Congratulations, Clara!

What a blessing this weekend has been, and what an answer to prayer it was as well.

Clara was baptized yesterday in a beautiful ceremony at our parish, and our family and friends came from far and wide to celebrate with us. We were so thrilled to have everyone here for it and so thankful they all could make it.

I wasn't sure how a nearly-ten-month-old baby would react to being baptized, especially at 6:30 in the evening (not her best time) after already sitting through an hour-long Mass. But she did great. She was quite talkative at the very beginning, but as soon as the first hymn started playing (Be Thou My Vision, which almost made me cry), she fell asleep in her Godfather's arms. She slept the rest of the time, even through the water being poured over the head and the only time she really woke up was as we stood on the alter at the very end and everyone clapped for her. She opened her huge eyes, clearly startled, and looked at everyone, only to fall back asleep about two seconds later.

The baptism was so special, from start to finish. I actually almost cried a couple times, especially when our priest said during his homily that before the foundation of the earth, God had written it for her to be our daughter. I almost lost it with that, as did Ryan.

After the baptism, Father came up to me and commented on how incredibly blessed we are, and how it wasn't that long ago that I sat in his office for spiritual direction and things were very bleak. Now he was baptizing our daughter, with our son in my womb. It really is amazing.

The day and ceremony went by so fast, but at least I can savor the moment every time I smell her oily hair. I'm not going to bathe her again until tomorrow.

Of course, I have pictures. GIMH was kind enough to take a bunch with my camera...

Right before we left for the church. Clara's gown is new, but her bonnet is the same one I wore for my baptism nearly 34 years ago.



Her Godparents (and their three beautiful children) were kind enough to travel from Upstate New York for the occasion.



Walking to baptismal font while chanting the Litany of Saints. A friend of ours even served as cantor for the baptism. It was so beautiful!



Sound asleep.








Not even being baptized with Holy Water could wake Clara up.



Receiving the blessings of the mother and father at the Marian chapel.



My parents (left) and Ryan's parents (right).



She finally woke up at the very end, just in time for her party!

We are so thankful to God that our sweet little baby was able to receive her first sacrament. I was not sure when this day would come, and for her to receive it sooner then we expected was such a wonderful blessing. We love you, dear Clara. Welcome to the Body of Christ!