Andrew's Christening

Well that's it, we did it, it's over and done with now.  To be honest I'm a little bit sad that it's over too.

Andrew was christened today at St Mary the Virgin church.  I should have realised that it wouldn't go as smoothly as I had hoped when I got up this morning.  Whilst getting dressed I went to put on my tights only to discover that they had a large hole in them, the second pair that I tried to put on had a ladder in!!  I then couldn't believe that I had no more pairs of tights!! thus a quick run up the street to the corner shop was needed to purchase a 95p pair of cheapy tights, they did the job though and that's the main thing!

We actually managed to get out of the house without too much stress and made it to church with plenty of time to spare - as did Mike's sister Lorraine and family which was a brilliant surprise as they are not neccessarily reknowned for their time keeping!  Andrew was on top form and just wanted to walk his way around church all the way through the service.  He looked so smart/cute in his little cravat and waistcoat, the only problem was he didn't want to stop walking around at all, and he kept leaving a shoe behind wherever he went!!

Whilst Andrew was busy charming the old ladies in the church, Hannah was amazing everyone in the family with how grown up she now looks, after I got back from my hair appointment on Friday night, she announced that she would like to have her hair cut the same as mine.  Slightly surprising as this is the girl who would like to go into a 'who has the longest hair competition' with Rapunzel!  So this request was turned into a reality at her hair appointment on Saturday and it has completely transformed how she looks, thankfully she loves it too!

Anyway, I digress, everything was going well as I did my usual trips up and down the side of the church with Andrew then the time came for us to step up to the front with Andrew's god parents and do the promises.  Andrew decided that he didn't want to be up there and stared at by everyone so major struggling as I try to keep up with the service and say the bits I'm supposed to say whilst reining in the angry tiger that I'm holding! The funniest part for me was when Eric the vicar mentioned we were about to sign the cross on Andrew's head with the oil, that was it, Andrew saw his chance to break for freedom and toddled off up the aisle with his now very stressed (and sweaty) mummy behind him to bring him back!

Then came the 'fun at the font' Hannah helped Robin to fill up the font with water and managed to not spill a drop!  I handed Andrew over to Eric in order for him to be baptised, as Eric held him over the font Andrew tried to sit up and at the same time let out a cry straight into the microphone clipped onto his dog collar! so if anyone had been in any doubt that Andrew really wasn't very impressed that put them right.  Thankfully we made it through the rest of the proceedings without too much more hassle!  Hannah was the proud big sister when she was handed the baptism candle and I thought she acquitted herself very well with her 'jobs'  I in turn was the proud mum.

Then for the first time ever the service was finished by 11.15 (it normally goes on until 11.30 - 11.45)  not a problem normally but the venue for the after bit (the Kittiwake) didn't open till 12! So we stopped in the church for tea and coffee, or in Andrew's case a bottle of milk, before making our way to the Kittiwake.

When we got there I was so pleased, the buffet had been set up and was fantastic.  There was so much food, it wasn't a problem if people went back for seconds, they could have gone back for thirds and fourths too!!  Everyone liked the cake (Aunty Pat baked it and I decorated it!) and seemed to have a good time.  By the time I got home my feet were sooo sore! and I was straight into my tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt for comfort - not as elegant as my previous outfit but certainly more practical when chasing after two children!

Andrew received many lovely presents including a toasty warm coat, fire engine money box, wooden train with the letters of his name as the carriages, money and lots more!

I'm sad its over with though as I don't feel I got to enjoy the service and ceremony due to having to concentrate so much more on Andrew with his misbehaving - although all our guests said he did really well.

If there is a lesson for my children to learn from today I would recommend that when it comes to getting their children baptised (if they have any children, or even want them baptised that is) do it in the first three months of their lives! they'll probably sleep through it then and won't be able to walk or run away when you don't want them to.  I love you both Hannah and Andrew and I'm so very proud of you.

Photo's to follow (when I get them off my dad's camera!)