Dude looks like a lady

In life, there are a few occasions that call for cross-dressing. In our family, we say yes to the dress on one special day: baptism! (Cross-dressing after this point is entirely up to the boys.)

 

On November 4, it was time for James to man up and get into the very same gown his big brothers and even his father (AND aunt and uncle!) wore for their own baptisms.

 

I kept trying to curl his legs up, so he wouldn't look SO huge in his pretty dress--

 

For the most part, James did very well during the long service. Recognizing the family history of the gown, he spit up right down the front, but he refrained from a blowout diaper so I can't complain (much).

 

Quick aside-- This is me with six-week-old Patrick in 2007. Apparently, I tend to hold babies the same way, and my dad has a consistent photographer's eye--

 

And since I'm proving that all three boys wore the same gown, here's two-month-old Elliott and Pete in 2005--

 

See? After they pay their dues, we allow the boys to dress like males again.

 

Here's the magical and monumental moment when James Parker--awake and not crying, even though the priest just called him "James Peter"...--felt the rite and blessing of holy water.

 

Look at our little family afterward, feeling blessed, relieved and happy to have a cookie in-hand (ahem, Patrick)--

 

We're not lucky enough to have most of our family members nearby, but we are rich with some awesome friends! This time, some of our oldest (couple) friends, Sean and Jill graciously stepped up to serve as James' Godparents.

 

By choosing some great friends to expand our family, we followed the (not-so-traditional) model I've enjoyed my whole life. (Hey, hey, Auntie Susan and Unkie Peter! Lookin' at you, my own awesome Godparents!)

 

So, here are our lucky boys with their Godparents. Sean and Jill with James (now appearing as a boy)--

 

Trish and John with a dessert-free Patrick--

 

And, the originals, Erik and Emily with Big E--

 

We really missed some key players on this special day, but we were so grateful to everyone who celebrated with us!

 

I'll tell ya, I ain't low-stress on a day like this--hoping for no meltdowns with missed naps, getting and keeping everyone dressed in fancy clothes and racing everyone to our house for the party afterward--but it was all worth it. ...Just as long as we're done with these big-white-dress events for a good 20 years or so...!