortable, but not exactly chic.
2. Being constantly hungry.
3. Not being able to dye my hair anymore.
4. Having long, strong nails that I cannot polish due to hormones.
5. Feeling tired all the time.
6. Often having blotchy skin.
7. Sometimes being violently kicked from the inside.
8. Not being able to wear flattering shoes.
9. Shortness of breath.
10. Needing to buy things for the baby while managing a budget.
11. Decorating the nursery.
12. Sometimes feeling physically helpless and needing to rely on others for simple things such as lifting a few gallons of water.
13. Having to lather myself in cocoa butter every night to prevent stretch marks.
14. Not being able to sleep at night.
15. Complete strangers rubbing my stomach.
16. Feeling like a beached whale regardless of how attractive my husband may think I am.
17. Swollen feet.
18. Braxton Hicks.
19. Needing new bras.
20. Seeing the sales, but knowing I cannot buy the clothes.
21. Having to channel my focus to jewelry and purses since all other fashion has gone out the door.
22. Organizing a baby shower can be very stressful and costly.
23. Reading nothing but baby books.
24. Ultrasounds.
25. Feeling an inexplicable need to create cute little baby things.

25 Things I Love About Being Pregnant

1. Super comfortable maternity clothes.
2. Having seconds or thirds for dinner, without getting any strange looks.
3. My luscious hair.
4. Nails that grow on their own and don’t break every few days.
5. A reason to nap throughout the day.
6. The way my face glows even without make up.
7. Feeling my baby move inside of me.
8. Looking cute while waddling around.
9. Shopping for tiny clothes and shoes.
10. All the other cute baby things.
11. Decorating the nursery.
12. Stork parking.
13. Soft Skin.
14. The ridiculous amount of energy I get during the third trimester.
15. Complete strangers being super nice to you.
16. Sex with my husband is even better.
17. Food rubs.
18. Poking my stomach so the baby can reply.
19. My cup size increases.
20. Clothes shopping is so much easier.
21. I get to focus on all the accessories.
22. Baby showers.
23. Reading baby books.
24. Ultrasounds.
25. Knitting baby blankets.