Question:
I have been living in Arizona for about 3 years. i recently found out that i am pregnant. I am very close to my family and friends that live in New Jersey. My sister would like to throw me a baby shower in NJ. Can you give us some advice that would help us? Giving a baby shower in the 6 month stage is kinda early. Could it be thrown after the baby is born? Please help!
Answer:
Dear Allison,
Congratulations, Mom-to-Be! We have something in common -- I also found out that I was pregnant soon after I'd relocated from Southern California to Portland, Oregon! Making that big move changed my life in ways I didn't even imagine. It sounds very much the same for you!
If you're planning to fly back to New Jersey for an in-person baby shower, the 6-month mark is not too early for the celebration at all! You're well inside the "safe" zone because flying after 8 months isn't allowed. I bet you'd rather be really showing (baby bellies expand during the 8th and 9th months), but the first order of business is, of course, to protect your health and your pregnancy. That's why a baby shower set for your 6th to (early) 7th month is a great idea!
Be sure to read Lori's question and our solution to her shower conundrum. Even though Lori's question centers around an out-of-town bridal shower and the gifts, the same rules of etiquette apply to you and to baby showers. Since you're pregnant, it becomes even more important for you and your sister to follow the guidelines we set out for Lori.
As we suggested to her, you can sign up at a gift registry. A registry will ship gifts to you directly so long as the giver specifies that option at the time of purchase. Also, your sister needs to have boxes on hand to ship any extra gifts to you in Arizona. She would need to take care of hauling the load to the post office or making arrangements for pick-up with UPS. It would be helpful to you and your sister if she also visited The Shower Diva site. Everything she needs to know about throwing a spectacular baby shower is right here! That way you, as Mom-to-Be, can kick back and relax. Ahhhhh....now that's a lot better isn't it?
If, after considering all your options, you decide to wait until after your newborn arrives, it's perfectly okay for your sister to host a shower for you then. That way family and friends can meet your bundle of joy! One caution though -- you're bound to be sleep-deprived and you'll have to haul a lot of baby gear with you. I can tell you first hand that traveling with little ones is an all consuming project!
No matter when your celebration takes place -- before or after the birth of your child -- your shower is bound to be wonderful. It's an event that will provide you and your family with memories that will last a life time!
Enjoy! Enjoy!
Happy Showering,
Susan "The Shower Diva"
Where Fun Reigns!™
