According to Wikipedia, a baby shower is a party in which parents or expectant parents receive gifts for their newborn or expected child. It is a tradition, if one may call it that, popular in the United States, but one that's also starting to spread in Europe.

I find baby showers sweet. It's an event when close friends can gather and share the expectant parents excitement on the arrival of their new baby. Where I start to get a bit peeved, is when baby showers take grandiose proportions, with wish lists and registries and such. I even heard of a wish list with a Bugaboo in it. C'mon!