Zoe’s Baptism 

 

On Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 2:15, my sweet Zoe got baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Old Town, Alexandria.

Getting Zoe Baptized was never a question. We were definitely always planning on it. However, I waited until she was 9 months old, the perfect time.

It is such a special ceremony that I wanted to make sure it was celebrated properly. I didn’t want to rush into planning it, until I actually had the time to dedicate towards planning.

The early days of motherhood were the absolute sweetest. It was those days that I had the opportunity to get to know my sweet Zoe and watch her up close as she got to know the world. Sometimes those days and nights were long and overwhelming, but I focused on snuggling Zoe, as I also settled into my new identity as Zoe’s mama.

The last thing I wanted to do was use any of that sweet time towards planning. So I waited to plan her baptism until I was ready to plan.

Turns out, at 9 months old, Zoe is full of playful personality. And June is the best month for a baptism, because the weather is warm enough for baby Zoe to wear a cute white gown.

THE CHURCH

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Old Town, Alexandria, is one of the oldest and most beautiful Catholic Churches.

Although, I was not baptized at St. Mary’s (I was baptized at Our Lady of Lordes) it was special for me that my daughter had the opportunity to be baptized at the same church I went to as a child. The same church that I received the sacraments of reconciliation, holy communion, and confirmation. It was special and tradition.

THE CLASS

In most cases when you receive a sacrament with the Catholic Church there is a mandatory class before.  When I mention – “Oh, at my baptism class…” People always roll their eyes, or gasp…”You had to take a class.”

The classes don’t bother me at all. I actually like them. Sacraments are important and the Church isn’t just going to hand those out to everybody. They want to make sure you understand why you are receiving the sacrament. They also want to prepare you of what will happen that day, and your responsibility for the days to come. The priest teaching the class also will help clear up any questions or concerns you have.

BAPTISM GOWN and ACCESSORIES 

As you all know, fashion is very important to me, so of course Zoe was dressed up in her absolute finest.

I love a unique, hand-made, one of a kind dress. So that is exactly what Zoe wore. I was so thankful that my Aunt Lynda was able to make Zoe her beautiful baptism gown. It was made from the softest summer fabric in the warmest white. She added the sweetest ivory details.

All of the accessories she wore I bought from, One Small Child. The lace bonnet is in the color ivory. It is beyond stunning. The shoes are a soft white/ivory combination, which added a sweet touch.

My daughter’s feet are very petite so it is always a challenge to keep shoes on her. During the baptism, she got so excited she started kicking her feet, so the shoes slipped off. But I’m still glad I had them.

The combination of the bonnet, shoes, dress, and bloomer, really made her look like a doll. This special outfit is definitely one I will keep forever.

THE CEREMONY

The ceremony was very traditional, however, Zoe was the only baby baptized that day. Because of this we were able to go right upfront and crowd around her.

Erik held her the whole time. Father Andrew (the priest) blessed her by placing a cross of oil along her chest. We being her parents, and Jackie, her now God mother, mimicked the prist, rubbing a cross of oil upon her.

Zoe giggled, cooed, and babbled.

Father Andrews lit a candle.

Then we took her over to where the holy water was. The priest poured the water over her head. At first it seemed refreshing and cool, but then it trickled down into her eyes. She cried for a couple seconds, but then was back to giggling, cooing, babbling, wet hair and all.

After the ceremony was over, we spent time in the church taking pictures. Then we headed to the after party!!

THE RECEPTION 

After the ceremony, we all headed over to one of my favorite restaurants in Old Town, Columbia Firehouse.

This restaurant use to be an old fire house. It has a really cool dining room and outdoor seating. The food is also really delicious.

We started with drinks and then ate dinner. Zoe was so exhausted from her baptism, that she actually napped during dinner.

At the end, Zoe’s baptism day was lovely. We received her candel that burned during the ceremony, a small cross quilt, and a certificate from the church. I also gave her a gift – her first pair of white pearl rosary beads.

Happy Baptism Day, Zoe! 

© 2016 sweat1xdaily



Falling in love, with NOLA.

Happy Mardi Gras!

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Last year I was so privileged to have the opportunity to head down to New Orleans for a week long celebration of Mardi Gras… and I fell in love.

This is how it all began….

One of my close family friends, EW,  had gone to college at Tulane. She loved New Orleans so much that she continued to live there for a couple years after she graduated. Because now she relocated back in the DC area… I had always deeply regretted the fact that I had never gone down to visit her and the lovely city while she lived there. I thought I had missed my chances. But turns out, for my birthday present she hooked me up with a plane ticket, and told me we were heading down to New Orleans, aka, NOLA for Mardi Gras. I was beyond excited.

As the weeks came closer and closer to our departure date, EW tried to prepare me.

“You know how people say New York, is the city that doesn’t sleep?” She asked.

“Yep. Everyone knows that. “

“Well they are wrong, it’s really New Orleans.” She told me.

She was so right about that one. There were nights in NOLA during our week long Mardi Gras celebration, where we got home by 6am and was leaving the house again by 10 am.

She explained, “A drink will never leave our hands.”

“Ok,” I answered

“Always remember though this is a drinking marathon, not a sprint. Slow and steady wins the race.”

This was a great thing to remember, and because I am a runner I could totally understand this metaphor. You won’t get sick or throw up if you slowly drink. You won’t ever be hung over, if you are still drinking.

So this is why I fell in love with NOLA…

NOLA is beautiful.  I love to create beauty and be surrounded by it. The architecture in NOLA is outstanding. There wasn’t one house or building that didn’t have character. Some places had a lot of Southern influence, while others had Spanish and French influences.

NOLA taste good. The food was amazing. I ate grits and shrimp, po’boy sandwiches, cajun spices, fries deep fried in goose fat, gumbo, jambalaya, a craw fish bake, oysters, and beignets. Nothing taste bad, I even tried frog legs.

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NOLA quenches your thirst. You don’t have to chug your beer here, because you can ask your bar tender for a to go cup. Drinking in the street is totally legal. There is a bar called BullDog, who lets you take your pint glass home with you. It is a popular place among the locals – I highly recommend it. Hurricanes are NOLA’s signature drink.

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NOLA plays Jazz music, or you can karaoke.

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NOLA loves to dance, sometimes in the street.

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NOLA wears costumes.

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NOLA loves giving gifts. Sometimes beads…

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sometimes South Park toys…

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NOLA will party hard, and then sleep hard…

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NOLA is highly influenced by the Catholic traditions, which is the whole point of Mardi Gras anyway. Live it up today, for tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

There are so many amazing things about NOLA and it made me a little sad today, that I wasn’t down there, this year celebrating. But I am so happy, I experienced it last year, and was able to share my memories with you.

Happy Fat Tuesday! I hope it treated you well…

© 2013 sweatdaily