In case you hadn’t noticed, we love babies. We love crossed eyes, soft coos, loud burps, floppy snuggles, sweet smiles, cute cries and a reason to celebrate.
The children ready for church & Bella's baptism
With our last baby (Nicholas, our ninth) we started a tradition. A tradition that we wish we had started with our first baby, but were probably too tired to even think about.
We host a celebration of our baby’s baptism. (If you don’t believe in baptizing babies, don’t let that stop you from celebrating your baby’s birth.) After the baptism, we invite our family and some of our friends over for a meal and a time of fellowship. 
We love and appreciate that so many of our friends and family are willing to take time out of their busy schedules (many drove several hours) to come celebrate with us. (actual head count this year, 88)
Isabella being held by one of her 19 cousins
It’s a special time of fellowship and rejoicing and I believe it gives us a little taste of what heaven will be like and the fellowship of the saints there.
I regret that I only have a couple pictures of the actual celebration, but rather than being behind a camera, Mark and I were busy enjoying our guests and all of the children. I suppose that’s the way that it should be.
Isabella being held by her great-grandmother
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Hi, I'm Kimberly. 
This is beautiful, and I must say that your post yesterday was so inspiring that I shared it with my husband and he had the same sentiments.
We, too, have celebrations after a baptism (and after a profession of faith) it’s a joyous time!! Praise the Lord for our covenant children
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It was a wonderful day of celebration and feasting. Again I say thank you and Praise to our mighty Lord.
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Still thinking about your post from yesterday… it’s what I needed to hear.
I love the picture of your kids in their Sunday clothes – that’s a sweet-looking bunch! I’m interested in why you have chosen to infant-baptize. Have you written about it anywhere on your blog?
Blessings!
-Shannon H.
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Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:40 am
I haven’t written about infant baptism on the blog, but I did answer this question in response to Annie and Kristi just below your comment.
Hope that helps, if you have more questions feel free to ask, my hubby will be happy to answer.
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Shannon Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:56 am
Thanks, Kimberly-
I was just interested in it. It’s similar to what we do in ‘dedicating’ our infants shortly after their born.
Blessings!
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What is your denomination if you don’t mind me asking. It’s not to judge but to understand more of your families beliefs. Our family is Southern Baptist and we have a baby dedication in May where we stand before the church and dedicate our children to the Lord. Just curious- that’s all☺
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Kristi Herman Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:39 am
I was wondering the same thing. Why do you baptize your babies? Do you believe this saves them? We also dedicate our children.
And like she said, I’m not judging you, just curious.
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Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:33 am
We are Reformed Presbyterians. You may read more about what we believe in the Westminster Confession of Faith. There is a section specifically on Baptism. (Thanks to Rebecca P. who commented below for the link.)
Just for the record, we do not believe that baptism saves anyone.
We believe that with the death and resurrection of Christ and the transition from the covenant of works (which God made with Adam in the Garden of Eden) to the covenant of grace (where Christ fulfills the covenant of works for us and pays for our salvation with His blood) that baptism takes the place of circumcision as the sign of God’s covenant people.
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I think it is such a great idea to celebrate with family and friends, and you’re right, I think it is a taste of heaven and what we have in store.
My husband is amazed that you can get 88 people in your house.
We were in your neighborhood Sunday driving by a friend’s house that we may move into one day and saw your children in the driveway getting ready for the family pic you posted today. We were tempted to stop and say hello but decided not to since it seemed everyone was getting ready for church and we were on our way to church ourselves. I keep intending to attend your home fellowship of Mom’s each month but wasn’t sure if you were still having them or had taken a break with the birth of Bella. Anyway, sorry such a long post, just wanted to say hello and maybe one day we’ll get to meet. Be blessed.
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Not sure if this would be helpful for all the questions of “why baptizing infants?” and I am actually not sure what denomination the author belongs to, but this is the standard which the Orthodox Presbyterian (and I think all Presbyterian) Church holds to. I hope the language is readable, and if you click on the numbers next to the phrases you will get proof texts. Essentially infant baptism harkens back to infant circumcision, bringing the babe into the church (when the parents are both believers). It has nothing to do with salvation. That’s all! http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
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Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
Thanks Rebecca. We call ourselves reformed Presbyterians and do hold to the Westminster Confession.
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Rebecca P Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:50 am
My husband attended an RP church in Beaver Falls, PA…where he attended Geneva College.
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I actually didn’t mean to type “that’s all”, because that’s really not all…haha…sorry! I meant to say I hope that’s helpful
Preggo brain!!!!
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wow 88 guest. What a great turn out and you’re right what a wonderful way to celebrate and fellowship. Looks like it was a great and everyone looked like they were having a good time. Thanks for sharing part of bella’s day with us.
God Bless
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So greatful for the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to our Lord with you. It was a wonderful day!
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Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:42 am
Thank you for getting up early and making the effort to come. We love you and your family!
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What a wonderful gathering! Having so many family and friends who are willing to support you as you raise your babies for God’s glory is certainly a blessing! We participate in child dedications with our church body and haven’t hosted a celebration like this before- but maybe we’ll have to for the baby I am carrying now! Sweet fellowsip!
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Congrats on your baby’s baptism
Sorry you seem to be getting a bit of the third degree here–thanks for sharing this special part of your life with your readers.
Baptisms are a huge deal in my family, neither my husband nor I are practicing Christians (My husband is an Anthrophosiphist, which I guess is sort of Christian…but nothing nothing mainstream) but regardless, I find myself already planning my future kids baptisms
I was baptized in a baptismal gown (as was my sister) that was sewn for my grandfather almost 90 years ago, my mother and all of her siblings were baptized in it, and my children will be baptized in it someday too.
Even though I no longer practice Christianity, to me, baptisms are still so special, because it’s a way of saying to this little baby “you’re important, you matter, you’re a spiritual being, and here are all of these people who love you and want to support you, not only physically, but intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually too.)
Do you have godparents in your traditon? That was something that has always been really meaningful to me too–I’ve always felt so special knowing that I have a godmother and godfather.
Once again, congrats, and thank you for sharing your celebration with your readers
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In my country after babtism and mass in church we invite our guests to home for dinner or treat. This is usually the closest family and it is very happy meeting, just like on your pictures
But I must say that I have never have 88 guests so I admire you
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What’s your trick to getting everyone looking at the camera AND smiling?
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Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
I just threaten to post a ‘bad’ picture of them on the blog.
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We’ve had picnics after both of our children’s baptisms and they were both lots of fun with lots of family.
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What a blessed family. i love the first photo all of your children has such a beautiful smile. Congratulations!
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What a beautiful and precious celebration of your newest Covenant child. May God richly bless you all.
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LOVE this. We do a similar type of party for our (so far) sons’ naming ceremony. Right now we are far from family so the gatherings have been small, but we truly have cherished them!
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You have such a beautiful family.The pictures were so nice.I would love to know how to fit 88 people in a house.LOL! Thank-you for sharing your special day with us.May God bless all of you!
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I wish I had 88 people in my life that wanted to spend time with us!! Since I have been saved I don’t have as many friends anymore and family sort of shy’s way from anything that may turn into a time of us discussing how the Lord is working in our lives. Hospitality is a gift I would love to share! wonder if I started out small .
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We do the same thing when we publicly dedicate our children and rededicate the family. We have it when the babies are 6 months old and continue to celebrate the date as their “unbirthday” where we take a day to pray over them and talk about what a blessing they are in our lives and share specific blessings from God’s word with them. We have so many family members who are unbelievers who come and sit in church for this event. Who knows what seeds it plants?
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also like some of your readers, we dedicate ourselves to bringing up our children in the Word of God. Because we are military we were blessed to have the same pastor do our boys dedication and chose to wait till we were back in the States to have the same pastor dedicate our daughter. I never thought of inviting people over after-wards!!! What a great idea, I think we will use it!!!!
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What a wonderful, special day! I wish we were able to have family celebrations like this at the baptism of our children…but, alas, not everyone is on the same page. You are very blessed, as you know, I’m sure!
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Wow! Small world. We are RP also!
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Congratulations, Miss Isabella. I wish we’d have thought to have big celebrations for our babies’ baptisms. We did on the oldest but it is because we had out of town family show up. So it just worked out
But, all the kids know when their baptism were and we acknowledge it every year. Love the photo of all the kids on the big day. We have similar ones 
Congratulations to one and all.
God’s Blessings
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How beautiful! We have baptised all of our babies. It is a very emotional and beautiful moment for me. We are a little behind baptising our beautiful Liliana, that will happen next month. Beautiful family and congratulations!
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