I try to show up to events at least thirty minutes early. Between my own over-preparedness and Aria's dad John doing the same, I ended up at the venue an hour and forty-five minutes ahead of schedule. Worth it, because once Aria arrived, she made her opinion of the day very clear: she was not having it. Grumpy, crying, unmoved by every funny face her family threw at her — at one point her uncle joined in the crying and even that didn't work. In the end only one thing calmed her down, and you can probably guess: the grandparents. It's always the grandparents. By the time the baptism wrapped, the family was hot, exhausted, and ready for a meal together — and Aria, freshly napped, was bouncing out the door ready for round two.

 

Child hugging a green stuffed teddy bear while being held by an adult outdoors on sunny steps.
Silver airplane pendant necklace displayed in a black gift box, held by a person wearing black leggings.
Man in white shirt and red tie holds hands with young girl in white dress outside brick church steps.
Young girl in white dress holding stuffed turtle toy on sunlit outdoor staircase with green foliage.
Happy family portrait on stone steps with parents and six children smiling outdoors.
Woman in white dress holding toddler with stuffed animal at elegant venue entrance.
Toddler girl in white dress carrying green stuffed frog toy walking down church aisle during wedding ceremony.
A baby crying during a baptism ceremony held by a priest while a man in a suit holds the infant.
Woman with glasses playing high five with a toddler girl in white dress at a baptism ceremony.
A young toddler with brown hair looks up attentively at an adult gesturing with their hand indoors.
Young toddler girl in white dress holding green frog toy sitting on mothers lap during church ceremony.
Asian man holding toddler girl in white dress with older woman pointing outdoors near brick church.
Parents and toddler girl watching a baptism candle being lit during a christening ceremony.