3rd Baby Shower with Baha'is

June 20, 2009 - Kamran and Perla Talebi's Residence

The Talebis hosted the baby shower for us, although Lani and Sherry were really the organizers of it all. It was one lovely event. We started by some friends reading a few prayers. Then they gave me the prayer for expectant mothers to read. Afterwards, there were several fun games. For one of them, everyone got pegs, and if you could make someone say the word "baby" out loud, he/she got your peg. Then we did a word scramble with Jayron's complete name. The challenge was to see who could come up with the highest number of words in 8 minutes. Guess who won!!:) Then we burst baloons and extracted little notes from them that asked each person to complete a certain baby rhyme. And finally, the grand game was the treasure hunt through the grounds of the Talebi residence that led us to the bed of a truck that had our crib gift! It was amazing and fun. In the last two pictures, you can see Aaron re-arranging the baby's room in order to accomodate the crib he just built. We had fun building it for 3.5 hours! Yep! Actually, Aaron just had me lay there and read the instructions while he did the actual engineering. It is a complex one that is able to change into a toddler bed and then a twin bed afterward as the baby grows bigger! We are so grateful to the Baha'i friends. Jayron is one lucky little boy!

The Diaper cake! With a monkey holding a banner that says "Jayron" and trying to mount the cake! That was soooo cute! Jennifer and her mom, Sherry, made it entirely out of diapers.
Lots of munchies. Hmmm...

You can see I had started collecting quite a few pegs and perching them on the sleeve of my dress.

Getting ready to begin

Little Naomi samples Jayron's blue swim cap! Doesn't it look cute on her?

Aaron and our ABM, Dan Reimer.

On the treasure hunt

Looking for clues...

Everyone was excited and accompanied me.

Finally we find the treasure!

Lani, third from left, put together the treasure hunt guide. Good job, Lani!!:)

Some of our dear Marshallese Baha'i friends.

Dayna was having a good time!

:)

With Tuba and Amin

Sherry and her daughter made this ingenious diaper cake! Thanks, Sherry!

We love it!

Re-arranging Jayron's room after building the crib.

The completed crib. After we put in the hamper and bottom drawers, it will be all done!!

Fombe Family in Green Africtude

Oklahoma City - June 14, 2009

They had to take pictures for their church directory. I thought they looked too cute!!

Earlier, we had been to visit Bertina and Divine's baby, Dina.

Aaron loves babies

Baby Shower - Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City - June 13, 2009

It all began with the confirmation ceremony of my cousins, Samgwa'a and Samgella, at the Catholic Church. Notice the ointment on their foreheads in the first picture. It is a big ceremony. The arch bishop is there and he annoints the entire class himself. He is escorted into church by the Knights of Columbus. It's a solemn occasion where the confirmants consciously confirm their faith. My aunt's family is a very strong Catholic family.

Anyways, that's how it all started. Aaron and I came to Oklahoma City for the occasion. I had no idea that a surprise baby shower was in store for me afterward. The second shower in a week, I might add. And what's more, Aaron was keyed in on the surprise but I had no idea! Everyone really outdid themselves in showering me with gifts. My aunt, Angeline, God bless and sustain her and her family, did a wonderful job putting it all together, with lots to eat and drink.

Ma Angeline and her cousin, Leh.

With Auntie Salome

With Ma Dora, Ma Sue and others

My cousins

Everyone was just bustling around and enjoying the festivities

I was in the seat of honor in the corner

With Ba Fombe, my aunt's husband

With Ni George

Hubby dear...

My cousins are smiling back at Aaron as he goes around taking pictures

Eating time. Can you imagine all the food!!!!

With Sabina

Ma Angeline and Ruth. Ruth helped with the cooking too.

Opening gifts and acknowledging the wonderful people who gave them.

With Martine. She gave me some really cool stuff.

With cousins Frank and Sharon. Notice the nice comfy cushy (pottie) they got me.

Ma Grace (middle) defended Aaron when they teased him about how it all happened!!:)

With cousins

And their mom

This family gave me three huge packets of Purex soap for baby's clothes. Awesome!

Ma Salome, Ma Angeline, and cousin Leh.

With Bertina. She had her baby girl, Dina, just some 5 months earlier.

Cutting the cake