Caroline's Baptism

While we were home for our vacation and John & Layne's wedding, we decided we wanted to get Caroline baptized.  We don't have plans for when we will be back in the US next so this was the best opportunity we had to do it with most of our family around.  I wanted to have the baptism in the sanctuary where Derek and I were married on a Sunday so that the church family could be there to witness but due to some scheduling conflicts and some extravagant bible school decorations we settled for a private Saturday service in the  chapel.  We hosted our family and friends at a luncheon before proceeding to the church for the service.

The precious baptismal gown that Caroline wore was first worn by her older cousin, Lauren.  My sister-in-law, Beth, monogrammed the girl's initials and dates of their baptisms.  Hopefully many more little girls in the Cutshall family will get to wear it too!

Caroline and Lauren's Initials

This party is for ME? 

Patti Cakes strikes again!  A beautiful baptismal cake by my mother.

How Caroline spent most of her luncheon.

Our family and friends who were able to make it.

Mid baptism.  So glad Pastor Barry was able to do this for us.  He married us as well.

Thanks to Katie and Adam for being Caroline's godparents!  She is one lucky little lady!

The nap paid off, she was wide awake for the baptism and pictures.

With Derek's parents 

With my parents

Cousins Lauren and William.  Lauren was so excited to share her gown with Caroline. 

The Cutshall Clan

The Mrozik's 

The godparents

Thank you to all the family who came and to Katie and Adam for being Caroline's Godparents. Also, thanks to Barry and Debbie Antley for joining us and welcoming Caroline in to the Christian family.

3 Months and Traveling the World

During our trip to the US, Caroline turned three months old!  It was a big month for her as she went on her first flight, first trip to the US, attended her first wedding, first time meeting most of the family, and was baptized.  All of this new stuff also brought her first jetlag and separation anxiety.  I'll be the first to say, jetlag baby is no fun but she really is a good traveler.  We were certainly nervous traveling that long with such a young child but we got several compliments on her behavior so she must have done well enough.

We were fortunate to have some global upgrades to redeem and we were upgraded for all but one of our flights.  This made it so I could lie flat most of the trip with her sleeping on my chest.  She loves to snuggle so she was quite happy.  The only embarrassing moment was when I nursed her a few minutes too early on the descent into Atlanta and she screamed her head off due to the pressure in her ears.  I learned my lesson and got the timing right for the rest of the trip.  Just like us, she was a bit cranky and tired for the first two days but we got her straightened out by waking her up at her normal time and going for walks to get a little sunlight.

She is typically a pretty easy going baby but we learned she has her limits.  So much newness was a bit of an overload on the senses bringing on the separation anxiety.  Thankfully, she has much improved since returning to Singapore and getting back to her routine.

Caroline is still on the small side but growing so quickly.  She is an observant little girl and learning new skills everyday.  She has started to coo and jabber a lot which we just love to hear and cannot get enough of it.

Smiling at Daddy during bathtime

Staring intently at her Daddy and talking to him a bit after her bath

First flight!  We took off just before midnight so she was exhausted.

Her first flight, on Singapore Airlines no less

So every time Derek and I have gone to Changi Airport, we have seen at least one Caucasian girl in baggy elephant pants.  After living in Asia, you realize only the tourists wear those pants so we enjoy picking them out all over the continent.  When Caroline received elephant pants (albeit not quite like the ones the tourists wear) we knew she had to wear them on the flight.  Hers are definitely much cuter!

"That girl" in the Tokyo airport wearing elephant pants.  Making full use of the lounge!

Sleeping with Daddy in business class

What Caroline thinks about getting to sit in business class

She was a trooper with all the driving we had to do from place to place during our trip.

Tummy time!

Caroline and her "talking"

3 Months!

More to come on her baptism and adventures over the last month!

John and Layne Get Married!

In early June we made our yearly trip back to the US to see family, shop, eat, and see John and Layne get married.  John is the baby of the family and the last one to get married.  John and Layne are both the life of the party so we knew this would be one unforgettable wedding and they did not disappoint!

John and Layne started dating after they met in Tiger Band at Clemson.  They dated a few years in school and after graduation, John made sure that Layne would come back after getting her masters at Ohio State by asking her to marry him.  For two years we all had to wait for this epic party but it was worth it.

The wedding was held in Rock Hill, SC where Layne's grew up.  Friday we spent getting the club house ready for the rehearsal dinner and enjoying some much awaited family time.

Caroline with her cousin Lauren.  Lauren loved helping out and taking care of Caroline.

Lauren and Matt playing at the rehearsal

Groom's cakes at the rehearsal dinner.  Patti Cakes does it again! So proud of my mom and her excellent work!

Tiger Band cake since that is where John and Layne met.  This snickerdoodle cake is accompanied with salted caramel cupcakes.

And a snickerdoodle beach cake since they love the beach and got engaged there.  Yes, those shells are edible.

Caroline ready to celebrate John and Layne!

The happy couple at the rehearsal dinner

Layne and all her college friends

Caroline didn't want to cooperate for a family picture 

It isn't a wedding without John and Layne singing "Don't Stop Believing'" at the top of their lungs

William is a party animal and his Uncle Chris is happy to party along

Rehearsal dinner party favors by Patti Cakes.  Delicious cookies hand decorated to look like mason jars to go with the country bbq theme. 

We partied Friday night away and continued the festivities on Saturday morning at the bridesmaids luncheon.

Layne's gift to the bridesmaids: Tom's shoes to wear at the reception.  Layne would be wearing blue ones under her wedding dress.

All the Cutshall women, minus Caroline who was sleeping, at the brunch

Layne with her Mom and Aunt Sylvia

Caroline finally woke up and joined the party

After the brunch we all had to go get our hair done and get ready for the wedding.

Layne and her signature pose

My mom with Caroline before the wedding

Thankfully this is how Caroline spent the whole wedding, snuggled up sleeping with her daddy

Happily married! 

My adorable nephew, William

Chris and Brett, married almost 1 year!

So glad that Katie and Adam could come!

The guys and their girls.  How the times have changed.

Perfectly normal for the bride to play the drums at her wedding.

William is the life of the party 

My Dad's favorite way to spend a reception, two years in a row

Adam likes to wobble... 

Second set on the drums!

Leaving the reception in the old bug, restored for the second time.

Some of the highlights from the wedding:

We had an absolute blast and are so happy Layne is officially part of the family!