I tracked down a bunch of friends and family, and my awesome sister-in-law Debby put together a baby shower for Melissa. Due to Melissa's "modified bedrest" prescription, we held it down the road at Rengstorff Park in Mountain View, California.

Melissa, a few days before the baby shower. "You're not taking a picture of me, are you?"

Our friend Mary Jane came up from Los Angeles for the baby shower (and to play with a synchotron at UC Berkeley.) She arrived a few hours before the event.

My nephew's Conner and Elliot were playing with animal toys when we arrived.

Some friends talking to Melissa and enjoying Debby's fabulous spread. Left to right: Mike, Doug, Henry, Mary Jane, Melissa, Rachel.

Laurent (left) and Aura (right) 'sign in' with Debby (center).

Leng loaning Melissa some anime DVDs and Gameboy games to keep her busy. Also shown: Emily and Melinda, and I think Tracia's head.

Everyone gathering around Melissa. Clockwise from bottom left: Mary Jane, Melissa, Aura, Leng, Melinda, Marianne, Rachel, Tracia.

(More of the same.)

Doug and Tracia's kids Kian and Ashlyn play with Conner.

Laurent and Doug talking geek.

Elliot sets his chair up in the best spot: in front of a cake.

Foreground: Mary Jane, Emily and Leng. Background: the children rushing to the fence to watch the Caltrain go by.

Melissa shows a cute pop-up card from a bunch of friends.

Hanging out after the gift unwrapping. Venatius standing in back, near some cute decorations (slash gifts) Debby put up.

Mike woke up early, as usual.

A shot of the cake, before it got sliced and distributed.

Emily and Daphne do chorusline kicks.

(More kicks.)

(More hanging out.)

After the festivities, some friends stayed in town a bit later to play Guitar Hero, and eventually we met up with another friend-named-Doug and got sushi downtown.

Big thanks to Debby, Mike, Daphne, Mary Jane and Marianne for helping to put this all together!

Not shown (perhaps Leng got photos of them?) were some late arrivals (and early departers): my Aunt Mary Anne, my Cousin Marie, my brother Dean and my father Jim!