Elena pix in Nonna Loni's Baby Dress

I had taken some pix of Serena in this dress and then put the dress away for safekeeping. Now we have the next generation picture in the same dress. I know it was mine, whether it was a baptismal gown I don't know. It's very fine cotton batiste in the typical antique style. After all, it's over 50 years old!! I'll look for the pix of Serena in the dress. By the way, I think Elena has Erich's mouth. Her lips look full like his, to me anyway. Right now she has the typical newborn eyes--we'll see whether they go to Serena's green/brown ones or Erich's blue/hazel ones. We're thinking her eyes are a blend, not as big as Serena's, but not as deepset as Erich's.

Party after Baptism

The top pick shows Sean (his girlfriend Jenny, Serena's officemate and PhD program buddy not pictured), Serena, Laurel. Next is Nancy holding Elena, then Grampa Steve with her. I realized that I don't have any pix of Erich. He got shorn later that day. No more beard and long hair. I will upload the pix Lee took. My camera battery died, so I didn't get those. We all watched as Serena did a masterful job. It was pretty funny. He's going to donate his lovely thick hair to Locks for Love, for wigs for cancer patients.

Elena's Baptism

These pix are in reverse order(sort of). So starting at the bottom is her godmother holding her in her normal clothes before all the excitement started. The next is Serena holding her after a feed. The next shows Father Mark anointing her with holy oil. Next shows the lovely candles held by the other people who were baptized that day. Next is the actual baptism--one of the three immersions with the words, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." I've never seen an infant baptism with immersion!! Above that in two pix you see Elena in her new clothes, the baptismal gown representing her new life in Christ. (All the others who were not infants had the clothes they were baptized in buried, representing death to the old self.) On the top is a pic with all the people together.

Elena and proud grandparents

Lee and I are a little fuzzy, but you get the idea. Nancy and Steve are Erich's parents, obviously enjoying their first grandbaby. The hat in the picture with Nancy matches the baptismal gown. I made it from the sleeve on Serena's wedding dress. The last pic shows off Elena in her "Amby" baby swing/bouncer/bed. Look how much she's grown!! She was 10lb at her last visit to the doctor just lately.

More Elena Pix at Six Weeks Old

Finally, a nice shot with her eyes open!! I look ghastly, but oh well. Can't have everything

Ta-Daaaaaaaa!!!! The Baptismal Gown

Finally!!! The color of the first pic is most accurate, ivory, basically. The back almost looks like a train. That had to be because of the way the fabric from Serena's wedding dress was. The machine embroidery on the bottom is the only original design from the wedding dress. I really like the cross I found and I'm pretty happy with how the sleeves turned out. I had pictured it all when I was designing it, but only the basic bodice and basic sleeve were from a pattern, the rest I just made up as I went along. The slip is almost ready. I should be able to do the final touches tomorrow night. I started this project in January. It probably has taken 30-40 hours to do. I still have to put together the bonnet. It's been fun and I've learned a ton.

Grampa Lee with Elena

Three weeks old, our last day with her till next trip.