Ben's Baptism

Over the New Year's weekend, we had a lot of really special things.  Mim retired after more than 30 years as an Obstetrician.  We asked her if she wanted a party and she said she was "all partied out," (You know Mim, she's such a party animal!) so we decided to make our own party -- And get Ben baptized.  When you're Irish and Catholic, nothing says party like the opportunity to get rid of that pesky original sin. 

Our dear old friend, Father Jerry, who married Mim and Opa, baptized and married Aunt Megan, and married Mommy and Daddy, was able to do the baptism of our Ben, and we were so honored to have such a good family friend.  This pretty much made us VIPs, since there was a mass-baptism of several babies in the main church (at St. Agnes in KC) right after mass, but we got the chapel in the old convent all to ourselves.  It was really special!

 Of course, getting baptized right after the noon mass when this huge family is tuckering you out is hard.  Here is Ben making the sign for "night-night" right before the blessed event.  Luckily Father Jerry said it was OK to hold a blankie and drink a bottle during your baptism.  

 The obligatory god-parents-parents-priest picture.  My godfather, and Ben's Great-Uncle Sean and his Auntie Megan were the godparents.  

 And here we are with both sets of grandparents and a Great-Grandpa Ben and a Great-Grammy.  Thanks so much to Aunt Lois and Uncle Gail for bringing Great-Grandpa Ben, it was so special to have him with us!  

 What do you do after a baptism?  Well, this is Kansas City.  We eat BBQ!!  We had quite the spread, as you can see.  

 As you can see, poor Ben didn't get any attention at the party...

(I felt sort of bad once we came home and he sat in his high chair and ate with just me...sorry buddy, this is all you get at home!)

 Ben spent a lot of time playing on the floor with everyone.  Here he is rolling with Opa.

 Getting tickled by Daddy.

 And talking to Aunt Megan.

Here is a shot of our wild and crazy New Year's Party.  There's that party animal, Mim, again.  Yes, Ben went to bed at 7.  Yes, Patrick and I were in bed by 10.  Some day I'll be over those months of sleep deprivation.  But not yet.  I've seen midnight before.  It's not that cool.