Second baby shower?

Ooooooh, but I don't share Jennifer's feeling about gifts...I LOVE them! The reason for that is that I just love surprises. If my husband goes into a convenience store while we are on the road, he now comes out with something for me, even if it's as simple as some skittles. At the house-warming, I actually said "I love parties! Expecially the kind where I get presents!"
People have asked what I need for the baby, and I have told most of them that we don't need much of anything. We are going to get him a new infant carrier and a double stroller--actually, the church will give most of what it will cost for both of those. We'll also get him a new bassinet. The one we used for Kade was a friend's and it is DONE. I don't expect anything like that from anybody. I figure we will get clothes and diapers, and that is A-OK with me!

Dana, I totally see your point to and think it's fine. I think it's just maybe geography? It seems around here that friends/family think it's inappropriate to have a 2nd shower, kwim? So they don't WANT to give one because of the inappropriateness, I guess.

This isn't directed to you Dana, or anyone for that matter, but I remember it mentioned that a 2nd baby shower is a celebration of life -- the baby's life. How is that? I've never understood that for any baby shower, actually. The first shower to me is to celebrate the pregnant mother and to give gifts for the baby, but how are you celebrating the baby when it's not really even here yet? Maybe I think too far on that one. And really there is no need to celebrate the mother a second time, at least to me. Yes, I see celebrating the baby, which is what we do....after the baby is born. I get confused on how people word things and their definitions for them, I think.

Hmmmm...I don't really understand what you don't understand, so I can't answer I guess family and friends already feel bonded with the new baby, as he/she (usually) already has a name and has been referred to by that name for a while. I don't know. And I might be wrong about it being a geographical thing...it might just be my particular community. They just love to give around here Including me! I spend money and buy things that I probably really shouldn't, and am not obligated to...but I just love it! I think, around here, the shower is as much for the ones hosting it as for the mother/baby. Kinda like first birthday parties...the baby will never remember, but we still spend money and decorate, etc...I don't know if the earlier part of what I said explained it any better.

Karen, I think it's a celebration of the baby's life because the get together is only happening because of the baby and there is usually chatter about the baby, games about the baby, blue or pink cake, etc.
If you are getting together to throw a party for a preggo mama who is about to have a baby and the whole party is for that purpose then to me it is a celebration of the baby. Once the baby is born, mama is usually tired and so is the family and I'd be less inclined to have a party then because I'd be less in the mood although I think I could probably still swing it if someone wanted to throw another celebration of the baby.

I should add that for me this is really not about baby showers at all but rather about my love for throwing parties.
Some years back I took care of two children for a couple of weeks while their parents were in Europe and it was in October so I decided to throw them a Halloween party that was a partial slumber party in that some kids stayed to spend the night. The kids had a blast and I had a blast with them and their mother told me that the party I threw was the talk of the town and that a year later people were still talking about it.
I'm not sure who had more fun with it, me or the kids.
So to me, a shower is just another party to throw and plan, I have planned them for my friends and they were fun. I never thought of them as being about gifts and in all fairness, I can always come up with an inexpensive but fun gift if I had to.

I see your points, Dana and Jennifer. Thanks

Some people do throw baby showers after the birth..I have been to some and loved those even more because you get to hold the new baby...

Well, a baby shower is a HUGE deal in DH's family. They make one of those things you wear at homecomings? A mum I think??? Anyway, they make it pink, blue, or yellow and have the baby's name on it (if you know their name, or if you are sharing the name) and other things that are cute. My DH and I have been keeping our distance from his family, so I was not only uncomfortable about have a shower for a 2nd kid, but also because I didn't want to be with his family. I realized that I was being selfish in thinking that, so I will just let MIL have her fun. I like the idea of a diaper party since you can never have too much of that, instead of having them buy other things.

My mom is already going crazy so I'm sure that between dh, me, and my mom, most things will be taken care of.

Btw, I love the baby shower after birth thing. My good friend had one, and it was such a blast really celebrating a new life, so I may suggest something like that to Dh to see what he thinks first, then mention it to MIL.