That evening family began to arrive for the baby’s baptism which would take place on the following day. My sister’s in-laws were the first to arrive around dinner time. The pizzas we had purchased earlier in the week would be dinner. While my brother-in-law was getting together hors’d oeuvres and my sister was ensuring that the baby was good and nursed (in preparation for the attentions from family), I made red velvet cupcakes. My sister had decided that the celebratory cake in honor of her daughter’s baptism should symbolize the holy spirit and purity, thus red velvet cupcakes with white cream cheese frosting.
The timing was perfect, as soon as all the food was prepared, my brother-in-law’s parents and sister arrived. Within seconds, the baby was being cradled by her paternal grandmother. After a bit of snacking on hummus, salsa, carrots, and tortilla chips, we all ate (albeit in shifts of sorts) a dinner of salad and pizza.
While I made preparations for the next day, my brother-in-law’s sister read books to my son, and the new parents chatted with the grandparents (the baby was still being help by grandma). I had promised my sister a French tipped manicure (an art I have been perfecting over the last few months) and once the conversation came to a lull, I pulled her away to the table to do her nails (after which I did my own).
Soon it was time for sleep. My brother-in-law’s family were quite tired from their ten hour drive so they reluctantly said goodbye. The baby was in need of a good nursing session too after a three and a half hour nap. We made preparation for bedtime and within the hour we were all sound asleep, including the baby (who miraculously slept for a total of two five hour stretches).
(To be continued …)