This was such a special day for us, words can't describe it. We were so happy to be able to introduce Jack to so many of our family and closest friends and the ceremony was just perfect. THANK YOU to everyone who made the journey, whether long or short, and came along to welcome Jack. :)
Here are some (um, a lot!) pictures from the day...
The beautiful (and delicious) cake Kath Gardiner made for Jack. Kath is Jayne's best friend's Mam and she did a wonderful job, very generously as a gift for our little man. Thank you again Kath. :)
Now, you'd think a Christening gown was quite a simple thing to sort out. Well, not quite so in our case. I had really wanted Jack to wear the gown that Katy and I wore for our Christenings but sadly we discovered it was a bit more girly and frilly than any of us remembered. :( Still, Jack being the good sport that he is tried it on... and here he is!
He enjoyed it way more than any of us would have thought - he really loved swishing that gown about. I think the fabric was just so smooth and shiny and rustled a bit he just couldn't help himself. Anyway, we decided this one wouldn't work because of the frilliness and the fact that it was reeeeeally hard to keep hold of him in such a slippy outfit!
Next we tried the 'emergency gown' we had bought in the USA. The results speak for themselves in this next pic - he looks like a very short, white version of Uncle Fester!! No good at all... even tho you can at least see the beautiful bootees Karin made for him. Thank you so much Karin - although nobody could see them in the end he did wear them with pride on his big day.
Lastly we tried the antique Edwardian gown that my sister, Katy, had brought for us to try. Thank goodness it fitted perfectly and looked just right. :)
The next pic shows Mummy and Jack all ready to go at the church, just before the ceremony began. And no, Jack wasn't on fire! It was just a pretty pattern cast by the sun shining through one of the stained glass windows in the little room behind the altar.
The next pics are various moments throughout the ceremony. Jack was an absolute angel , as usual, and seemed to enjoy every minute just as much as we did...
Granny and Grandad Lock read out the bidding prayers
A few of the kids got involved by holding the candle and oils until they were needed - a grand job was done by all. :) L to R - Eve, Ciara, Willie and Wee Jim with Auntie Katy supervising... just in case! ;)
Us with the Godparents, L to R: Uncle Bob, Auntie Claire, Auntie Katy (behind Fr. Andrew), Uncle Jim, Jack, Daddy, Mummy. Jack is very lucky to have such a fine set of Godparents to look out for him.
The pouring of water... lower Daddy, lower! ;)
Thank goodness Bob was tall enough to reach the big candle to light Jack's little one
Auntie Katy does her reading, from 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran:
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Grandma and Grandad T do their reading:
May Jack always find his treasure
In the blessings that life sends,
In the beauty of each season,
In the company of friends.
May Jack grow in faith and wisdom,
Gather strength from every storm,
May he always have a smile to share
And one to keep him warm.
May each path Jack chooses bring promise
Of the things he's dreaming of,
May his world be filled with peace and joy,
His heart be filled with love.
Mummy gets a blessing...
And so does Daddy
Jack is lulled into a sleepy state by Auntie Claire... do you think her son William wanted something? ;)
L to R: Jack's Cousin Willie, Auntie Katy, Uncle Jim, Cousin Jim, Great-gran and Great-great-Auntie Minnie
L to R: Christopher, 'Auntie Max', Auntie Dot, Uncle Frank
L to R: Christopher, Rob, Alex, Maxine
Claire and Auntie Lyn
L to R: Uncle Malcolm, Auntie Angie, Grandad L, Ken Jury, Sue Jury, Sandy, Pam, Granny Lock
L to R: Martin, Grandad T, Jacqui, Colin, Uncle Joe, Auntie Ann, Liz
L to R: Auntie Kirstie, Bill, Eve, Kath
Uncle Jim has a sweet moment with Jack
Jack conks out again with Uncle Bob
Uncle Bob, Auntie Amanda and their son Torran
Ciara and Nieve
Ciara and Willie
Pile on!
Now, how come the littlest ended up on the bottom? It's a god job Nieve is made of strong stuff! :))
4 generations: a very tired Jack with his Mummy, her Dad, and his Mam
Great Great Auntie Minnie gets in the frame too :)
Jack changes into his comfies and gets a nice cuddle with Granny L
Like I say, it was a wonderful day for a truly wonderful son. We are lucky indeed.
1. Take one almost 6-month old slightly hungry baby (check)
3. Mix up 1tbls baby rice with milk (check)
4. Load baby spoon with small amount of prepared rice
5. Offer to slightly hungry baby to see what he thinks of it
6. Keep moving the spoon closer to slightly hungry baby's mouth
7. Almost there!
8. Manouevre rice into mouth of slightly hungry baby
9. Take a pause to congratulate slightly less hungry baby on his first mouthful, successfully consumed without any rejection whatsoever! :)
10. Offer 2nd spoonful
11. Offer 3rd spoonful, continue until done
12. All done. Congratulate each other on mission accomplished, no voms, spillages or meltdowns on either part. :)
