Thursday, January 12, 2017

Jessa Seewald's Baby Shower

With Baby Seewald's due date only three weeks away, the Duggar sisters and party planning friend Sierra threw Jessa a baby shower.

Spurgeon Seewald and Sierra

 The theme of the shower was, well, rain showers.

 
 Jana Duggar

Rather than bring gifts for Jessa, guests were asked to buy supplies for Loving Choices, a local, nonprofit pregnancy center. 


During the shower, the ladies put together care packages (a pen, a devotional book, and other treats) for the women at the pregnancy center.


Do you recognize any of the guests?



The ladies were served lemon orzo soup, Sierra's famous homemade brownies, and other munchies.




 Jana Duggar and Joy-Anna Duggar

 Jana Duggar and Spurgeon Seewald

 Jessa Seewald

Jessa is due February 2nd, and Jill is due in July.

 Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard


 Jessa Seewald, Jana Duggar, Joy-Anna Duggar, and Jill Dillard

 Jessa Seewald


Fourteen-month-old Spurgeon Seewald is clearly looking forward to having a younger sibling. Okay, maybe he doesn't quite understand, but we think he will make a great older brother.

Spurgeon Seewald

Photos courtesy DCL

187 comments:

  1. So cute! Jessa looks great for how far along she is! Spurgeon looks so much like JESSA!!!

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  2. I love this idea! The ladies got to have some girl time and celebrate the coming of a new life while not giving Jessa stuff she doesn't need. Which must mean she's having another boy!! :) Jill looks like she might be the one having twins - it's still kind of early to be sporting a really noticeable baby belly.

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    1. I really wish people would stop scrutinizing the size of these girls' bellies and deciding whether they are the "right" size for how pregnant (or not) they are. Everyone is different in how quickly they get their shape back after pregnancy or how quickly they "show" when pregnant. By saying that Jill is showing too much for being 3 months along is basically implying she is fat which seems very thoughtless and rude.

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    2. I wonder if jessa would be upset if Jill was having twins... seems like jessa wants to be the one who gets the "twin fame" on the show...

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    3. No, I wasn't implying she was fat, I was suggesting that maybe she's having twins! And I also stand by my statement that she has a very noticeable belly for being only three months along. I normally wouldn't comment on the size like some people do, but it really stands out to me.

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  3. I love baby showers!That's a wonderful idea to bring supplies to the pregnancy center. They are always in need of baby things especially clothes. I made some baby booties for one when we lived in CA and they so appreciated it. Though the guests were asked to bring items for Loving Touch, I'm sure Jessa will probably get some special gifts just for her.

    I'm afraid these old eyes of mine don't work as well as they used to so I can't tell who the guest are.

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  4. So nice that they honored her second baby too! And that the gifts were donated to those in need. What a great idea. Looks like everyone was having a good time.

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  5. Weren't Ben's mother and sisters invited? Why no photos of them attending? What's the use of a shower when it's really "not for you"? Gift packages for the center are nice, but why mask it with a shower? Did Anna have multiple showers too?

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    1. They needed material for the show.

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    2. I would think they call it a shower because it's it's a way to celebrate the arrival of Jessas baby by showering other moms in need. I think it's a great idea!

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    3. This shower was probably needed to help fill Season 3. It's apparent it was being filmed, or they wouldn't have had to cover the names on the boxes.

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    4. Aren't we feeling negative today! Don't Ben's mom and sisters live out of town? Perhaps they couldn't make the drive. And getting together with family and friends to celebrate the new baby coming while also helping out the pregnancy center sounds like a lovely idea. And since not everything they do is filmed or shown there is no way to know how many showers Anna had.

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    5. Why do people read questions on here as negative? I see them only as questions, and usually good, probing questions that make me think another way than I might have otherwise. Nothing wrong with questions that makes us think.

      Maybe "negative" is another way to put "I don't want to think about that, because the answer, true as it would be, might not be as pleasant and perfect as I like to imagine things to be."

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  6. Wow! All I could see was the joy and glow on JANA's face! She must be in love, there's no hiding it. I don't know any facts, just an observation by an excited fan. :D So excited and praying for her and his best. :)

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    1. Maybe she's "glowing" because she's landed a great job and is ready to move out on her own!

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    2. Either way, good for Jana.

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    3. Ahhhh....we can only hope!

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    4. So the only reason for a young woman to be "glowing" is that she has landed a man? Maybe she is content in her life and finds that the little things can bring joy. Maybe Jana has discovered that being a single woman in the 21st century can be as satisfying as a wife and mother. Be happy in whatever you do Jana; you have no one to please but yourself

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    5. I'm sure she has learned to be content, but for most women I don't think that being single at her age and still living with parents is as satisfying as having a husband who loves you... but maybe Jana is the exception?

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  7. So great everyone could celebrate and Sierra is an incredible party planner like Jana.
    I'm especially glad the focus was on those much less fortunate than Jessa family.
    Always good to give back and make a difference for someone else.

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    1. How will a pen and some chocolate make a difference?

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    2. Baby supplies were donated not just pens and chocolate....

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    3. All of the baby gifts that were donated by these guests will make a difference. The fact that someone cared enough to donate little personal gifts for the mom as well can make a difference. Knowing that people care when you're in need makes a difference!

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  8. Aw,Happy Baby shower Jessa. Glad to see Spurgy, he's so cute, God Bless, Barbie

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  9. Congrats Jessa. Great idea for shower. Love Spurgeons curls!

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  10. Another big baby for Jill!
    Hopefully this delivery will be much smoother ☺

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  11. I thought Sierra got out of the party planning business. She sold everything in her storage unit last year, and I thought she announced her party business was over.

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    1. The family is so close. I don't think it was a job. She has a big heart for others and supporting others less fortunate is a great cause to participate.

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    2. Her business may be over, but there's no reason she couldn't have helped with this shower as a friend.

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    3. It is but that doesn't mean she won't coordinate a party for a friend out of generosity. She has never charged the Duggars for her service.

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  12. Does she know if it is a boy or girl? And if so can you tell us.

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  13. Are they going to have a shower for each of their 19 or more kids?

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    1. If they continued doing this donation shower then why shouldn't they keep doing it? Great way to celebrate and give to others less fortunate at the same time!

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    2. I can't see this happening unless it's being filmed.

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  14. So relieved the "shower" suggested donations. Another shower for a second baby is in poor taste.

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    1. So no celebration after first pregnancy? No ladies time to share?

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    2. So would you say it was in poor taste if she were having a girl this time? I wouldn't think so.

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    3. Imagine how bankrupt their family and friends would be if all the Duggar kids had huge families and a shower for each child.

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  15. Lovely and unselfish choice by Jessa. Kudos to Jessa. God Bless.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

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  16. What is a girl in a pregnancy center supposed to do with a pen and chocolate? And how presumptuous to think someone would want a book of devotions. That's trying to force your beliefs on someone else. I'm appalled at these so-called gifts, but then I have to remember who we're dealing with. They probably think those things are befitting. This is as bad as when Josh & Anna gave that stuffed animal they won at a carnival to the home for unwed mothers, and made a big production out of it for the cameras. Does anyone in this family have a clue what genuine giving to someone in need looks like?

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    1. It looks like the pile of gifts they had donated to the pregnancy center..

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    2. I don't think that's all that was given. The post says that they asked guests to bring gifts for the pregnancy center and there is a picture of a table with a lot of baby gifts. In addition they gave the packages with the devotional, pen and treats.

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    3. They did rebuild the Bates home as a mother's day gift for Kelly, mother of 19, so yes they do know what genuine giving is.

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    4. Do you have a clue as to how not to judge?

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    5. @7:06 - Did you even read the article?

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    6. "Judge" away, 7:06. You have my support. Some things in life need to be pointed out as examples and reminders, especially when they don't fit an image we're supposed to believe.

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    7. We really don't know if it was the Duggars paying for the Bateses renovation or TLC???

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  17. Jessa must be having a boy, if she doesn't need any gifts.

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  18. Lemon Orzo soup sounds delicious! I had to look up a recipe and I think I'm going to make it for dinner some night.

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  19. Where is Crystal? Flames wife? I THOUGHT they are such good friends?

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    1. Maybe she had other obligations, chill.

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    2. she was actually at this thing called districts- Flame was performing and I got to meet her:) she is super sweet

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    3. Crystal isn't exactly local, either.

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    4. What was the date of that event?

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    5. I wasn't upset about it anon 1:32 am just asking since they are promoting him so much. Chill.

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  20. How wonderful that gifts were given to others! What a wonderful display of love to others/strangers! Definitely living the J.O.Y., they mentioned they live by in a years ago episode. J.O.Y. is Jesus first, others second, yourself last.

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  21. Spurgeon is SO cute!!

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  22. Jill looks much further along than 3 months.

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    1. Maybe Jill will be the one to finally have twins!!! She is pretty big for not being due until July!

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    2. Why the need to comment on the size of a pregnant woman or speculate on how far along she is or whether or not she's carrying twins? Would you say that to her directly? It's quite inconsiderate.

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    3. I think she just isn't as sporty or interested in fitness as Jessa. Jessa always talked about getting the baby weight off, and she and Ben are more sporty, while Jill and Derrick clearly aren't.
      This is to say that Jill probably still has some weight from her first baby- which is totally fine, I'm not judging.
      As long as you're healthy, your fitness routine is just your business.

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    4. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. I was labeled as being rude and very thoughtless for expressing my opinion.

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    5. Jill never lost her baby belly after Isreal so she will naturally look bigger than Jessa. I also believe Jessa and Ben have made a healthy fitness regime a priority.

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  23. Spurgeon is so adorable.

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  24. Judging from the gifts she is having a girl. Spurgen is beautiful. I can't imagine how beautiful baby girl will be. Congratulations Jessa! These girls are so beautiful and classy. I love seeing them grow up. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. She is not keeping the gifts. They are getting donated to a pregnancy center.

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  25. Really nice but I thought baby showers were for "first babies". It would have been nice if Jessa had insisted that people who attend bring a gift for one of the pregnancy centers/poverty mothers to be. Jessa has plenty of money to get what she needs. Just a thought and a way of giving back. They are such a blessed family.

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    1. Before you criticize, go back and read!!! The gifts are being donated to a local pregnancy center.

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    2. It says that she asked guests to bring a gift for the pregnancy center and not for her...

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    3. That was not judging but merely an oversight. Thank you for keeping us "all in line". LOL!

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    4. A poverty mother?

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    5. Do you read articles before you comment?

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    6. What is a poverty mother and how do you know one when you see one?

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  26. I don't see Anna anywhere...?!

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  27. Finally, the girls doing something for others. This is refreshing.

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    1. I wouldn't call going to Central America for years like they have done --nothing. Plus Jinger and Derrick spent a year there. They also do many other things in the Duggar family like take food to the police and firemen etc. So what do you do for others?

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    2. Jinger and Derrick??

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    3. Clearly you have never watched the show or no anything about this family at all...they are one of the most generous and giving people there is...you must be a disgruntled one eh? Bless y'all 😉

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  28. Is Jessa going to announce if Baby Seewald is a boy or girl? I'm assuming she is going to wait until the birth because she is due in 3 weeks!

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  29. What a wonderful event! I've always believed that every child should have a baby shower, mainly so they could have pictures in their scrapbook and know that their birth was celebrated and eagerly looked forward to. Since there usually isn't as big a need for supplies after the first child, I've always liked the tradition of "freezer meal" showers, which provide the families with quick meals as they care for their newborns. These precious ladies came up with an even better idea, though - what a huge blessing that stash of gifts will be!

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    1. I have heard of "Sprinkles" where it is a shower but on a much smaller scale. Usually no gifts unless people want to bring them.

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  30. Donating the gifts to a worthy cause is a very good idea. Pens, devotional books and a few do-dads ... not so much. I am going to assume that the Duggars themselves make regular generous monetary contributions to pregnancy resource centers, considering their firm stance on abortion.

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    1. Why don't you worry about what YOU donate to charity and leave what the Duggars donate to the Duggars?

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  31. There's Grandma, and there's the owner of the taco place who claimed after her televised surprise shower that she had no connection to the Duggars and didn't know them outside the restaurant.

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    1. Wouldn't it be logical that she became friends with the Duggars through the surprise shower?

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    2. It was not logical at the time, when they threw that televised shower for someone they "didn't know."

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  32. I hope those cupcakes weren't baked in those canning jars. Ball/Jarden does not approve of using their jars in the oven, and the internet recipes that call for "canning" breads and cakes in jars are considered unsafe food handling.

    Getting examples of cute party things from the Internet is not always a good idea. Sierra should know this, and anyone looking at this idea in these pictures should be aware of this. If the already baked cupcakes were LATER put in the jars, and if those frosted cupcakes were stored at the proper temperature, OK. But the pictures don't explain the process and lead you to believe you could bake cupcakes in a jar. You definitely shouldn't! Please post this important safety warning.

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    1. The Bell jars are save to put cupcakes in I have some of those and mind say they are safe.

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    2. Safe for storage of already-baked foods, maybe, but only if you keep them frozen or refrigerated. You can't "can" a baked good the way you "can" pickles or jam.

      The jars are definitely NOT safe to bake in. Read the jar company's own statements about this. Jars are not to be used in the oven. They are made to be used in water bath or pressure canners. The dry heat of the oven can cause them to break.

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    3. From Ball's own website:

      Can I use the jars in the oven for baking?

      We do not recommend baking in any size or shape of Ball or Kerr canning jars. The glass used for Ball and Kerr canning jars is not tempered for oven use and is not meant to be used as bakeware. The jars are safe to use for home canning recipes, cold or room temperature food storage, cold beverages, and crafting.

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    4. The jars had pre-meadured dry ingredients. You just add the liquid and bake according to the recipe. It's called gifts in a jar.

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    5. Aren't the Ball jars just glass? Why would that be any different than baking in a glass pan such as pyrex?

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    6. 2:28, You can't bake in those jars. Nor can you store cooked food such as baked goods in them unless the food is refrigerated or frozen. Baking and putting a lid on while it's still hot to "seal" the jar (for storage at room temperature) is not the same as commercial processing or canning. It's considered "oven canning," which is not safe to do and not recommended by any current food safety organization, despite what an old cookbook or canning guide might tell you. This is why you have to use current safety information when handling food. Things change, after cases of food poisoning happen and the causes are pinpointed. Or after people have catastrophes with glass jars, and a statement about them has to be put out by the company that makes the jars.

      It's possible you're thinking of "gifts in a jar" such as dry cookie mixes or cake mixes. Again, not designed to be baked in the jar, but to be dumped into a mixing bowl with liquid ingredients, then baked on a cookie sheet or in a metal/Pyrex baking dish. The only thing in the jar then are the dry ingredients before baking, and the jar is used as a storage or gift jar only.

      8:55, The jars are not tempered baking glass the way Pyrex is. Sudden temperature changes can make the jars easily shatter. Cool room to hot oven to cool room again is an example of the kind of stress the glass in these jars is not designed to take. It's a glass shattering or a glass explosion waiting to happen. I've even had one shatter in a water bath canner - the way the jar is designed to be used - and it was a messy experience! Not much worse than hot broken glass mixed with hot water and hot food!

      The only time I've seen a recipe that might - emphasis on might - work is one that called for putting the jars in a water bath in the oven. That would help keep the jars from having sudden thermal shocks, but it's still risky business. Few if any recipes call for baking in a water bath. Most "jar" recipes I've seen say to bake in the oven (dry) as you normally would with any other recipe. That is what you can't do! And really, if you need to go to the lengths of using a water bath, why not just bake in something made for baking?

      Bottom line: Don't bake in canning jars. Even if you get lucky and the jar doesn't shatter, don't store the food at room temperature. Just because the lid might seal down as the jar cools doesn't mean you've killed all the microbes inside, which will have fun multiplying at room temperature until someone gets food poisoning...which is not fun.

      Please post this to further clarify this issue. Thanks.

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  33. Sierra sold all her party supplies last year and was supposedly getting out of that business.

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  34. The refrshments look yummy. Nice job and creative (pinterest-y) presentation!

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  35. I have a feeling this was done for the show, because you usually don't put on a big to-do for a second baby. I think they wanted to appear to be throwing a "benefit" shower for that organization. And it looks like Sierra came out of retirement for this event.

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  36. Wow! Baby Seewald may be the first duggar (well Duggar offspring) to be born in Febuary!!

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  37. Why did they make their friends bring presents for that place? Why didn't they just contribute all that stuff themselves? If anyone can afford it, they can. Generosity is not really generosity unless it comes from you yourself and requires a bit of sacrifice on your part. It's easy to give other people's things away.

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    1. Totally agree, 1:49! Well put.

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    2. "Generosity is not really generosity unless it comes from you yourself and requires a bit of sacrifice on your part. It's easy to give other people's things away." SO TRUE! This is what we try to teach our children. Giving should mean "giving up" on your part. But then you gain the greater feeling knowing you helped someone else. I don't see Jessa giving up anything here, just giving away. The intention was right, but the way it was executed was in the same non-sacrificial Duggar style we always see. What is that teaching?

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    3. They did not "make" their friends bring presents for the pregnancy Center. Everyone who attended did so voluntarily, to help their friends the Duggars support a good cause. And though the article doesn't say so, it's likely the Duggars made their own contributions as well.

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    4. Because it's a nice thing to do. The pregnancy centers need baby items and the more people who can bring them, the merrier.

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    5. So true about generosity. That statement made me stop and think. We must truly give of ourselves when we give, not just go through the motions.

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    6. How could you possibly know that?! I think it is a bit naïve to assume...

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    7. "Drop your presents here" isn't a big clue that the guests were bringing the donations???

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  38. Always really great decorating ideas, for showers, weddings, birthdays etc. Is it Sierra all the time coming up with the ideas, if so, she is really talented.

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    1. Those are not Sierra's original ideas. These girls rely on sites such as Pinterest for their ideas. Don't you remember them mentioning that? The Arkansas/Texas nail art Jinger made was the most recent example. "I saw an idea online..."

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    2. I love Pinterest but sometimes that site can be addicting!

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    3. Haha, have you ever seen the website about Pinterest fails? Just because you see it on Pinterest doesn't mean you can carry it out with the same results. They still need to have some sort of crafty abilities for things to turn out right.

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    4. Those Pinterest fails are hysterical! No, not everything on Pinterest is as perfect as it seems. Nor on TV.

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  39. I love the pictures! Congrats Ben and Jessa!!! ;)

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  40. Baby shower for a second child? Really? A baby shower is suppose to be held for the first child, that's it. There is no need to hold one for subsequent births because they are suppose to help the young couple establish themselves. You do not have Anniversary Showers for each year of marriage, do you?

    They could arrange donations to the pregnancy center without making it all about another baby being born in the family. I wonder. Were there baby showers for Anna Duggar last child?

    And a care package that includes devotional material? How about items that would be useful to the women? Baby items?


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    1. My sister had a baby shower for both her kids.

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    2. There were baby items donated in addition to the devotional- the post says Jessa asked guests to bring gifts for the pregnancy center and there is a picture of a table with baby items on it. I think it's great to use the shower as a reason to donate gifts to the center. And a shower doesn't have to be for the first baby only. There is a new trend called a "sprinkle" which is a light shower for subsequent babies. A lot of people are fortunate enough to have friends and family that want to throw showers or sprinkles for subsequent pregnancies- it's not usually a party that you plan for yourself or decide to have for yourself. People ask to host for you because they want to. Even without gifts it's a great way to celebrate the new baby.

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    3. it's fine to have more than a baby shower for just your first child. My mother had one for her 6th baby. Albeit is was the first boy and so we needed boy clothes:-P

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    4. I think the donations to the centre was a marvelous ideas! Well done Duggars.

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    5. Dude, it's an opportunity to get together for a good cause. Chill.

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    6. Anon@3:49- Tell me, who made up the 'rule' about baby showers being limited to the first child only? Should it not be up to the discretion of the individual and special circumstances be considered? If you are invited and feel it's inappropriate, don't go. It is ridiculous to follow arbitrary rules for everyone.

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    7. Perhaps in the US with your consumer-based economy but here it is considered inappropriate and self-absorbed.

      The shower for a first child is to provide the young couple with well-needed supplies for the first and subsequent births. Clothes tend to be gender-neutral but babies do not care what color they have on and should be in warm clothes. The grandparents and parents are the ones that buy the gender-specific clothes, as "special gifts". It is assumed that the couple is fiscally responsible. If you "need help" to buy clothes for subsequent children, you probably should reconsider having so many children.

      The shower is attended by only close friends, work colleagues and immediate family members and is to celebrate the next step in the young woman's life. The woman's friends are most probably in the same situation in their lives and to ask them to buy gifts, even if those gifts will be donated, is not appropriate.

      The Duggars could have arrange for donations of baby items and money to the center, without making it all about Jessa.

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    8. No, well done TLC. The girls probably wouldn't have done the same thing had the cameras not been there. Who knows - this may have been a second shower. There may have been another or others, not filmed. Or a secret registry. You know how popular those gift cards are.

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  41. I don't understand why the fuss over a shower for a second baby. Each baby is special and unique and should be celebrated. I was blessed to have a shower for all my girls. It was a special time for family and friends. I'm glad that these ladies are donating baby items to the pregnancy center. And I love the care packages for the women with devotional material. Loving Choices is Christian based which makes this an appropriate gesture. And no the women aren't forced to take anything they don't want. I will be praying for a safe delivery for both Jessa and Jill.

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  42. Spurgeon is one cute little dude!!

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  43. I'm glad they made a party of it. Friend's and family got together for a good cause. That meant 130 plus items were donated and I don't know anyone that can gather that many people after a birth, nor have the energy to enjoy.
    I would hope the Duggar family contribute often but it's their choice.
    Maybe the shower will be on the next season.

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  44. To a comment above, look at the pictures, and you will notice two boxes with identical play-yards, and bouncers, and other baby gifts just sitting there unwrapped clearly meant for the center.

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  45. Also, I think Anna is not there because she is probably visibly pregnant! :)

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  46. Could you update us on Anna? She isn't in the pictures and we haven't seen her in awhile!

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  47. What an awesome idea! So glad to see everyone take part in this! Congratulations on your second baby and may you continue to be encouraged as well as be an encouragement to others. You and your family have been an encouragement to me!

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  48. To all the people saying you should only celebrate the first child, that's so sad. A baby shower is not to get established, it is to celebrate the birth of a baby! EVERY baby should be celebrated! And that remark about "you don't have anniversary showers for each year you are married..." Why would you say something so stupid? Of course you don't. You have ONE BIG CELEBRATION, called a wedding, to celebrate the union of two people. Just like everyone should have one big celebration for each and every child. Not for any other reason than to rejoice in their arrival and to share their love and support.

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    1. Do you celebrate every baby with a baby shower? I truly don't know anyone who does that. I'm not arguing with your reasoning necessarily but people really don't tend to have baby showers for every baby which is why it comes across as excessive, it's not something that is socially normal

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    2. 🤗👏👍👌👐DITTO,I CONCUR AND AAGREE!!!

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    3. That probably depends on where you live and your own traditions.
      It's common in our family and community and has been for generations. It's not about gifts as much as a celebration. We also make schedules, sign up sheets for helping and meals. It's just a special time.

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    4. I have been to A LOT of baby showers that were not for the first baby born in the family. My sister had four boys, and her friends gave her a shower for every one of them!

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    5. If you want to celebrate a birth of a child you do that AFTER the child is born, not before. Many families have family parties when the baby is baptized or for the child's first birthday. That's different because it is about the child, not the mother.

      A baby shower is about the mother, not the child. And lauding the women every time she has a child is excessive.

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  49. Gah, all of you people are so negative. If someone wants to have a baby shower for their second child they can. And if the ladies had a problem they probably would just stay home. They are attending because they want to!

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    1. I think it's a valid question, sometimes the Duggars do things because TLC offers to pay for or film them or other media (US Weekly) wants to do so. When you're on reality tv I think people are always going to question motives

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    2. Maybe they are motivated by the tv show but they are still using it for a good cause. It's a fun event to televise and it was used to make donations to those in need. Those argueing about their intentions should see that nothing here is excessive. She isn't getting gifts for herself or her second baby. They are being donated. The food and decorations are not fancy and expensive. It's just a celebration. they could have catered expensive food or had an elaborate cake made. It all looks store bought or homemade. Think of other celebrities you know and how they would host a baby shower- really expensive and high class. Yet no one complains about it. I don't see any issue with this baby shower, and in fact i encourage others to do something similar. Any way to help others in need is worth it. I'm sure the ladies at the pregnancy center will be happy with the gifts and won't be complaining.

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    3. There are more people that have 2nd and 3rd baby showers than you think now days.

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  50. Pretty sure Anna is at the very back of the shot on the 11th picture talking to someone. Hand up in a bright blue/green shirt?

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  51. While I love the Duggar family, in my opionion they can no longer pass for the "middle-class average American family" anymore. They make per episode what others make for a yearly salary. This "benefit baby shower" is a great step towards true generosity. This family could definitely do more for their community with regard to giving back. As frugal as the Duggars are, they will
    surely be leaving "an inheritance" for future Duggar generations.

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    Replies
    1. This family has and still does GIVE ALOT...that is what they are all about...do some research and not believe all the rage tag mags.

      Delete
    2. I think one of the best "inheritances" you can give to future generations is to keep your behavior sterling and your name clean. It doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank if people look askance when your name is mentioned. You can't buy a good reputation, only earn it.

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  52. I agree. A baby shower for every child seems a bit greedy.

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    Replies
    1. What an unkind and untrue comment.

      Did you read the article? The stated purpose was for guests to bring gifts to be donated to women in need.

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    2. They didn't keep any of the gifts. They were donated.

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    3. Ugh...read the post...not greedy,but generous...speaketh of what you do not knoweth.Really!

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    4. It's a celebration of a new life, it's just to have a joyous occasion to be with your friends before the baby comes. I really don't understand what's the fuss.
      Obviously, when it's the first baby shower it's more about gifts, but it's just as obvious that when a family has a lot of babies it becomes more about the party (the parents themselves say that they don't need stuff).

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    5. In my home country baby showers don't exist, there really isn't this tradition, but in countries where you have it I've always seen it done for each baby.

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    6. How is it greedy if all gifts were donated to the pregnancy center?

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  53. Why no response from Jessa and Jill as to who is providing their pre natal care this time? This is a legitimate question. We're not looking for free advertising for the individual, just what level of training is taking care of them? Midwife, Jill, nurse practitioner, ob/gyn?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guess we'll have to wait and see on a future episode, when all the drama of delivery will play out once again...

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    2. Just because you are curious doesn't make it a "legitimate" question. We do not need to know everything and they are free to pick whatever type of prenatal care they feel comfortable with.

      Delete
    3. Isn't that a pretty personal question?

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    4. Medical care of others is none of our business.

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    5. Seeing as how both Jill and Jessa had delivery complications, I would hope that they choose more wisely this time than last, and not rely on another last-minute rush to the hospital to save two lives.

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    6. Anon@5:39 It's a safe bet that the Duggars know there will be a barrage of criticism no matter how they respond to this question. I find it interesting that they now get it from even the religious conservatives- that the family is not modest enough and have become to "worldly". This is the problem when a person, or group of people, are placed on a pedestal. (Granted, the Duggars were more than willing to hop right up on it.) They are never going to live up to everyone's expectations. I would have respect for the Duggars if they made the move to withdraw from the media altogether and provide their dependent children with the privacy they deserve.

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  54. Hi everyone. I'm not sure to understand, could someone please enlighten me ?
    Are the care packages which were prepared during the shower,
    the only donations for the pregnancy center or are they additional goodies to the supplies brought by the guests ? Because I guess that diapers, wipes, baby clothes and that kind of stuff would be more useful. Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there,

      Guests brought a ton of gifts/supplies for the center and also put together care packages.

      Blessings,
      Lily and Ellie

      Delete
  55. Thank you for posting all of this information...it is fun to keep up with the Duggars!!

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  56. How is Jesse serving herself salad with no utensil?? LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad to see the Styrofoam back again. I'm going to buy stock in that plate's company.

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    2. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see she's holding a fork or some kind of utensil. Also, you can see her had looks like it's holding something and not grabbing a handful of salad.

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    3. I was hoping I was wrong when I saw the hands in the salad. Guess not. Of course after seeing pictures for years now of the kids climbing on counter tops and the dining table hands in the salad isn't a big deal

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    4. Is this the last family on the planet to get the memo about how horrible Stryofoam is?! Why can't they use paper, which at least will decompose? That is, if they have to use disposable at all. I don't have a family that big and I know I could round up 130 plates and bowls, between what I have and what my friends would loan me. And there the Duggars are with an industrial dishwasher that could get dishes clean in 2 seconds flat, with minimal water. It's like this family doesn't want to be bothered to do any work when it comes to entertaining!

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  57. Great idea to donate items to a shelter who likely really needs them instead of bringing gifts. I wish for Jessa a much better birth experience than her first one!

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  58. I think most people only have one baby shower because if your children are close in age, you really shouldn't need most of things that people give as gifts for the first one. If everyone had multiple baby showers, I think most people would get sick of it really fast, not to mention the financial burden of buying tons of gifts! So while I understand that for some of the commenters, it seems odd that not every baby is celebrated, I think it's also a matter of practicality. I don't even know any mothers who have expressed a desire for more than one baby shower!!!! So for those reasons, I like that Jessa's baby shower was about giving back to the community...although I do think that they should have made care packages with more than just devotionals.

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  59. Why is she having another baby shower? She had one for Spurge; is'nt that sufficient???

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  60. Having volunteered running the clothing and supply closet at our local pregnancy, getting new items is like getting gold! :) FYI for those looking to help others- Another place often needing new baby items (diapers, wipes, pull-ups, etc.) is the domestic abuse shelter. Often women flee with no time time to pack anything (or very little) for themselves or their children. A call to your local domestic abuse shelter or local social services can usually get you a list of what they regularly need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed - my sewing club donated a ton of stuff to such a shelter last year, no questions asked, no "devotions" necessary, no caring if they were pro-life or pro-choice, no politics involved. Just woman-to-woman to fill a need! We gave to a homeless shelter the year before. And veterans. And a program that supports ending child abuse. And preemies. There's no end to the need in our communities, unfortunately.

      Delete
    2. @1:21 PM -- Do you have a problem with Christians giving to Christian charities?
      You do realize that most humanitarian organizations on planet earth are Christian-based, right?
      What's wrong with including a Christian devotional with the other practical items donated?
      You know the recipients are free to throw them away if they don't want them, right?

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  61. I have to be honest-I feel sorry for Anna that she was left out of all of the "occasion" pictures. All the "sister" pics and no Anna in any of them? The long shot taken from near the stairs (with Anna literally all the way in the back)- that she obviously wasn't included in any of the family pictures doesn't reflect well on the Duggars. It makes it seem like either she's not truly accepted as "one of them" or they're hiding her because of the whole Josh mess. If it's because she's pregnant and they're saving it for the upcoming Counting On season, then it smacks of coy manipulation of the fans. The "Keep 'Em Guessing" game to generate interest and income. Reality TV may pay well, but it's not worth losing your integrity over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And if you do lose your integrity by your own doing while on one of these shows, that's pretty much it. All the smiles and cover-ups there are won't change what happened, or change the person who did it. It's a total game changer.

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    2. Did you ever consider that maybe *Anna* is the one who prefers not to be front and center in photographs? The Duggars may just be respecting her wishes.

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    3. It may be that it is Anna's wish to remain in the background.

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  62. Due to the almost tragic birth experiences that Anna, Jill and Jessa experienced with their children, their being willing to film their sufferings, it IS a good question to ask them 'what level of training' is taking care of them this time. I agree with this question.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Re: their pre natal care choices...I find it interesting that the Duggar women go to professionals for manicures and pedicures,, but wing it on their own health and the health of their unborn children and don't have proper MEDICAL professionals monitor their care when expecting. That's telling to me.

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  64. Spurgeon is absolutely adorable! Jessa looks very good and I hope this delivery goes much more smoothly for her and Ben.

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  65. Why haven't any of the staff from that agency been invited to attend a benefit for their organization? I think it was going to be a shower for Jessa, but they were advised that it would look bad for her to have another shower. Public relations at it's best here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now you're really reaching for something to criticize.

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    2. That's a pretty imaginative supposition!

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  66. I really enjoyed this post. This seems so fun and such a great idea. I enjoy hosting and attending baby showers. Never heard of not having one for each baby. Families can appreciate the gifts and it's so fun to celebrate new life. I love their way of celebrating new life!

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