1-7-18  Layla's Baptism!!!!

Layla's Baptism

January 7 at Rivercliff Lutheran Church

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

 Working around all the parents and grandparents and godparents schedules, today was the best day to have Layla's baptism.  So Josh's folks came down on Tues. of last week and stayed for the week.  Ben flew down on Sat. and joined them for 3 nights.  Godparents Emily and Brian flew down with their son and Emily's parents on Friday.  Tim and Faith even drove down and spent Sat. and Sun night at our apartment.  So it's been another hectic week!  Josh even started back to work from his 2 weeks off.  I'm sure Angie is exhausted!!!!
In addition to all the visitors and caring for a preemie newborn, they've also been trying to take care of all the stuff they need to get done before the adoption can be finalized: a bunch more paper work; Dr. appointments; vet appointments; finger printing; CPR re-certification; and I'm sure there's more I don't know about.
But on to today-----
The baptism was beautiful and Layla was a little angel all the way through it.

We were a little early

 The guest of honor has arrived

 Hurrying to get out of the cold

 There she is!

 admiring church members

 Godmother Emily and son, Alex.

 Someone was not too happy being taken out of her warm carrier.  (I loved the little rainbow sleeper---rainbows remind me of my Mom and today is her birthday). 

 Layla getting a full tummy to help her make it through the ceremony.

Emily and family with Josh's family behind them

More well wishers

 Godparents getting their instructions.

 time to change into her Christening outfit.

  the happy family

content again.

 The children of the congregation were invited to come to the front of church for the baptism.  We thought that was a nice gesture.

 addressing the kids

 

 Time for the hand off.

 hardly a squirm

 almost done

 no crying, but she did decide to share some of the milk she just drank with pastor.

 presenting her baptism candle to be lit on the anniversary of her baptism every year.

 final words before the commencement of mass.

 Newest member of the church.

Introducing Layla to the congregation

 content with her new place.

 introducing her to the other children in the congregation

 lots of congrats

 family hanging out

 time for the Godmother to take a turn

 after mass photos

 Proud Mom and Dad

 and Godparents

 The Hicks

 The LaBeaumes and a few Hicks

 Layla's new family in Christ

 The Godparents and family

Then we were on our way to Jim and Nicks Bar B Q for a delicious meal.

Courtesy of Angie and Josh!  Darrel and Ken tried to pay for the lunch, but Angie and Josh were not having that. 

Brought back so many memories of the days Tim and Angie were baptized---although we didn't go to lunch, just had family and friends come by the house.   Where has the time gone?!

1-6-18  Christmas at the Hicks's:

Since Angie and Josh weren't able to make it to St. Louis for Christmas, they decided to hold their Christmas with the family today when everyone could be there: Josh's folks and brother; Tim and Faith; and us. 
We made Ben play Santa and hand out the gifts.  

 waiting anxiously

 MeMa and PaPa

 Cheesy Faith and Tim

 My haul.  Picture of Layla, junior mints, collector coin, and a $25 Itunes gift card.  A few days later Angie and Josh also gave us an Echo.  We use theirs all the time when we're playing cards to play music for us.

 Faith and her "I'll be there in a Prosecco" t-shirt

 Tim and his new hat.

 an "awwww" moment

 baby time!

 Faith and Josh buds

 Tim in a stare down with Layla

 Still can't get them interested in having their own!

It was a great time!  Maybe we should have Christmas celebrations weeks apart every year!?

12-31-17  Christening gown shopping:

So where do you buy Christening outfits from anymore????  After calling several stores, Angie was thinking of ordering one online for a couple hundred dollars and hoping it got here in time.  As a last resort, she asked if I'd stop at the Rack and see if they had any.  On my way there, I saw Von Maur and wondered if they might have something.  So I stopped.  Much to my delight, yes, they do!  So I took pictures and sent them to Angie.   It still amazes me that we have that technology now!  Things sure were a lot different 30 years ago!!!
Anyway---there were quite a few options to choose from:
We had been talking about how cold it was and how Christening outfits weren't warm.  So I was surprised to see this.  Such a cute little sweater pantsuit

 even had cute little shoes and socks

 and cute little bibs!

 Not many dresses to choose from, but they were really cute.

  Unfortunately the smallest dresses were a 3month.  Layla was barely 8 lbs now, so needed a NB size.

 The pantsuit came in a NB, so did this.  It wasn't in the Christening stuff, but it was cute and very practical. 

Angie had me buy the pantsuit and the lacy sleeper gown/head band to see them in person.  The sleeper gown was the winner.  It was also much cheaper then the outfits she saw online---$48.  One less thing to worry about!