Not a usual baby shower, and not a usual baby

July 1, 2011

Holding their baby bottles filled during a “baby shower” for Mercy Smith’s doll Cinderella are (front, from left) Lexie Stahlman, Mercy, Ryan Williams, Owen Caylor; (back) Mollie Smith, Tori Stuchell, Brandon Williams and Zach Williams. (Photo by Holly Bloom/The Punxsutawney Spirit)

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Girls just want to have fun, and that’s exactly what Mercy Smith of Punxsy did Wednesday at her home during a baby shower for her baby doll, Cinderella.

The Punxsutawney Aglow International group supported Mercy in her request to have a baby shower for her doll by inviting members of the group and their grandchildren.

Aglow International is a group of women, teens, youth and men who meet once a month for worship and monthly speakers. The group focuses on different outreaches such as providing gifts to children on Christmas.
During one such Aglow meeting, Mercy requested the baby shower to invite “all her grown-up friends,” or everyone in the Aglow organization.

“She said it made her feel like a adult,” Aglow President Cathy Caylor said.

Mercy planned to have all her cousins and sister attend the event. She even requested that her older sister, Mollie, play the violin during the shower.

The baby shower had snacks and games, such as who could drink juice from baby bottles the fastest; stroller races; and blind-folded baby-food eating.

“I thought it was a crazy idea, but then again, it is a fun idea,” Mercy’s mother, Drinda, said.

Caylor said she thought it was a fun event, and that Mercy has probably started a new trend.