Former Bachelor In Paradise star Ashley Iaconetti is expecting a baby boy with her husband, Jared Haibon, and she shared details about her baby shower that took place on Dec.12 at Bottino, an Italian restaurant in New York City. Ashley and Jared met on the beach in Mexico in 2015 when they were both contestants on Bachelor In Paradise season 2. Ashley felt instantly connected to Jared and fell in love with him, but it took him a little longer to see her as more than a friend. They tried dating in 2016, but it didn’t work out, and when they returned to Paradise for season 3, Jared wanted to date other people. Even though Ashley was hurt by this, she didn’t want to lose Jared as a friend, so they continued to hang out and documented their relationship on social media.
In 2018, Jared finally realized his feelings for Ashley on a trip to St. Lucia. They surprised fans with a video entitled “The Story of Us,” which announced their relationship and finally validated Ashley’s feelings that she and Jared were meant to be together. Jared proposed in June 2018, and their engagement aired on Bachelor In Paradise season 5. They got married in August 2019, and in July 2021, they announced that they were expecting a baby due on February 10, 2022. Ashley has kept fans up to date with her pregnancy, including very real descriptions of how ill she has felt for a lot of it due to some very difficult bouts with morning sickness and other ailments. In August 2021, Ashley and Jared announced the happy news that they will soon be the proud parents of a baby boy.
In an exclusive interview with E! News, Ashley shared the details of her baby shower. She said that she “had a great group of girls there,” but, “unfortunately, between COVID and sick kids and you know, just the holidays, more than half the guest list couldn't come." Despite this, Ashley said that they still “had a blast. It was one of those parties where you know the time is wrapping up and you're like, 'Oh, man, like, I really wish we had another hour!' And I always feel like that's the way a party should be." Among the guests was Carly Waddell, Ashley’s co-star from Bachelor In Paradise, who gave Ashley a onesie that said, “Future Boy Band Member,” along with a Jonas Brothers onesie. Ashley also shared some of the other gifts she received, including baby Doc Martens and a personalized New England Patriots ornament. She was excited to receive a Tom Brady onesie with the words, “Milk Drunk” printed on it, "and there’s a picture of him drunk after the trophy celebration." And of course, Ashley also received a dark blue outfit that said, “Future Bachelor,” a nod to her experience on the show.
The shower was sponsored by Snuggle Me Organic, and Ashley explained the two reasons that blue and silver decorations were chosen. She revealed, "My friend Maura Gaudio, of Happening Entertainment, her production company, put together the decor. It was all blue and silvery for, well, one, the boy, and two, because it's winter, so it had that winter feel. We had stars up in the sky, and it was very cozy, and very pretty. My sister did a lot of the game planning." In one of the games, several types of candy bars were melted into a diaper and "then you pass the diapers around and you have to figure out which candy bar is melted in there. They really do genuinely look like poop." There was also a game inspired by The Price Is Right during which the guests had to guess the cost of baby items. Ashley said that Carly laughed because she has children and should have known the prices off the top of her head, but she had trouble guessing. In another one of the games, guests tried to guess the circumference of Ashley’s belly. She revealed, "The girl who signed up Jared for [The Bachelorette]—who I owe my whole life to, of course, I wouldn't be having a baby if it weren't for her, she had it perfectly matched."
Ashley’s baby shower for her little boy seemed like a dream come true. The day was special and fun for Ashley. Ashley knew from the moment that she met Jared that they would have something special together, and she was right. They have built a beautiful life together, and recently celebrated the opening of their new café, Audrey's, in Rhode Island. They have experienced so many of life's milestones together, and now they are eager to meet their bundle of joy.
Source: E! News