CBB Exclusive: Sean and Aonika Thomas’ baby shower and “Creole cravings”
by CBB interviewer Tracy Bobbitt of Crib Rock Couture:
On April 5th, French Creole beauty Aonika Laurent Thomas, 37, (Fantastic Four) and her husband, actor Sean Patrick Thomas, 37, (Barbershop, Save the Last Dance, Cruel Intentions) were treated to a New Orleans-style baby shower, hosted by and in the home of their dear friends, director Tim Story (Fantastic Four, Barbershop) and his wife, Vicki.
Expecting their baby — it’s a girl, they revealed — on Wednesday, May 14th, Sean and Aonika invited the Celebrity Baby Blog to document their shower and spoke to us about their fertility struggle.
Click below for the photo and interview highlights.
It’s befitting that the shower took place at the Story’s home, because it was Vicki Story who introduced Aonika and Sean at her husband Tim’s birthday party in 2003. She admits that she made the introduction with the hopes that Sean and Aonika would begin dating. The ploy obviously worked, as the couple has been together ever since. They were married on April 22, 2006.
Aonika’s cousin, designer Chimene Clarke-Holmes of Fleur De Lis Events, fulfilled the couple’s “Creole cravings” and desire for a New Orleans-inspired shower by transforming the Story’s modern residence into a vision of Vieux Carré.
Her motto for the French Creole affair was “Laissez bon temps rouler!” which loosely translated means “Let the good times roll!” Clarke Holmes hired Chef Latee Braud of the Creole Chef Restaurant and Chef Damon Stalworth of Great Western Catering to fashion all the couple’s favorite southern dishes for the day-long event: Creole-style shrimp scampi, gumbo, red beans, rice, Cajun crab cakes, and honey mustard chicken wings. For dessert, guests were treated to bread pudding and peach cobbler accompanied by specialty drinks courtesy of Cliff’s Concoctions.
The gorgeous centerpiece cake created by Rosebud Cakes of Beverly Hills, CA was surrounded by baby gifts galore, including an Orbit stroller courtesy of celebrity nursery designer Shalena Smith of Ga Ga Designs.
Taking time out from the day’s festivities, Aonika and Sean revealed that their road to pregnancy was not a smooth one, as they experienced difficulties both conceiving and carrying to term. According to Aonika, in September of 2007 they began to consider other methods of conception, but instead made the choice to temporarily “stop trying.” Miraculously, that’s when she became pregnant.
Aonika describes Sean as a “hands-on father to be” who’s accompanied her on every prenatal appointment and diligently caters to her pregnancy cravings — going on impromptu runs to Pinkberry for frozen yogurt, and at other times, bringing home her favorite caramel sundaes.
While the couple wasn’t planning to learn the sex of the baby prior to delivery, during the 4-D ultrasound the technician simply announced, “She’s doing great.” They were thrilled. Sean says they’ve narrowed the list of potential names for their daughter down to three, but aren’t sharing those names quite yet.
At the close of the day’s shower festivities, the party guests gathered together pool side, where Sean and Aonika were each presented with a small, white box.
Unbeknowst to them, Chimene Clarke-Holmes conceived of a ceremony paying tribute to the pregnancies Sean and Aonika have lost and in celebration of the baby girl arriving. Chimene explained to the party guests that in Native American tradition, for a wish to be granted, one must capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. The butterfly would then take that wish directly up to heaven and to the Creator.
Emotion-filled, Sean and Aonika whispered their wishes and opened their boxes releasing a flurry of monarch butterflies into the sky. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the guests as family and friends took in the ritual’s profound significance for the couple.
Sean recently completed acting in the film project Burrowers, due for release later this year, and the talented duo recently co-wrote the film, Yellow Moon, which they’ll produce through their company, Dark Horse Productions. Dark Horse has optioned three novels the Thomas’ intend on adapting and producing as well.
The couple agrees, however, that their first priority is the production called parenthood, and they both look forward to spending time off work to focus on the baby. Aonika, who plans to breastfeed and has created a natural birthing plan, is scheduled to give birth at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA on or near her due date of Wednesday, May 14th.
- Posted on May 8, 08 at 3:00PM
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- 16 Comments
May 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
What a beautiful tribute to release butterflies after making a wish. I hope to do that soon as soon as I can catch one!!!
All my best wishes Sean and Aonika!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
May God Bless You. I have a child conceived via IVF/ICSI. Infertility is not a topic widely discussed in the African American community. I thank you for being open regarding your challenges. I used to look at IF as a curse but I know, it is my testimony to share with others. I have three angels in Heaven and I know they are smiling down upon me. Have a great time!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Beautiful couple – sweet shower
I LOVE her dress!
May 8th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
its only May 8th today haha
May 8th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I’ve always loved Sean Patrick Thomas, and I’m so happy for him and Aonika. =D
May 8th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
oh how beautiful that prayer was. I never heard that before and that was the most precious thing you could do. Now I think I should do that at my next baby shower since my husband is part indian. I love the way they had their baby shower ..so cute but elegant, especially tht cake. That was a really pretty cake. God Bless them and their soon to be born baby girl. Such a lovely family!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:51 am
They are a beautiful couple. Releasing the butterflies was a lovely thought. I LOVE Sean, he is so handsome. ‘Save the last Dance’ is one of my favourite films!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Your rough times are gone your prayers have and your dreams of parenting is finally here. So enjoy the next step of Gods blessing and that is the birth of the new addition to your family which will give love a new meaning . LOVE YOU BOTH
SEAN TAWANA FARRAH
(I AM THE GOD FATHER)
May 9th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for updating the site about them.I was wondering how they were doing.I wish them the best.That baby shower looked wonderful as a Louisianan I wish I could go back and have a shower like that.I absolutely love Fleur de Lis.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Hi Aonika,
Congratulations on your baby. I hope that all goes well. I wish you and Sean the best of luck. Love you. Dana
May 18th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
French Creole?! That girl is BLACK from New Orleans’ 7th Ward. Creole is a CULTURE that died out in New Orleans lonnnnnng time ago.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I thank them for sharing their struggles with fertility. I love their Louisiana inspired baby shower. Congratulations to them on the birth of their little girl.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 am
Congratulation Aoni and Sean!! I am so happy for you all, the shower looked like you all enjoyed yourselves. Sorry I couldn’t make it back for it. Sean don’t spoil her too bad. You guys will have to email some pictures so we could see the precious bundle.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Aonika & Sean,
I was honored to Plan your Baby Shower. God has his timing for everything. I happy everything turned out so beautifully. I was guided by the Holy Spirit for every detail.
Trust the Past to God’s Mercy, The Present to God’s Love and The Future to God’s Will. I look forward to desinging Little Lola’s Christening Celebration,
Love,
Chimene Clarke-Holmes
Fleur de Lis Events & Sterling~Jewel Flowers
July 15th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Wow! I was surfing the net for a baby shower cake for my sisters third baby and who do I find YOU! How are you It is so great to see your face again. Still beautiful! Congratulations!
August 16th, 2008 at 7:49 am
i love sean patrick thomas he is well fit!! his wife is sooo lucky i wish he was mine!! i love the film save the last dance because i like all that kind of dancing would sean be able to do that dancing now ?