Gayle King throws daughter Kirby Bumbus her ‘dream’ baby shower in Laguna Beach

Gayle King was beaming as she posed for photos with her pregnant daughter Kirby Bumpus at her recent beachside baby shower in California, where the mom-to-be was gifted a $500 stroller from her godmother Oprah Winfrey. 

Bumbus, 35, is expecting her first child, a baby boy, with her husband Virgil Miller, and King, 66, went all out when planning her only daughter’s ‘dream’ shower that was both memorable and COVID safe. 

In late July, the CBS This Morning anchor invited 16 close family members and friends — all of whom were vaccinated and had tested negative for COVID-19 — to celebrate Bumbus during a three-day getaway at the Montage Laguna Beach resort. 

‘It turned into something that was bigger than a baby shower. Kirby was at the core of the celebration — no doubt about that — but it became a celebration of friendship, a celebration of women, and a celebration of coming together after things have been so hard for so many people,’ King told Oprah Daily.

All smiles: Gayle King, 66, threw her pregnant daughter Kirby Bumpus, 35, a lavish baby shower in California in late July 

Incredible:The CBS This Morning anchor invited 16 close family members and friends to celebrate Bumbus at the Montage Laguna Beach resort

Incredible:The CBS This Morning anchor invited 16 close family members and friends to celebrate Bumbus at the Montage Laguna Beach resort

‘To be honest with you, I didn’t know it was going to be that. I knew it would be pretty and nice, but I think it grew into something much more significant than that.’

Bumbus and Miller had a small, socially distanced wedding ceremony at Winfrey’s home in Santa Barbara, California, in December, and she initially thought her shower would likely have to be virtual because of the pandemic. 

However, once the COVID-19 became widely available and she was able to get the shot, her mom knew that she wanted to do something special to make up for the other milestone events she had missed out on.  

‘When Kirby got married in December, she didn’t have the wedding that she’d planned. We were still in the process of figuring out exactly what that would be, but we knew, whatever it was, it’d be more than six people,’ King explained. 

Safe shower: All of the guests were vaccinated and had tested negative for COVID-19 before attending the three-day getaway

Safe shower: All of the guests were vaccinated and had tested negative for COVID-19 before attending the three-day getaway

Making it up: King said she wanted her daughter's baby shower 'to be more than just a Zoom thing' because the pandemic prevented her from having a bridal shower

Making it up: King said she wanted her daughter's baby shower 'to be more than just a Zoom thing' because the pandemic prevented her from having a bridal shower

Making it up: King said she wanted her daughter’s baby shower ‘to be more than just a Zoom thing’ because the pandemic prevented her from having a bridal shower 

‘That turned out to be perfect, but she didn’t have a bridal shower or any of those events, so I really wanted her baby shower to be more than just a Zoom thing.

‘Not to mention that part of the fun of being pregnant is seeing your friends react to your baby bump, watching them ooh and aah and letting them touch it,’ the grandmother-to-be added. 

King, who teamed up with Bumbus’s best friend, Erica, for the shower, initially thought they could plan the event themselves, but that idea went out the window after she was asked a question about the gift bags. 

The journalist turned to Details Details owner Jeannie Young, who suggested they used shades of blue as a starting point for the shower’s decor in honor of Bumbus having a baby boy. 

‘It was the first moment to celebrate a lot of things that happened in the last two years — and Mom definitely went all out and outdid herself,’ Bumbus said. ‘The thing I keep saying is that I can’t even call this the shower of my dreams because I didn’t even dream something like that for myself.’

Blessed: Bumbus received plenty of thoughtful gifts, including a $500 BabyZen YOYO² stroller from her godmother Oprah Winfrey

Blessed: Bumbus received plenty of thoughtful gifts, including a $500 BabyZen YOYO² stroller from her godmother Oprah Winfrey

Intimate: Bumbus and her husband Virgil Miller had a small, socially distanced wedding ceremony at Winfrey's home in Santa Barbara, California, in December due to COVID-19

Intimate: Bumbus and her husband Virgil Miller had a small, socially distanced wedding ceremony at Winfrey’s home in Santa Barbara, California, in December due to COVID-19

The expectant mom received plenty of thoughtful gifts, including a BabyZen YOYO² stroller from Winfrey, a quilt made by her aunt Sharon, cute baby clothes, and a number of children’s books to grow her son’s library.  

Heartwarming photos from the shower show Bumbus cradling her baby bump and posing with her mom while wearing an off-the-shoulder blue dress in honor of her impending arrival.

‘I’m very excited about a boy,’ she said. ‘For starters, I think my husband Virgil would be a great dad to a boy or girl, so I just can’t wait to see him become a dad. 

‘And selfishly, I’m grateful that I don’t have to figure out how to do a little girl’s hair just yet, because I’m not sure I’m ready for that.’ 

King, who also has a son, William Bumpus Jr., added that she is just as excited to welcome another boy into the family.  

Almost here! Bumpus's due date is just a few weeks, and she and her husband have been busy installing their baby's car and having their final session with their doula

Almost here! Bumpus's due date is just a few weeks, and she and her husband have been busy installing their baby's car and having their final session with their doula

Almost here! Bumpus’s due date is just a few weeks, and she and her husband have been busy installing their baby’s car and having their final session with their doula

Aww: 'I've wanted to be a mom for so long and having a mom like mine has given me such an incredible template for what a mom can be,' Bumbus said

Aww: ‘I’ve wanted to be a mom for so long and having a mom like mine has given me such an incredible template for what a mom can be,’ Bumbus said 

‘I would have been thrilled either way, but I was so excited when I found out it was a boy because, as the oldest of four girls, I always wanted a big brother for myself,’ she explained. ‘To see your own baby have a baby — it still blows my mind that this is actually happening.’

Bumpus’s due date is just a few weeks, and she and her husband have been busy installing their baby’s car and having their final session with their doula.    

‘Knowing how the whole birth experience is different and riskier for Black women, we felt it was essential to go into the delivery room fully informed and with someone who would really be an advocate for us,’ she said. 

‘Once we’ve done that, I think we might actually be ready — or as ready as we can be. We know there’s a million things that we don’t know and a million things that we need to learn, but out of all the jobs I’ve ever sought out, this is the one that I know for sure I really want,’ she added. 

‘I’ve wanted to be a mom for so long and having a mom like mine has given me such an incredible template for what a mom can be. I love our relationship, and I get so excited thinking about what that relationship will look like with my son as he’s a baby, as he’s a child, and so on.’

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