My friend has been really wanting to throw me a baby shower.
I told her a couple of months back that I wasnt sure i wanted one. I kind of hoped shed forget the whole notion and leave it at that...I already have so my things! On top of my job at the hospital I am coowner of a thrift store (we had a local location but sold it to a new business) doing Internet sales only for the time being. When we sold the business we also downsized our inventory (due to only having a few connexes for storage) and so I scooped up pretty much all the baby clothes and accessories a person could need.

So I need nothing. Well, I do need diapers, but that's all. I like the idea of celebrating baby with a kickoff party, but I really just don't like the idea of people giving me things I just do not need.
My other girlfriend threw me a shower last year and it wa so excessive I felt terrible. Over twenty people showed up and they all had at least one gift, and I already had much of what I needed then too.

Last night on my break at the hospital, I was snacking with a coworker and he asked me when my friend was supposed to be sending out the invites!

I kind of choked a little.

What should I do? Should I let her do the shower, should I request NO GIFTS, should I upgrade with new gifts, should I donate? Is a shower even reasonable for a mom of four?

I just don't know.

Sorry so long. Rough night last night and I am just now waking up since I came home this morning.

If you already have everything you need I would have a diaper party!!!

Request that people bring diapers and wipes, baby lotion, baby wash...Just that stuff  

I just had a get together shortly after LO was born and told everyone not to get me anything.

diaper party, or just do a bbq small gift party?
you can never have enough burp clothes and swaddle blankets!

Definitely do a diaper party like the ladies suggested....or something like a "Sip&see" once baby is already here.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Smokey_Taboo:</b>" diaper party, or just do a bbq small gift party? you can never have enough burp clothes and swaddle blankets!"</blockquote>




Lol I beg to differ. I haven't even touched 3/4 of mine haha

Diaper party sounds excellent. If she changes the wording to this on the invites people should naturally assume they don't bring gifts?

I just hate greed. I have so much. I do not want more than what I need. I also hate the clutter.

I have this problem! People keep asking me if we'll have one or if we need anything and they keep buying things! Last time, we were told we were having a girl so we have a LOT of girl clothes, blankets, toys... When she was born she had a penis and we then had to go out and buy all of the clothes again in blue! We have all of the clothes we could possibly need, we don't need anything and they keep insisting!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Smokey_Taboo:</b>" diaper party, or just do a bbq small gift ... [snip!] ... enough burp clothes and swaddle blankets!"</blockquote> Lol I beg to differ. I haven't even touched 3/4 of mine haha"</blockquote>



Yeh, I really only need a few good blankets. Burp cloths? Once you have as many kids as I do, you realize you really don't need most those things.

Then I would see if she would put that on the invites then  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Bettinas:</b>" I have this problem! People keep asking me if we'll have one or if we need anything and they keep buying ... [snip!] ... the clothes again in blue! We have all of the clothes we could possibly need, we don't need anything and they keep insisting!"</blockquote>




Well, hopefully you will have a girl this time so you can put all those things to good use.
That must have been quite the shock for you! I think I would be absolutely crushed to have this happen! Knowing the gender and naming baby helps me to identify with my baby. I start dreaming about who they are, who they will be, what they will look like... My pregnancies are exciting from the beginning, but when I find out if its a boy of girl, my baby gains a personality in my mind...
Even though I would love my child no different if they had the gender wrong, I'm sure I would cry my eyes out for a few days.

If your friend wants to throw you a shower let her. But ask for only the things you need or even better yet ask for things like blankets and preemie clothes to be donated at the NICU at the hospital you work at instead of gifts for you and your LO.

Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Smokey_Taboo:</b>" diaper party, or just do a bbq small gift ... [snip!] ... enough burp clothes and swaddle blankets!"</blockquote> Lol I beg to differ. I haven't even touched 3/4 of mine haha"

Same here. They're just taking up room in his dressers. It bugs the crap out of me.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Caydence's mommy 4/4/09:</b>" If your friend wants to throw you a shower let her. But ask for only the things you need or even better ... [snip!] ... like blankets and preemie clothes to be donated at the NICU at the hospital you work at instead of gifts for you and your LO."</blockquote>



That's a great idea! Maybe even donations to my favorite charity- The Smile Train!!!

Now I'm excited! My husband has gifted me two donations in my name to this organization. I absolutely love it! They have a clean bill and help babies an children. $250 for a complete surgery for cleft lip and palate. And then you may have just saved someone's life. For $250. That's it.