Alex's baptism

Alex getting baptized. Yes, he looks like he's about to be immersed
head-first...but while we're all for immersion, we opted for sprinkling
instead.

Alex was welcomed into life in Christ and life in the Church yesterday in a baptism outside of Mass at our parish, with a few dozen local folks attending. (Our family members either lived too far away or were otherwise occupied with trivial things like having babies.) We'd opted to do a "private" baptism (a misnomer if there ever was one) outside of Mass in the interest of not overwhelming Alex, who actually sailed through the half-hour service without any problem at all. People had been worried about the actual pouring water over the head part...would it freak him out? Turns out, no -- if anything, he was disappointed not to be getting into the "tub" for some water play!

Our good friends, Jim and Barbara Allaire, are Alex's godparents. They have been super supportive throughout this entire process, and promise to "watch over" Alex from afar (they live in Boston).

Probably the most interesting moment for me was when Father Jim asks (from the Rite): "You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her
in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?" To which Susan and I just looked at each other for a second, smiled, and then said, "Yes!" -- but with a tone that implied, "That's kind of a loaded question!"

Here are some more photos, and a brief video.

"Receive the light of Christ."

The godparents.

I was instructed to photograph the cake...so here it is.