After much runaround from the priest at Immaculate Conception in SC, we finally got the okay to get her baptized. We chose to get her baptized in Charleston because both sets of grandparents and most of our closest friends were there. Before we could even schedule her, we had to register at a different church here and wait about 3 months since the church we were originally attending catered to tourist and did not have a parish (Father Frank did not believe there was such a thing as a church without a parish.) We both had to take time off of work to attend a baptism class which by the way Isa hated because she cried (loudly) throughout the entire thing. Since that was not enough for Father Frank, I also had to get the church to send him a letter that gave us permission to have our child baptized in SC. I guess it wasn't good enough that we had both been attending Immaculate since its conception and had even gotten married there. Steve the godfather also had to take a class which could only be taken on the first Saturday of every month. So a month before the baptism I finally got a date set for the fourth Saturday in July. There are only two times they do baptisms every month and that is on the second and fourth Saturday. We got the invitations sent to 20 of our closest friends and family and booked the restaurant Gullah Cuisine recommended by our good friend Steve for noon on Saturday. We wanted either seafood or low country but since my mom was now allergic to shellfish we went for the latter. I was shocked when I got a call around 9:30 pm at night at my in-laws by the church stating that because there was a funeral the baptism would have to be moved to noon. I was dumbfounded and did not realize I could argue with the church. I reluctantly accepted the new time. It now conflicted with our reservation. Erick ,of course, was irate and immediately got on the phone with Father Frank. They compromised on a new time for 1000 am. He then had to call everybody and inform them of the new schedule. Whew! I did not realize it was going to be this much work. I guess when Isa resents me later for baptizing her into the Catholic Church without her consent, I can tell her all of the trouble we went through. Luckily everything fell into place the day of and Isa became a child of God on July 28th 2007. Everybody was able to make it and witness her baptism.
I hope everybody knows how much we appreciated everybody being there. Isa took part in the whole ceremony without much of a peep except towards the end but quieted down again when the holy water was poured onto her forehead. The priest remarked that "she must love water."
There was a minor slipup in the ceremony when Steve thought he needed to help out Father Frank with the bib not knowing that the priest was intending for Jen, the godmother, to place it on Isa. We couldn't help but crack up at the dagger eyes Father Frank threw at Steve and his reaction. 
After the ceremony, we were all able to make it to the restaurant which they had nicely set up for us despite the last minute change. 
The food was delicious but difficult to enjoy trying to watch Isa and mingling with everybody. 
As always I felt "shortchanged" with the time we had to be with everybody and wished that we had more. I always seem to come away from these things feeling like I didn't get to talk to everybody. We then decided to go to my in-laws to open Isa's gifts and have dessert.
Everybody's present was way too generous but very much appreciated. We were really just wanting them to be there to celebrate her baptism. I was a little overwhelmed by what everybody gave Isa. Thank you everyone. I was touched most of all by the letter Donna wrote to Isa. "When you look back to your time as a baby and I hope that through pictures of your family you see what a true miracle you are to us and to the world. Always trust in God in good and bad times. He is the one who will carry you even when you feel that you are alone." Erick and I will cherish this letter and save it for Isa to read in the future so that she knows how much everyone loves her.
