No, baby can't just wear anything!

I have been planning for baby's arrival since that pregnancy test showed up positive. I've thought about baby's birth. I've thought about baby's Baptism. It wasn't until about two weeks ago that it occurred to me that I hadn't thought about baby's baptismal gown!

I mentioned this to my dear husband  responded, "Do we really need one???" !!! ( Good man was just trying to be practical and thrifty. You can't blame a guy for not understand the importance of clothes.)

Does a bride need a wedding gown? No. But, this is a SACRAMENT people! Its an outward sign of an inward truth. It must be celebrated! We want people to recognize through the symbolism the powerful truth of what is taking place!!!

And, heck yeah, I want my baby to look cute!!!

My siblings and I were baptized in the same baptismal gown that my mom and her siblings were baptized in. A thin white gown that was cut from my Grandmother's wedding dress. Beautiful, huh??? I called my mom to ask about using it and she told me that it is so old and delicate that it really is no longer wearable.

I was heartbroken, but decided that we would just have to start a new tradition for our new little family. I wanted something lovely, so I did a quick google search to see what is out there. OH MY GOODNESS! Sweet and lovely is available, but it comes with a serious price tag (some 3x more costly than my wedding dress!)! There were a few less expensive options, but none that seemed right. And I really don't care for buying clothing online. I need to feel the fabric. That's just the way I am. Sadly, there aren't any shops around (that I could find) carrying what I needed. I was told that the closest religious gift shop that might have any was in Minnesota!!!

I was feeling desperate.

One of the moms in my mom's group at church has a children's consignment shop here in town. I messaged here asking if she had any baptismal gowns. She did not, but yesterday she told me she had gotten some in that were brand new and from Ireland! Paul and I love our Irish heritage and I just swoon over anything Irish (especially my husband!)!!!

I raced over this afternoon and found the perfect gown to start a new family tradition with. It is Irish linen, so it has that antique/family heirloom quality that I really wanted. It is beautiful, but is traditional enough that we can have both our boys and our girls wear it.

 

Isn't it lovely and old fashioned?

 The Collar

 

The Sleeve

 The Hem

And (drum roll, please) the beautiful Celtic cross on the skirt that is spotted with shamrocks!

Friends of mine have embroidered the initials and dates, on the inside hem, of each child in their family who has been baptized in their family gown. I think it is a wonderful idea and I hope to do the same.

I'm so happy that I found a gown I love, purchased it at a great price from a friend and have one more thing checked off of my list of things to do before baby arrives! I'm just so excited and happy that the new tradition of wearing this gown in our family will have special meaning because of its Irish beauty!

Did (or will) your children use a family gown? One you purchased? What do you love about it? Does your family have any special baptism traditions?

Win, Win, Win!!!

Win wonderful things!!!

Like This:

And this:

And This:

Colleen over at www.martinfamilymoments.blospot.com is holding her first giveaway and is offering some of the cutest and sweetest stuff around! Please go check out her blog and the links to the etsy shops whose items are being given away. The woman who makes the aprons (ADORABLE, right?) just lost her husband and is having a sale.



I listen to the news each day and hear how much money the US owes China and nearly have a panic attack! Fox News had a guest on yesterday reminding Americans to try not to buy items made in China- I have tried off and on to do this and feel very strongly about it, but it can be REALLY difficult! Work at Home Moms and people with etsy shops are such a great way to buy items that are at least helping families here who are really struggling and trying to create something truly meaningful.



Please, check out this giveaway! You may get lucky :)

My Funny Valentine

Recently, my fingers have been itching to do something creative.

The cover of My Life in France inspired me!

I decided to make a St. Valentine's Day pin with Paul and my initals on it.

We have had a slow month of work, so we have been trying to be very careful about our budet.
I looked around Wallyworld and found two sheets of felt for 38 cents each (Each sheet will make at LEAST 10 hearts!), a package of 3 needles and multiple colored thread spools for just under 2 dollars and a package of multi-colored glass seed beads for 1.98. I have pin backs at home.

Not bad, huh?

Here is the finished product. I loved that it only took me minutes to make and cost next to nothing. Big projects overwhelm me sometimes, but this made me feel so good!

My question for you, dear friends, is: do you think that I should add a "C" at the bottom of the heart or would that be overkill?

If so, what color should it be???

TTFN!!!!

Spring? Is that you?

We were in Dayton Ohio on Sunday and Monday and I'm going to post about that later, but for now I just want to state that it was COLD!!!! The sky was gray, misty and damp. It was a bone-chilling cold. Ugh!

Wonder of wonders, we drove from there to Virginia and were thrilled to experience balmy 67 degree weather. And the sunshine! Oh the warm, wonderful sunshine! Such bliss!

We did a little shopping recently and, after encouragement from Merry, I decided to post a few purchases. I probably would have posted more pictures, but Hubby was laughing at me for taking pictures of random clothes, so I decided not give him too much fuel for the fodder.

I have a confession. I am obsessed with Eiffel Tower art!!! I have been to Paris several times and, no offense to anyone, but Paris is not my favorite European city. It is beautiful, but...

Anyway, I do find the Eiffel Tower to be a beautiful monument and a lovely symbol of romance. There are so many ways to interperet it in art! I have paintings, wall hangings, and several little figures in my dining room. I found this sweet Eiffel Tower jewelery holder at TJ Maxx last week and I couldn't resist buying it! I am planning on redecorating one of the rooms at home with some white accent pieces to go against a very bold wall that I hope to paint soon. This would look very cute in there, but now I am feeling the decorating buzz to redo the bathroom in a french theme. Decisions!?!?! I'll have to wait until I get home and see how painting goes, I suppose. Hhhmmm...

My other obsession is thrift store shopping! I love getting a great deal and refuse to throw away money on something that I know I could get for at least half the price. While in Dayton, we discovered a Goodwill Outlet. All womens clothing was $1.50 an item! Woot! The cute little New York and Co. Sweater was one of my steals. The picture doesn't do it justice. I bought a beautiful pair of Blondo boots for $3! In total, I bought five pairs of jeans, six shirts, two sweaters, the boots and some movies (45 cents each!) for under 30 bucks!!! Love it!




Sporting my own version of trucker fashion :) (Can you see Snoopy peeking up from the driver's seat?) This sunny yellow matched the warm sunshine and my mood! I just love the little rose pattern on the lower part of this top, don't you?

May your day be warm, sunny and blessed!