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Is it just a coincidence that everyone's wearing either a pink or blue shirt? Were they asked to come wearing the corresponding color to their gender guess?

I brought my husband, my mom, and one of my sisters to my 20-week ultrasound. And then we called my brother and my other sister on two different phones and put them on speaker. The doctor was having a real hard time getting a good look and I think had he not felt so much pressure he would have given up. But he persevered and we all found out at the same time I was having a boy.

I am pretty... stunned.

If only people showed the same energy and enthusiasm for fighting for universal healthcare, or improving the schools this child will eventually have to attend...

I think it's a cute idea, though I prefer that much energy to be used for announcing the pregnancy. I found that WAY too much fun.

Yikes, mschatelaine, bad day?

I am with mschatelaine on this. it amazes how much energy, not to mention time and money people put into these things. Just as a side note, all these babyshowers, wedding showers etc are remnants from Victorian England - and only the very wealthy could do them. How come americans got sucked into this and even middle class are expected to behave like the ubber rich, so the ubber reach get even more so... there is something wrong with this picture.

This is hardly some shocking display of excess -- they had a few family and friends over to share a special moment with them. Unless you've spotted some hidden solid gold flatware and troughs of champagne in the background of the photos, how about letting some strangers enjoy a moment that they clearly felt like deserved a little celebrating?

Cute idea, but it does seem a bit excessive just to let people know the gender of your unborn baby. Generally, it's only really that big of a deal for the expectant parents and maybe the grandparents. My friends and family would roll their eyes if my husband and I did something like this.

With all that there is to make you sad these days, what's wrong with celebrating the little things (and by the way, finding out the sex of YOUR baby is not a "little thing" when it's happening to you)?!

Now back on topic... very cute and clever idea! I am a self-proclaimed party lover, so I may just have to do something like this for my next child (if I can contain the secret for the few hours it would take between the time of the ultrasound and the time of the party)!

Love it!

Whoa, cranky party pants this morning.

I love it! It's especially clever because it's hard to throw a baby-theme party for yourselves that doesn't come off as a gift-grab, and this accomplishes the task beautifully. 20 weeks is a great time to throw a party.

I think this could be cute for like an older brother or sister (other kids in the family; to make them feel included), but I dont really get it for adults. I mean, does anyone really care? Seems a bit self-indulgent. Do you need to bring presents to these things? I agree that if that's what they want to do to celebrate a fun moment, then they aren't hurting anyone and it's fine, but I would totally roll my eyes if I were invited to one of these!

We didn't throw a party, but we did ask the genetic counselor (I had a CVS) to send the results revealing the baby's gender in an envelope. We opened it alone on vacation in a special place but, funny enough, we did not feel like sharing the happy news right away. It was our little secret for awhile, but our mothers would not let us alone. So, finally, we sent each of our mothers a big, pink bouquet of flowers. I have also seen people send out an e-mail to family and close friends of their belly with the gender written across it or a little sign propped on the belly.

Those cupcakes look amazing--I love the pinwheel toppers. I must love pink and yellow, because those pictures make me happy. Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

We had our sonogram in December. The sonogram tech wrote the gender down on a paper and taped it shut - we then mailed it in a card to my father in law. He brought the card to Christmas gift opening... it was the last gift that was opened that day. We all found out together and it was very much a surprise. (We have a girl!) We then announced the name, which was special as the middle name was a multi-generational name of her grandmother and great great grandmother.

If we have another baby, we'll probably find out the gender the same way - it was fun after all!

Some people say that they don't want the surprise of the gender to be ruined by finding out early - for us, we had all of the fun of the surprise and the ability to plan ahead, too.

As far as this party goes - I think it is great! Why not have a little fun in life? A simple little party for friends and family who love and care for you... We all need to celebrate more and enjoy the little things. This is no more extravagant than going out for dinner with friends...

Do those of you who find this excessive think dinner parties and get-togethers in general are excessive, too? Or is it this particular theme? People throw parties all the time (Super Bowl parties, Oscar parties, St. Patrick's Day parties, no occasion partie), so why not have one to announce the sex of the baby? While some of you may not care to be invited to such a party, their friends obviously were happy to celebrate with them.
And isn't sharing ideas like this inherently what OhDeeDoh is about?

Strictly speaking, this was a baby sex party, not a baby gender party. The gender won't be known for several years, at least.

I don't see what the big deal is--they found out on a Friday, so they invited friends and family over on a Friday evening to have some cookies and cupcakes and find out the sex. Just like a Roman bacchanal! It looks really sweet. What is wrong with us that we would criticize a simple gathering of family and friends? And, yes, it IS a simple gathering, even if the hostess went to the trouble of having a color theme. Obviously she enjoys throwing parties, there are plenty of people who do, it's a hobby that's just valid as scrapbooking or knitting.

It looks like a lovely party to me and that everyone had a great time.

It seems kinda odd to think that people who celebrate the life of a new kiddo so enthusiastically and creatively wouldn't care about health care or wouldn't have time to fight for it. If we weren't so passionate about life then what would we be fighting for?

@frum: THANK YOU for making this clarification!!!

I think this is a fun idea for a party, but I can also say that it's not for me.

We're not finding out the sex of our baby because it is not that important to us. We would buy the same clothes/bedding/whatever for a female baby as we would for a male.

Our child will develop their own gender identity, and we want as little outside influence on what that turns out to be as possible, which was the main reason we did not want to find out. The baby will be inundated with all sorts of social cues about gender presentation after he or she is born without having to have all sorts of "things" in the nursery telling him or her this as well.

A cousin of mine had two outfits, brought them to the sonogram with a gift bag, and asked the tech to put the "right" one in the bag (I'm not sure what they did with the other, probably donated or saved in the original bag for a gift.) They then went out to dinner together and opened as a surprise with their dessert. I thought it was a really sweet way to do it.

The earlier thread just goes to show--people can find fault with anything if they try!!!

Oh, and I'd love to be invited to the "solving the health care crisis" party--bet it would have great cupcakes! ;-)

Great idea! Everything looks really nice, love the colors.

It seems a small party with probably very close family and friends, I don't see what the big deal is. My parents, my in-laws and our siblings were all calling us to find out what the sex was after the 20 week ultrasound, so yes, some people are interested in this bit of news. They wouldn't see any problem in coming to our house for something like this if we had done something similar. If you don't care or if your family is not interested, well, not everybody is like that! No need to put other people down because of it.

I think this is a wonderful idea! Very pretty color scheme and it looks like your loved ones had a great time. Congratulations to you, Sarah and Garret!!

mschatelaine-how do you know they have exuded the same energy on the healthcare crisis? Or any other crisis for that matter...

phew! and here I thought I was the only one who put my extra cranky and judgmental pants on this morning!

It's a cute idea, and I love parties so I'm happy with it.

For all the other cranky-pants out there, I'd be happy to come over and help you celebrate a "save the ______ " (country, economy, earth, rainbows, ect) party too... but if you have decorations and cupcakes, even better!... and if you're so concerned about these sorts of things, why are you reading a children's decorating website anyways? Please go back to your save us from everything land and let me enjoy the nice pictures. Thanks.

Good lord. You people really know how to take something fun and turn it into a freaking political ordeal. Why don't you spend your incredibly valuable, world-saving time and enthusiasm for reading a less frivolous blog and let the rest of us enjoy a cute little shower. PS. You attract more flies to your cause with honey than vinegar.

I'm a very political person, and where I agree that more energy should be spent on healthcare reform and education - I think this party is completely cute and innocent. Correct me if I am wrong, but I've always thought Ohdeedoh is a blog about beautiful design, innovative products, and fun ideas for families. This party clearly fits that bill.

Plus, finding out the sex of your baby is a BIG deal regardless if you find out at 20 weeks or 40 weeks and not just for the parents alone. Everyone who cares about this family wants to know! So let these people celebrate! Life is hard enough to rain on their parade.

I really like that they made the effort for their SECOND baby, since subsequent kids usually barely get photographed...

ha ha ha, some of the comments on here are priceless. don't take everything so seriously, people!

i think it's a cute idea. i only wish i had that much time and money to do something like that. at least the second kid won't feel like he got the shaft.

also, we didn't find out the sex of the boys before they were born. i was so out of it during my c/s, that it just wasn't all that exciting to hear "it's a boy!" (three times.) i kind of wish we'd done something like this.

maybe if we have another one.

For all the nasty people who have nothing better to do than blow smoke on a design blog about the injustices of this world....get off your fanny and do something about it. Perhaps you feel the need to vent aimlessly at inappropriate forums because you have alienated people from you with your acid tongues.

Furthermore, for those that are so concerned with injustice in this world...you should marvel at a family who celebrates their children as a blessing and not a burden. It is renewing for the heart of a family to share these moments and refreshing for others to see people celebrate life. If you have nothing to celebrate about in your own life...then address your own shortcomings and stop throwing stones at glass houses.

That's All:)

I'm surprised by how strongly some readers are reacting to this party idea. I happen to know Sarah and Garret and they are not at all over the top. They just happen to be extremely close with their family and wanted to share this special moment with them. The only people attending were immediate family. Gifts were not expected - in fact, I'm pretty positive they discouraged bringing gifts. They just wanted a chance to celebrate with family. Sarah is super creative and artistic - she adds personalized touches like the pinwheels and decorations whenever she hosts parties because she actually enjoys it as a creative outlet.