The baptism

We were certainly busy this last week. Grandma and Grandpa R got in on Thursday afternoon for Avonlea Jane's baptism. Grandpa and Grandpa C (who somehow managed to not be in any of our photos), Uncle Jeff and Aunt Hubbell, and Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Bissell arrived to our house on Saturday. We're thankful everyone arrived to Salem safely, because blizzard conditions were not exactly the weather for which we were hoping. The weather not only made travelling slower, but Salem was under a snow emergency which brought on a parking ban. We were worried that no one would be able to attend her welcoming brunch because of the lack of street parking, but of the twenty-six people we expected, twenty-four were able to make it to the house (with a good deal of snow hiking and ferrying people back and forth to public lots). We are blessed to have so many brave friends who would leave their warm houses to trek through the snow to celebrate with Avonlea Jane.

This weekend was the first time that she met her great-grandparents and her godparents, Jeff and Hubbell. We think everyone was just as thrilled with her as we are. Great-grandma brought with her from Indiana the family baptismal gown, which was too adorable on her. Because of how cold the weather was and the hurry that we were in, we were unable to get full length portraits of Avonlea Jane in the gown, but it has a three-foot train to it. The gown slip has also been embroidered with her name and birthdate, joining mine, Uncle Dillon's, and cousin Brandon's. Avonlea Jane's Great-grandma Radue also sent to us the baptismal gown that Grandpa R wore, which we planned to put her in for the brunch. However, because of how cold it was with people coming in and out bringing snow with them, we kept her bundled. We will soon have pictures of her taken in the gown though.

Avonlea Jane was quiet all through the mass, but was not as happy during the baptism ceremony. We were expecting there to be four other babies being baptised on the same day, but we were fortunate to be the only family. So, while her crying might have been bothersome to strangers, it was just cute to our family.

Once everyone got safely to our house for the reception things went very well, and Avonlea Jane was more than happy to play a part in "pass in the baby." We are incredibly happy that so many people came to the house, because otherwise I don't know what we would have done with all of the food we prepared.

We wish that our families could have stayed to visit longer, but the weather and the holidays posed a bit of a restriction. But, we were very glad to have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with our families, as we are unable to travel to Indiana.

We hope that everyone enjoyed the occasion as much as we did, but we think we've learned some lessons for baby #2: In the future, have babies in warm weather. Don't plan major events around major holidays. Don't host a large event only one month after having a baby.

*We didn't get very many pictures, but when we get them from other sources, we will post them. Happy Christmas Eve!