It seems I can’t get my stuff together these days… Computer boy was actually baptized back in January, when he turned 8 (the age we baptize kids in our church). It was a great day and a wonderful weekend. BUT not wanting to overwhelm him that weekend I put off doing his pictures. And put them off, and put them off, etc… FINALLY we got around to it!
I picked the kids up from school and we went downtown the Temple Square. That’s where we did The Reader’s Baptism photo’s as well (for some reason we were also 6 months – or more – late taking hers as well). I was just glad his pants still fit so well! He has issues with things being too tight (even if they aren’t) and I have issues with high waters. So we BARELY got these done in time!
He was so cute. We got there and changed him into his white outfit he got baptized in. I know lots of people take pictures in suits (which he has, SO handsome) but I wanted it to match the wall of baptism pictures I want to make and since his sister was in all white I wanted him in all white too. He kept asking what he looked like. I said an angel in all white, so handsome.
Then he put on his tennis shoes (I didn’t want to buy white shoes just for this so we did the whole sock/no shoe thing for pictures), and he asked again, what do I look like. “an Angel in tennis shoes” I said. He thought that was hilarious! Then he said the sweetest, cutest thing, he said “Mom you would look so beautiful in all white!”. Love this sweet boy!
My baby sister recently moved here to UT and she’s just started her own Photography business (Chelsea Peterson Photography)! We’ve gotten to spend more time together as she’s not only been taking some pictures for me, but she’s been coming over to use my photoshop while she shops for her new computer! I’ve loved it, not only getting to see my sister so often, but getting to know my nieces so much better!
Anyway while they were taking these pictures he kept asking her, when they were done with a location he kept asking her how he looked! I’ve never known him to wonder about that, kind of sweet. So she kept saying “handsome”, “smart”, “reverent”, etc… He loved the one on one attention too. And while they were taking pictures the rest of my kids and hers had a great time playing, laughing, eating snacks, it was a great afternoon.
This is the one I ordered in Canvas for my wall. Kind of matches the one I ordered for my daughter. It’s is fake smile, but that’s what he looks like these days. I love my family, my sweet boy, and the love he shares with the rest of us with his sweet spirit.
You’ll be seeing a lot more of this watermark because as her sister the kids and I get to be her model for anything she’s interested in taking pictures of! Next up? Maternity pictures! Kind of excited because I’ve never had maternity pictures before, kind of seems silly doing it for the 5th but I’m excited none the less. And don’t forget to check out her new photography site (that I got to help build). It’s still a work in progress but it’s looking good! Chelsea Peterson Photography
Jaime
Hi! I just received your latest blog post in my inbox. Love the pics of your adorable boy! Baptism has been on my mind these past few weeks as I have my first son approaching baptism in a couple months. He is our first child and so obviously our 1st to turn 8. As always, it’s an exciting time in their/our lives, but for us it’s extremely exciting because at the age of 2 he was diagnosed with cancer and fought it for over a year and has been extremely blessed to actually beat it! So I’m really wanting to make this an extra special occasion for him, but am needing some ideas. I’ve thought about having a baptism keepsake blanket made for him, but can’t quite visualize it in my mind. I’ve also thought about having a montage video made, but I can’t think of what else to do-like as far as a cake or anything else special that he will have as a keepsake from this day…so I’m curious to see what others do and if you had any suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Ashlee
That’s so exciting! What a wonderful time. There are SO many things out there you can do. For me we’re lucky enough that we’ve been able to have private baptisms, I know not everyone can do that. So I let the birthday boy/girl pick from grandparents, great grandparents and aunts and uncles whom they wanted to talk, sing, lead music, etc… I let them pick the songs (from a narrowed down list). Afterwards we come back to our place for a small gathering. I didn’t make a cake for my oldest, but did this last time. Kind of depends on what going on in my life!
I did do a montage video of the kids lives from birth to age 8 that I played before the baptism as well as while my children were drying off. I’m not sure if anyone else liked them, or even watched them, but I ADORED making them!
For a gift my husband and I give our baptism child their first set of NICE scriptures with their name on it. My mother is doing what my grandmother used to do, and thats to sit the child down, let them open an oyster and talk about the worth of pearls. Then she gives the girls a pearl necklace and the boys she was planning on doing a pearl tie pin, but couldn’t find one anywhere.
One other thing we do is take a small empty container, paint their names on it and after the baptism we put some of the water in a jar for them. I guess that could either be a fun memory or kind of weird. My aunt started it and we’ve all kind of adopted it. My mom also got each child a pure white towel with their name on it for drying off afterwards
For my oldest my mom gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and as part of that talk she did do a white lap blanket… She actually had a ton of visual aids/gifts for that talk but it was a bit overboard by the end! At MY baptism my mom’s best friend made me a music box pillow with the song “I am a daughter of God” playing. It was made out of the same material and lace as my dress. So it was fun, and it sat on my bed until I went to college. I still have it in fact!
The gift I got (SO many years ago) that I liked best was a poem (that I forget, but I have it still- it’s just in storage) with a white handkerchief. Over time the paper started to discolor but the white handkerchief never did! I actually used that same handkerchief to go to temple dedications as well as took it with me when I got married.
Hope that answers your question in some way!
Amy
Amazing pictures and a darling boy! So glad he enjoyed being the center of attention so you could have these wonderful pictures. 🙂
xoxo,
Amy
Ashlee
Honestly who DOESN’T enjoy being the center of attention every once in a while? I LOVE it! 😉 He lasted to the end, but just barely… By the end he was laying around complaining about being thirsty!