by Sara McGinnis posted in Parenting

"Sip and See"!" I recently asked of a group of friends, shocked I hadn't ever heard of having a drink-themed meet and greet.
The first reply I received" "It's a Southern thing."
Huh, I thought. I don't often feel that having resided in the Pacific Northwest my entire life has kept me out of the loop, but here we are.
If you're anything like me, unaware this was even a thing, here's what you need to know.

A "Sip and See" is a celebration that's making its way around the country. Think of it as a baby shower-esque party that takes place after baby has been born, so friends and family can meet the new bub. That's the "see" part of the name, while the "sip" refers to light refreshments (often including champagne, which the new mom may be open to joining in on now that she's no longer pregnant, but traditionally tea). These get-togethers are similar to baby showers -- guests, even those who attended the show, often bring gifts -- but unlike the traditional women-only shower Sip and Sees tend to be open to couples and families. Not only that, but these events are thrown by the parents themselves rather than a friend or family member.

I personally don't think I'd have wanted to host a gathering in the first few weeks of my sons' infancies, as I generally dreaded having visitors at all. But on the other hand, it would be a plus to have all the visitors in a span of a few hours ra...