Just Turkish

[awaterlily 0]

OMG! How exciting! Welcome Defne and Iyanna! Congrats, Merk, Tanya and to both of your families! *Insallah*

Well I am glad to announce that Iyanna Behiye Bagceci was born Oct 2nd!!!! She came in at a healthy 5lbs 5oz.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to tell you all that our daughter, Defne Azra Karaman, was born on Oct 1st weighing 8 lb 2 oz!

Tanya

Edited October 15, 2009 by awaterlily

[Gil + Pel 2]

Well I am glad to announce that Iyanna Behiye Bagceci was born Oct 2nd!!!! She came in at a healthy 5lbs 5oz.

awww... she looks adorable ! Masallah ! Allah nazardan saklasın Allah analı babalı büyütsün insallah congratulations !

[Ctrl+alt+delete 0]

çok güzel...Mashallah......Welcome Iyanna Behiye Bagceci

Congratulations Merk and Hubby

Well I am glad to announce that Iyanna Behiye Bagceci was born Oct 2nd!!!! She came in at a healthy 5lbs 5oz.

[Ctrl+alt+delete 0]

Mashallah.! Welcome Defne Azra Karaman

Congratulation Tanya & Hubby....Cant wait to see a photo

Hi everyone! I know it has been awhile since I have posted....between internet/computer troubles & my hectic school schedule right now...but anyway, I just wanted to tell you all that our daughter, Defne Azra Karaman, was born on Oct 1st weighing 8 lb 2 oz! All's well and she's as healthy as can be I'll try to post a picture soon but I have had more troubles in that department as my digital camera so conveniently broke 2 days before her birth ( ) so the only pics we have are on our phones and an old digital camera that I have lost the cable for!

Hope everyone is well!

Tanya

[Ctrl+alt+delete 0]

Thanks guys for the well wishes, trying to feel better.

[tanyakaraman 0]

I was just looking at this story on CNN and found it very interesting. I praise this guy for bringing attention to the underside of 'cosmopolitan' Istanbul - these issues effect so many places, globally.

Cabbie photographs the underbelly of Istanbul

here's his personal photo gallery website

Sevket

Thanks for posting Awaterlily. He's quite a photographer and his photos bring attention to an issue that really needs it. I've noticed a lot of ppl begging in the streets, not just in Istanbul but elsewhere in Turkey also. The children are the ones that really get to me...the ones selling tissues, etc., in the streets with the big sad eyes... Of course it is a global problem as well, especially in big cities like Istanbul, but you don't see the little children so much here in the US. Their situation really touched me...

[awaterlily 0]

I know, they really pull on your heart. You want to help & 'save' them all - but how?

I've hear in Italy the kids actually will try to take money right out of your pockets. Friends that have travelled there said they had to slap their hands away otherwise they'll keep reaching in. Very brave little ones.

They're like little gangs....and, unfortunately, shady adults 'take them in' and abuse & exploit them....kind of like slaves.

What I found interesting was the pics of the transvestites. I mean, I heard there was a big community of them, mostly in Izmir (correct me if I'm wrong in this one). I don't recall seeing any of these people (unless I was mistaken b/c they looked so much like the real deal LOL).

Anyway, like Turkey, I suppose there are many countries where homosexuality is still illegal or mostly underground.

I was just looking at this story on CNN and found it very interesting. I praise this guy for bringing attention to the underside of 'cosmopolitan' Istanbul - these issues effect so many places, globally.

Cabbie photographs the underbelly of Istanbul

here's his personal photo gallery website

Sevket

Thanks for posting Awaterlily. He's quite a photographer and his photos bring attention to an issue that really needs it. I've noticed a lot of ppl begging in the streets, not just in Istanbul but elsewhere in Turkey also. The children are the ones that really get to me...the ones selling tissues, etc., in the streets with the big sad eyes... Of course it is a global problem as well, especially in big cities like Istanbul, but you don't see the little children so much here in the US. Their situation really touched me...

Edited October 16, 2009 by awaterlily

[tanyakaraman 0]

I finally located the cable for my camera so here's a pic of our little peanut...

[tanyakaraman 0]

I know what you mean...it just makes me sad to see little kids living like that. I've heard that in Istanbul, parents send them out on the street 'cause they know the tourists will feel sorry for them. I've been told its better not to buy things from them or give them money because that encourages the practice, but its hard to resist. I just want to take them home and give them a big meal and a warm bath...

Come to think of it, I've only ever seen one transvestite that I was aware of in Turkey....it was about 3 am (we were driving to the airport to catch an early flight home) and we saw a shadow running into a house. Ozzy said it was a transvestite running indoors so as not to be seen by the police. Funny that it's so "underground" yet several popular singers in Turkey are openly gay/transvestite...

name='awaterlily' date='Oct 16 2009, 05:32 PM' post='3410486']

I know, they really pull on your heart. You want to help & 'save' them all - but how?

I've hear in Italy the kids actually will try to take money right out of your pockets. Friends that have travelled there said they had to slap their hands away otherwise they'll keep reaching in. Very brave little ones.

They're like little gangs....and, unfortunately, shady adults 'take them in' and abuse & exploit them....kind of like slaves.

What I found interesting was the pics of the transvestites. I mean, I heard there was a big community of them, mostly in Izmir (correct me if I'm wrong in this one). I don't recall seeing any of these people (unless I was mistaken b/c they looked so much like the real deal LOL).

Anyway, like Turkey, I suppose there are many countries where homosexuality is still illegal or mostly underground.

[tanyakaraman 0]

Julia, the pics of your wedding are absolutely gorgeous!! Tebrikler!

And babies Iyanna and Mehmet are just so beautiful! I can't believe how big Mehmet is getting! I guess I will be saying the same about Defne before we know it!

Thanks for the congrats & well wishes!

Love,

Tanya

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

OMG Tanya...babies don't get any more beautiful than yours!!! Wow....my breath caught whn the picture popped up...absolutely gorgeous!!

BTW so is Merk's baby!! Beautiful and baby Mehmet is a handsome little guy!

Thanks for the baby pics...I cannot wait to have our own!

[Deb_Res 0]

OMG!

Congrats Tanya and Merk! Your baby girls are soooooooooo beautiful! I'm so happy for the both of you! And yes! They will grow so quickly before your eyes... It's making me sad to see how grown Mehmet is and I miss holding him like a baby and having him fall asleep in my arms because now he just wants to go! Wants to be down on the floor crawling, standing and getting into mischief! LOL! But it is exciting too to see the little person he will be evolve in front of your eyes too... It also gets easier over time as I am sure you are both overwhelmed! The first 3-4 months are the hardest on all! I can't believe Mehmet will be a year old in 5 weeks! So enjoy those little Turkish Princesses girls! Inshalla to you both and your families!

Best to you all!

[wendya 0]

Tanya and Ozzy your little princess is beautiful!!! Thank you for posting the picture

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Tebrikler Tanya & Merk - and welcome to the world Defne and Iyanna! Two beautiful baby girls born to two beautiful mothers! There are so many exciting things happening with all of the Turkish-American couples - it's great!

Onur and I are doing well - he is working as a server at the Raddison hotel and likes his job. I am staying super-busy with my first year of teaching. We are hoping to be able to take a trip sometime soon (he still hasn't been out of Ohio!), but he works all weekend now, so we should probably wait a bit longer before he requests days off.

Our case was touched a few days ago, so we're hoping that means the green card will be coming soon.

Congrats again to the new mommies! Hope everyone else is doing well - sounds like everyone is keeping busy!

Kendine iyi bak!

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

WE JUST GOT OUR NOA2. It only took 25 days!!!

I didn't think I would be THIS excited, but maybe I am more shocked than I thought because it came so late at night. I just checked our status 45 minutes ago and it showed no change. Then my phone beeped, about 20 minutes after I checked the status and I had a text from USCIS that we were approved. I couldn't believe it when I went back and checked our case and saw that it actually had been approved.

The text came at 9:19pm.. Is VSC really working that late to get caught up or maybe the updates and texts are just delayed? I don't know.. I don't care :)

I told Fuat I would let him know the minute it happened.. but it's 4:30am there and I have to wake him for work in 2 hours.. my heart tells me to call him.. my brain tells me to let him sleep and tell him in two hours.

I just can't believe it.

And I am going to apologize now.. because I know I am going to start driving everyone crazy about the forms and getting ready for Ankara :)

OK.. I think I need a drink