Getting Together for a New Family Member

There's nothing like getting together to celebrate the impending arrival of a new family member. Here is my wife Christine in the act of surprising her sister Angelica at a little babyshower she threw for her this weekend. It was a modest and warm gathering that refelcted the care and thoughtfulness my wife puts into everything she does. The decorations, the souveniers and baby shower basket she made by hand, the lapel pins, and how she rearranged the funiture (including using my piano as a decoration table!) all refelcted my wife's personality and warmth.

Angelica and Alain are expecting by April 5th when she's scheduled to be induced. It's amazing to think that very soon a new person will come into the world with her own individual personality and potential to contribute to our society....
Family is central to everything we are and all we wish to become in our society, and I'm lucky to be a part of this little family.


Above are some family and friends waiting for Angelica and Alain to arrive. Christine, her mom, brother, India (Angelica's daughter), and I were literally decorating and cleaning our apartment right up until people started arriving!!!

Here on the right Alain and Eric swing back Coronas while Eric's wife, Marisol (Christine's aunt) chats it up with Angelica's friend Xiomara. India keeps a watchful eye on her brother Carlos who's really interested in what his mom is doing.

What these pictures don't capture is the smell and taste of how good my mother-in-law's cooking was!!! The pernil (roasted pork shoulder) and moro negro (rice cooked with black beans) was about as good as any Dominican mom from the old country could make!!! There's my mother-in-law, Adriana, laughing it up as she watches her son, Dioliver, and Eric go at it in a baby dressing competition below.

Above in the background and below is that delicious Dominican cake with pineapple filling!!!

Becoming a parent is an awe inspiring experience, and no matter how many times you are graced with a child the experience never ceases to amaze. We only have one, Christine and I, but are hoping for more. We have, however, seen many babies born into our family, and, as observers and co-child rearers, are inspired every time there's a new family member. This baby will be Angelica's third and Alain's first. We wish them, India, and Carlos all the best as they gear up for the fifth member of their little household! I'm going to love posting here when the day comes.....

Mmm, I think it's time for a piece of that cake....