On the weekend we celebrated Harriet’s baptism – a special day shared with all of our family and friends, especially more so as Harriet was baptised with her second cousin (my cousin’s son) Tom, whose big brother Ben was baptised with Eleanor. We are nothing if not consistent in churning out more little Catholic babies!
Harriet wore the christening gown which my amazing mum made for Eleanor, using leftover lace from my wedding dress which mum bought in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar. The christening gown I hope will be cherished by my girls and passed onto their own babies one day. Harriet also wore her great-grandmother’s rosary beads, and her baptism stole I made for her which she will wear again for her First Holy Communion and her Confirmation. I made a candle identical to Eleanor’s baptism candle also, with lace from our wedding, pink ribbon, a heart charm and the words printed on translucent vellum to wrap around the candle:
God Bless Harriet Gwen, baptised on February 5th 2017 at St. Jarlath’s, Yarragon. With godparents to guide you, Aunty Louise and Uncle Tyler.
We chose my sister Louise and Matt’s best mate Tyler as Harriet’s godparents – we know both of them will always look after and out for Harriet, both spirtually and otherwise in her life as she grows and learns and discovers the world around her. She is such a lucky little peach to know theirs and now God’s love.
As with any event we hold here at Brindabella, we were praying (ironically?) for good weather and no rain, as this little farmhouse is quite simply a shoebox and you can’t swing a cat let alone 40 people inside if it rained. Somehow, despite the forecast for rain all day, it held out until just after all the guests had left, then bucketed down! Perfect. Perhaps all those prayers and two baptised babies did the trick after all.
My village stepped up yet again for our peachy’s girls special day – I really did not too much in the way of food, my sisters and friends made salads, Matt and my brother-in-law did the barbeque as usual. I just made the cake! A chocolate mudcake with peanut butter buttercream icing, dark chocolate ganache and topped with peanut brittle shards, wafer sticks, caramel popcorn, crushed peanuts and peanut butter cups. Ya-huh.
I hardly even saw Harriet for most of the day, she was promptly plonked on Matt’s mum’s knee when we got home from the church and stayed there happily for a few hours! Unheard of. Then was passed from cousin to aunty to grandparent to friend for the rest of the day. Our girls are both so lucky to have all these aunties and uncles and big cousins, and we’re especially lucky as parents to have our village.
Blessings to you my baby girl, Harriet Gwen. Named after your paternal great-grandmother but often striking an uncanny resemblance to your maternal great-grandmother. The little peach with the big smile, pixie ears, spiky blonde hair and big belly laugh. Life with you my Harrigirl will never be dull.
