Sam's Baptism - Decor & Menu

Following Sam's baptism, we hosted a small reception in the hall of the church. It was so convenient to be able to utilize the space, but it's a fairly blank (mundane) canvas. There is an industrial kitchen off of the hall so we were able to set up, chill, and warm our food prior to mass.

This is the invitation suite we ordered from Tiny Prints http://www.tinyprints.com/. This is obviously not our invitation! Sam is not Michael Lucas, I am not Sylvia. Nor do we live in California. Although as we are in the midst of a blizzard right now, I wish we did live in Cali! I loved the blue and green in the invite and incorporated those colors into the decor.

One of our centerpieces. I've used this piece numerous times before. Just slice some limes, lemons, or oranges, or all three, and fill a glass vase. Easy. I used limes and white daisies to compliment the invitation. It's helpful to use a piece of Tupperware that matches the size of the vase to hold the flowers, and the fruit, in place inside of the vase. We didn't use the Tupperware here and it still stayed in place.

The welcome table.

Tissue pom-poms. These are a part of a kit from Martha Stewart and Michael's. I placed them on top of a glass candlestick.

Our dessert table. Cupcakes, chocolates in the glass pillars, and white powdered donuts. Sam's godmother made the bunting - how ADORABLE? We used it over the numerous windows in the room as well. I topped the tablecloth with wrapping paper. Close up shot in the picture below. I found this trick on pinterest, of course. It was a cute, and cheap, table runner and it also protected the tablecloth a bit. We used those cheap-o tablecloths, the ones where if you spill a drop of liquid on the it, it basically saturates the entire cloth. The wrapping paper caught some spills so it didn't look super messy throughout the reception.

The wrapping paper table runner.

Cupcakes made by me and decorated by godmomma A. I love how they turned out!

Favors - sugar cookies from my favorite bakery in Cape Elizabeth. We placed them in treat bags, printed labels based on the invitation and some labels that said "thank you". This font is from my favorite font source, http://www.kevinandamanda.com/. 

Our buffet line. We did order some catering from Whole Foods including bagels, chicken & egg salads, and a fruit display. My grandmother made two quiches, my aunt a delish pasta salad, and we made a garden salad, pumpkin french toast, egg & sausage casserole, muffins, and an apple danish. The wrapping paper runner really helped to keep this table looking tidy.

The only recipe online is the pumpkin french toast. This was quite the hit! I've made it twice since and guests have loved it. Here it is - http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/baked-pumpkin-french-toast/. Enjoy!

This was an all-hands on deck operation. A huge thanks to my hubby, my brother and sister-in-law (and Sam's amazing godparents), and my cousin C for their help prepping. And a huge thanks to my family who made a dish, cut some quiche, made coffee, helped place items on the buffet, and most importantly graced us with your presence on this special day!

Sam's Baptism

My cousin C was our photographer during Sam's baptism in November. I have been anxiously awaiting the photos and thought she was holding them hostage - turns out, she was! C and my aunt put together a collage of photos for my parents for Christmas. I was not allowed to spoil the gift by seeing the photos first!

While my dad was putting away some of his Christmas decorations, he found my baptismal candle. It turns out that I was baptized on Sunday, November 18, 1984. Sam was baptized on Sunday, November 17, 2013. How crazy and special is that?! Nearly the same date, and the same weekend, just 29 years later. Pretty special. 

Here are some of my favorite shots!

Dad and godfather K getting Sam dressed after mass while little M looks on.

My family.

With his godparents.

With his Gramps.

I LOVE this picture. Look at that smirk!

  

With the Monsignor - also the monsignor who married G and I.

Thank you C for capturing such a special day! We love the photos - they are beautiful.

2014

2013 - You were a YEAR. A new baby, a new home, leaving my job, a wedding in the family; many joys, many tears, and some tough and trying times. Emotions were clear across the spectrum. This has been the longest and shortest year of my life! Shortest in that I cannot believe my little guy is turning one in mere days - and longest in the amount of STUFF that occurred over the course of these 365 days. 

As we approach January 10, I am looking forward to writing and sharing our birthing story with the blog. As it's been a year, I finally feel in a good place to record it. Don't worry - there will not be many gory details.

For now, I wish health, joy and laughter to my family and yours. Cheers, 2014!

Sam's First Christmas

Here are some snippets of our first Christmas with Sam.... Lots of photos - be prepared!

This was our first Christmas Eve mass not at St. John's, as it closed in September. St. John's was a three minute walk from my grandparents, and each year we would meet at my gram and gramps' and then walk over to mass together. It was just MAGIC. I LOVED being surrounded by my cousins and family on this joyous night. The tradition was a highlight of my childhood, and then seeing my cousin's children in such excitement for Christmas Eve became such a highlight of my adulthood. It bums me out that Sam will not spend his Christmas masses at St. John's. 

We attended Holy Cross which is the church I grew up in; where there are many familiar faces from extended family and friends.

As we arrived at 3pm for a 4pm mass in order to get a seat, I knew that it wouldn't end well for Sam. He lasted from 3-4:20pm and then took a snooze with dad in the back of the church.

We spend Christmas Eve at my grandmother's. She serves an absolutely delicious seafood lasagna. Sam was dressed in his finest! I love his lil bow tie!

Get ready for some cuteness!

Look at lil M and A snuggling on the couch reading books! I feel like this is a vintage holiday card - especially with the TV guide book on the coffee table!

Can't stand the cuteness.

Sam was loving on those Christmas balls and just wanted to pick them up and throw them so badly.

Sam on Christmas morning. Guess he got into the eggnog the night before...

Not too excited for new presents from Santa. He went right over to his old toys after his bottle, asking me to read him a Mickey book by shoving it in my face.

Santa purchased this learning-walker in late September to help Sam get walking. Silly Santa - Sam started walking at the end of October! He still loves the buttons and peek-a-boo cow.

He also decided that Christmas was the PERFECT time to get over the fear of the tree and attack all ornaments within arm's reach.

Christmas morning nap to face the day.

In the middle of the craziness and absolutely loving it.

Sam was up and out WAY past his bedtime (until 9pm!) both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. He did such a great job. We had a really nice Christmas with new traditions, though Sam was more interested in the k-cups that Santa left in my stocking than his own gifts!

Teacher Gifts - Sugar Scrub & Sweet Treats

Sam is attending school (daycare) a few days a week while I am on the job hunt. It is working for us, as Sam is such a social baby and school is a great release for him. We also had such a hard time with the transition to a new school (tears, and tears, and more tears - from both of us) that we hesitated pulling him out to go back in again when I am employed.

We wanted to thank Sam's teachers for taking such care of him these past few months, so Sam and I made a sugar scrub and chocolate-dipped treats!

The sugar scrub was super easy to make. I found a ton of recipes online but this was the easiest - and I had the ingredients in the kitchen!

Yup - Just Dawn soap with Olay and Domino Sugar. This is Dawn's pomegranate scent, they also have a lavender scent. I love the pale pink color - this would be a cute favor for a baby or wedding shower!

I used 2/3 sugar to 1/3 soap and then worked the mixture with a butter knife to find the right consistency, not too sugary and not too soapy. The best part - I had to test each one to ensure the consistency was just right.

I used jelly jars, a "garden" paper print and a holiday ribbon. I downloaded this fun font from <http://www.kevinandamanda.com/>, a cute blog which features a ton of fun fonts.

The finished product.

I added white chocolate dipped mint oreos topped with holiday sprinkles for a sweet treat and placed into a holiday printed box - the box can be re-used for holiday decor.

Some extra oreos for the school's director and teacher's room.

My friend S also gifted sugar scrubs to her fellow teachers. She used the Dawn for Olay lavendar scent and printed circular labels. Are they not adorable??

I figure if a teacher is giving it to another teacher, it must be a solid teacher's gift! Sam's teachers were appreciative - saying that they are elbow-deep in dirty diapers all day long that it was nice to get some hand pampering.

Merry Christmas, Sammy.

Wishing our Sam a very, very merry first Christmas.

You are our miracle little one. Thank you for blessing us this year.

Print from Kiki & Company.

Holiday Cards

I LOVE receiving holiday cards and sending them too!

Here is Sam's first holiday card:

I ordered these from Tiny Prints <http://www.tinyprints.com/>. 

The photo was taken by my cousin C during our family's October apple picking trip. I love how it came out!