Holy, holy

So the Animalia is now a bonafide Catholic girl. Yay!

I actually didn't think it would be so exciting, but it was. We were running around like crazy the morning of: getting ready, making food, throwing the last few things in closets. Chairs and tables were borrowed, the cake was picked up. I spent late afternoon with my dress unzipped, just in case she had to eat again. Lots of craziness, like Jimmy going to get PC who ended up being dropped off by his latest um... "girlfriend." He made it back, they went to buy a ridiculous amount of beer. PC wore a cowboy suit. Nice. Boymagnet was lovely in a dress with a plunging neckline and one of my black cardigans. I wore a red sweater over a dress that was cut up to here on the sides. I actually didn't realize that part til it was a little too late to change but black tights made it not so obvious. Animalia was excited too. When boymagnet and I were putting her into her outfit (slip, lovely gown and matching bib to catch her ever present drool, socks with embroidered crosses, nurse shoes) she laughed and laughed. She wore a cross and chain from boymagnet and a bracelet from the tías grandes.

We got to the church ok and just a little later than we'd wanted to. Another baby was being baptized at the same time. Her parents were tall. TALL. Her mother was so tall, as tall as Jimmy I think, and her father was tall too, but not tall enough not to seem short next to the mother. Priest ran down the ceremony for us. Mass started. The whole ritual was really touching. We stated her name. We asked for her to be baptized. We crossed her tiny forhead with our thumbs. She stared. More mass. Then came the water pouring over her head and the oil. I thought she'd panic but she was fine. The priest said something like "I wish you could all see this baby's face." I was proud and the Animalia just stared some more. PC lit a candle. More mass. Then at the end of mass we took her to the front of the church and the priest introduced the "two newest Catholics in the world." Mass over. I have to admit a part of me did it more for tradition's sake than for the spirituality of it all but it all turned out to be very touching.

Then the party. About 70 people showed up. We had barbacoa, courtesy of an aunt, beans (mine), pasta salad (mine), guacamole (my dad), tortillas, salsa (one of my godmothers) and lots of other munchies. The cake from Le Caves was, as usual, the best cake ever. There were presents. I honestly expected a couple of religious things but mostly she got clothes and a few pairs of shoes. Her closet is full. Also, she now needs a jewelry box. In addition to the previously mentioned necklace and bracelet, she is now the proud owner of a teeny tiny diamond ring from one of Jimmy's aunts. Crazy.

The last guests left around 12:30am. Not too shabby for a party that started a full six hours before, not including mass. The Animalia was fast asleep. She was so exhausted.

I wish she knew how to give a teeny tiny high five because I have to give her loads of credit. She was just SO GOOD all day. She fussed a little in the evening but it was really nothing. She was nice and cute like she knew it was her day. Or like my mom says, "They baptized the devil out of her."