Baby J's Baptism

Here are some long overdue pictures from Baby J's baptism. It was a beautiful day and we were surrounded by our family and friends. My MIL did a beautiful job decorating the table with all of her children's baby cups and the one that was given to Baby J. The invitations were done by friend from home who has been creating a lot of my invitations as of late. She is fabulous and priced so well! I just told her what was in my head and she created it.

Baby J wore a gown that was from the late 1800s. I believe it was her great grandmother's. It was lost for a few years and then her mother found it and A was the first to be baptised in it. Since then his sister was baptised in it, along with 3 cousins (one of which is Baby J's Godfather.) My Mom has the gown that my brother and sister and I were baptised in, but there was just too much tradition in this gown not to use it...not to mention it is fabulous! =) I was scared to death that my child would be the one to spit up all over it, but he did great. He was an angel during the ceremony and did not make a peep. It really was a perfect day.

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Punch Recipe and Sip-N-See Pictures

This is the punch we made for the Sip-N-See for Baby J. It's one of my favorites. We also had wine, beer, sweet tea, lemonade, another slushy punch and water. The food was simple, just tea sandwiches (Oslers for your Bham gals), cheese straws and petit fours (Savages). My MIL just used the same decor from the baptismal reception. When your house is clean you might as well throw two parties, right? =) Have you Northern Gals heard of a Sip-N-See? It's basically a party that a family member throws to show off the newest member of the family. You sip a little something and see the baby during a designated time window. Then you pray your baby behaves for said time window. Baby J took a small nap in the middle, but he did pretty well. Don't you just want to pinch those chubby cheeks? I do daily and I smother them in kisses. =)

Ingredients

• 2 quarts lime sherbet
• 2 liters ginger ale
• 1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
• Lemon slices
• Lime slices
• Maraschino cherries

Directions

In a punch bowl, add 2 quarts of lime sherbet. Then add ginger ale and pineapple juice. Decorate with lemon and lime slices and some maraschino cherries

We're Back!

What's up ladies?

We arrived back in the city late last Thursday night, but I'm only now coming alive. I've always heard that a vacation with kids is really not a vacation. It is so true. I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. Don't get me wrong, we had a FABULOUS two weeks, but it was not your typical beach vacation! If you follow me on twitter, you have kept up with every little thing that has been going on. If you don't, you should. Click here to follow me and you can read all my recent tweets to catch up.

The quick recap. The flight to Bham was great, the baby slept 90% of the way. The wedding was beautiful, pictures to come. The baptism was perfection. Baby J looked and acted like an angel. The Sip-N-See quickly turned from a small gathering to about 60 of my MIL and my friends. It really was fun though and a great way to introduce the little man to everyone. The 4 hour car ride from Bham to South Alabama was hell. Baby J is not a fan of car rides, apparently he prefers short taxi rides only. What a little Yankee baby we are raising. Our 2nd anniversary was fabulous. We had a wonderful dinner, popped a bottle of champagne my father-in-law gave on the day of our wedding (only took 2 years to drink it), and the best part...my parents babysat. The beach was incredible. The weather was hot and humid, just the way I like it. Baby J went for his first swim and looked adorable doing so in his monogrammed t-shirt, smocked swimming trunks and monogrammed A. Tierney sunhat. I officially have a slight tan thanks to my sister and Mom watching the baby. I ate fabulous seafood to my hearts content. I spent an additional 4 days at my parents home and enjoyed the down time, golf cart rides, more swimming at the updated country club, and visiting with friends. The plane ride back (2nd leg from ATL to LGA) was hell, 5.5 month olds don't travel well when you are by yourself. To think I'm going to do it all again in just a few short weeks for my KD Pledge Class reunion that I'm hosting at our beach house. I'm crazy and I can't wait!

I'm making my way through laundry and emails. Please forgive me if I have not emailed you back. I'll get there, I promise. I hope everyone is doing great. I am so behind on your blogs, but I promise...I'll get there! I hope y'all had a Happy 4th of July. I've missed you.

What's Going On

We had a WONDERFUL Father's Day weekend. Baby J bought his Daddy a new ipod holder for when he is walking Daisy, a DVD, and some Vineyard Vines Chappy trucks (currently on their whale of a sale) for our upcoming beach trip. We had brunch at a friend's house. They have 2 month old twin girls, so both Daddy's were celebrating their first Father's Day and we figured this was most easily done in the comfort of our own homes instead of at a restaurant with 3 babies. After a yummy brunch, we ALL took afternoon naps. When we woke up the sun was shining and we RAN outside. The sun has been a rarity in NYC for this past month. I think it has rained like 18/21 days. We stopped by Crumbs Bakery and got A a Father's Day red velvet cupcake (key lime for me). We took Baby J to Central Park and he went on the swings for the first time. He LOVED it!

BTW, as you can see in the pictures above we went with the rainforest jumperoo. GREAT CHOICE! I LOVE THAT THING! Baby J goes CRAZY in it and he is SO happy to bounce around. It is worth every single penny. If you have a baby or are expecting, you HAVE to buy this thing. It is worth its weight in gold! My child will literally be having a temper tantrum and I put him in this and he starts laughing. It's magical.

My heart is so heavy today. One of my sister's best friends was killed in a car accident on Monday morning. She was 22 years old and was to spend the 4th of July with my family at our beach house. Please say a prayer for her family and her younger sisters and friends. Please say a prayer for my sister. She has dealt with more hardship than anyone her age should have to. Her new boyfriend also just broke up with her via email. What an idiot. It breaks my heart that I'm not there hugging her tonight. I know God has his plans, but at times like this it is so hard to understand them. The wake is this evening and the funeral services are tomorrow.

The good news is that I do get to give her a hug on Friday!! A, J and & I leave for Bham tomorrow night. A in his his best friend's wedding this weekend so we have the rehearsal dinner on Friday night and the wedding on Saturday night. Baby J is being baptized on Sunday at A's parent's church. My entire family is also coming in town. We have a Sip & See at A's parent's house on Monday for my MIL's friends and my friends that have not met Baby J yet. We'll drive to my parent's house in South AL on Tuesday (which is also our 2 year anniversary). On Wednesday we are heading to my parent's beach house to spend 4th of July week. A heads home on Monday and I stay until Thursday! Whew, I'm tired just typing that all out! I am so excited and currently trying to figure out how to pack for a 5 month old and myself. Hmmm. We have so many necessary outfits!

I will probably be absent from my blog during the next two weeks so I can enjoy every minute with my family and friends. I may stop in here and there...I might actually have time to catch up on all of your blogs because there are going to be lots of hands wanting to hold my little munchkin. I'm praying that he does well. He's on such a good schedule right now (1 morning nap, 1 afternoon nap and sleeps 8:30/9:00pm-8:00/8:30am). I know this trip is going to throw him for a loop and he is not used to being around so many people. I'm sure he'll do fine.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Stay cool!