Kayla's Baby Shower

I went up to the school the other day for our "night of sewing." Velma has been teaching me how to make an atikluk, or traditional shirt/dress. She came running down from the gym area, "Oh my! Those kids put a hole through the gym door!" We went down to check it out and-"Surprise!"-ladies jumped out from the corner. There were about 25 people there, including some elders that I don't really even interact with often. We sure had fun! I told them, "I've ever been to a baby shower like this one! Ladies on Noatak are crazy!" We sure laughed the whole evening. It was really sweet; Velma started off the evening with a little speech about me and how excited they were to have our baby here next year, with all of his/her "aanas, tattas, aunties, uncles and friends." She alked of the communication differences and said, "Maybe when grandma and grandpa come to visit, the baby will answer with eyebrows and they won't know what he/she is saying!"
We played games that had us crying we were laughing so hard, ate some yummy treats, and enjoyed time together. One of the midwives from Noatak told me, "Don't worry, if you need to have your baby in the village I can help! I delivered babies all times of night." She told me this as she was squatting in front of me ready to catch my baby! They even brought gifts. I got diapers, onsies, bathing products, bottles, outfits, books, blankets, mulkuks, and mittens. I was so surprised at the time that some of the ladies put into their gifts. We received handmade mukluks (boots with fur), mittens, and knitted blankets! It really is like an extended family here. Everyone was so thoughtful!