Orange You Glad I'm 8: Isabella's Baptism

Over the holidays my little Isabella celebrated her 8th birthday and had her
baptism. She loves all things orange and so we used orange balloons in the
pictures she had taken by my good friend Syl Galloway. They matched the orange
ends of her hair very nicely. So, when we were deciding what to do for her
baptism, we thought it would be fun to use the theme "Orange You Glad I'm 8".

I made her invitations in Photoshop using the pictures that Syl took of her in
November. It was fun to use the accents of orange to match the balloons. It was
fun to see her spunky personality come out in the photos and on the invitation.

On her baptism day she wore the same white dress that my youngest sister wore

on her baptism day. It's a beautiful Hawaiian dress and I loved that she got

to share in the tradition of using the same dress just like my niece did. And I

love it so much more than the jumpsuits that are usually worn.

Her hair was my favorite! I wanted something that we could do before and it

would survive the dunk of the baptism. I didn't want her to look like a drowned
rat after, but I also didn't want to spend the time drying and styling it. When I
found this Rope Twisted Pinwheel Bun from Cute Girl Hairstyles, I knew it
would be perfect. It took me about 45 minutes to do. The CGH lady said like
15 minutes, but she's more adept with hair twisting than I am!

I love how the orange peaks out every once in a while and adds a little bit of her

orange-loving personality to her hairstyle. It weathered the baptism perfectly
and her hair looked quite lovely the entire rest of the day.

It's tradition for my parents to give a white baptism towel as a gift, but she was
so busy with the amazing quilt she was making, I ordered one on Etsy this time.
I was pleased to find HuckleberryStew! She had quick turn around time and I
could choose an orange CTR shield the towel in addition to her name and
baptism date.

I also made her a guest book for friends and family to write her a note so she
could have a record of all the wonderful people that came to celebrate with her. I
used the photos that Syl took and had the book printed by Shutterfly. It was a
good way to also let Isabella have her pictures from shoot with Sylvia all together
and be able to look at them whenever she wants to remember her special day.

We served light refreshments after the baptism - or course with an orange
theme! I made number eight sugar cookies and my sister and I frosted them
with orange buttercream frosting. I was going to frost them with royal frosting,
but Isabella informed me that it wasn't her favorite and so we changed plans.
We also had orange lollipops, orange Airheads, orange licorice, Cuties and
white powdered donuts. I made cute wraps for the water bottles that
said "Orange You Glad I'm 8!"

And do you see the quilt?! I asked my mom 3 years ago when JT got baptized if
she would make Isabella a baptism quilt. When she came to visit this summer
we worked together to make a rough sketch of what I was thinking and what
Isabella would like. It turned out even more beautiful that I could have imagined.
I will share more pictures of it later along with more pictures of her dress!

Great to be Eight: Newport Beach Temple Photography

One Thursday night back in November I was lying in bed and it came to me

that my JT Boy needed his pictures taken in front of the Newport Beach Temple

for an eight-year-old baptism photography session.

I had been Pinning photos here and there of other kids getting their pictures

taken in front of an LDS temple, but I hadn't done anything about it.

I thought maybe I would take him myself and do it, but I hadn't committed to a plan.

However, in my pregnant insomniac state that night, I knew I had to have them done,

and I knew that I had to involve my talented friend Syl Galloway.

Syl has taken my kids photos on several occasions and I always adore them.

She has such an eye for fantastic shots and I knew she would do an amazing job.

So, on Friday night I sent Syl an email titled "I had a vision . . ." and pitched her my idea

and begged her to come join me in my crazy last minute endeavor to capture

some memories of JT at the Newport Beach Temple before his big day.

And do you know what? Syl said yes.

So Syl and I agreed to meet at the temple grounds about 3:00 on Monday
because we both had a holiday from school and we'd have great light.
When Monday comes, I go and pick up the balloons for the shoot around 2:15
and then we head over to the temple to meet Syl on that beautiful afternoon.

We pull up to the temple and my heart drops.

The gates are closed.

And then it hits me - it's a Monday.

The Newport Beach Temple is closed on Mondays.

I am sick to my stomach. I want to throw up.

Not only am I disappointed that we can't take the pictures and I have 8 

helium balloons for nothing, I am sick that I have had Syl drive down from

Los Angeles on a holiday to help me in my last minute endeavor.

So, I do the only thing there is to do - cry.

Just kidding!!!!

I first tried calling the temple to see if a security guard or a after hours

person is there and wants to take pity on me and let me in.

No one answers the phone.

Next I run over to the gate call box and push the button hoping someone will pick up.

No one does.

I am just about to give up and treat Syl to dinner at Mastro's,

when I see an old Dodge truck starting to leave the temple grounds through the gate.

So, I do the only thing there is to do and I "run" across the parking lot waving

my arms and yelling like only a lunatic pregnant mom can.

I tell the man in the old Dodge truck my whole sad story about being pregnant,

and having my photographer friend drive down from LA,

and I have balloons and it's for my son's baptism pictures and sob, cry, sob.

The man in the Dodge truck takes pity on me and lets us into the temple grounds.

I wish I would have gotten his name so that I could track him down

and bring him a big plate of homemade cookies for saving the day.

I know it seems trivial, but at that moment I knew that my Heavenly Father

was mindful of me, knows my name, and answered my pleas.

Syl did an amazing job and I was thrilled with how the pictures turned out.

I'll be forever grateful to the man in the old Dodge truck that saved the day,

and to a childhood friend that went along with my pregnancy induced vision

and created beautiful images that will remind me of the days when my

baby boy was eight and chose to be baptized a member of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.