September 19, 2004: Baptism of Lara
- The No-W sticker reallys works well on the white bug. Colors, design, lines, everything.
- Marcus and Ute, Charlotte and Charlie. The bumper sticker reads: "Save the Environment / Plant a Bush back in Texas."
- Kathi dresses Lara in her little white dress.
- The only time Lara isn't smiling at it is when you point the camera at her.
- Lara all dressed and ready to go.
- Lara attracts all eyes.
- And all arms.
- There's something about Helena. I call her Helena of Troy.
- All dressed up and ready to go.
- Fr. Cairns gives us instruction before the baptism.
- Finlay introduces himself again, just in case Lara forgot.
- The parents.
- We wait while Fr. Cairns brings the two other families up to speed.
- The baptismal font is expansive.
- The font has stairs down to a large pool, presumably for adult converts who want to do the ceremony the old way.
- Three baptismal candles, one for each baby, wait at the base of lit candle.
- The reading from the New Testament.
- The moment of the baptism. Christian, holding Helena, is godfather; I'm godmother.
- Godparents and parents wait at the back of the church for a bit.
- I'm mugging for the camera.
- Kathi is smarter and smiles at Lara.
- Not sure why I would be rolling up my sleeve.
- Fr. asked me to be one of the two people who bring up the gifts.
- Maybe it was bad of me to take pictures during the service; I wanted to get Fr. at the sparse minimalist altar.
- Now I am cutting off heads. I had accused Mom of doing this.
- Quintessential Lara.
- I (somewhat) embarrass the altar girl. I told her when I was her age I wanted to be an altar girl but the bishop said no girls.
- All the family, but we're missing a couple kids! Where are Finlay and Agnes?
- Agnes reappears.
- Lara is forever moving her head, yanking it to one side or the other, looking around, so it's just a matter of luck if you catch her looking your way. I was not lucky.
- Before the party starts.
- A very sweet picture of Ute holding Lara.
- From time to time, Dad or Grandpa take over nursing duty.
- Softly out of focus.
- Gill may never forgive me.
- (To me) The younger set.
- Encore.
- Sandwiches and wine oder bier on the back porch.
- Another in the series of the two sleeping.
- I really have to learn how to use the camera in close shots and avoid that red eye.
- I don't understand how it's physically possible to get red eye in two people looking in completely different directions.
- Pasquale and Finlay.
- Silk.
- Lara wakes.
- Babies relaxing.
- Lara is teething, it seems, and she is happy to gnaw on friendly fingers as well as her own.
- Grandma and Lara pull out signature smiles.
- It's been a long day, but Lara is wide awake.
- Lara chomps down. At times, it looks like she's trying to get her fist inside - doesn't look like that's possible any more.
- Helena of Troy takes a nap.
- Lara joins her.
Marianne Mueller
Last modified: September 27, 2004