Declan's Christening

Since most of Brian's family was visiting for Thanksgiving, we arranged for Declan's baptism to take place while we were there. Unfortunately, Fr. Ryan thought we had made arrangements for the Saturday after Christmas! Paul's wife, Marie, saved the day by taking the initiative to drive over to Fr. Ryan's neighborhood near the university, where she just happened to spot him in his car on his way home. She approached him with the news that we were waiting for him, and he soon arrived at the church, apologetic and embarrassed, only 40 minutes later than expected. Good luck or divine providence? You decide.

Here's Declan wearing the baptismal gown that Brian's grandmother made for his mom to wear at her christening and that Brian and all of his brothers (and since then, their kids, including Maeve) wore at theirs:



Fr. Ryan, who was one of Brian's high school teachers and who also officiated at our wedding and Maeve's christening, addressing the family:





Declan didn't even cry when he got wet:



Brian's brother Jack and his wife, Leslie, Declan's godparents:



Declan and Maeve with parents and grandparents:



Just the four of us:



Declan with his sister, parents and godparents:



The whole gang:



If Maeve looks listless in these pictures, it's because she was sick. We didn't find that out for sure until just when we arrived back at Brian's parents' house, where she promptly threw up her oatmeal and strawberries as we were preparing to take her out of her car seat. Sad but true.