Sunday 2nd June 2019 - Today was Thomas' naming ceremony. Mummy got Thomas', Ira's and Clara's clothes ready
And finished decorating his naming day cake - a tropical fruit cake with orange cream cheese icing and rainbow sprinkles
Daddy drove them up to the View and Mummy put some decorations up while Daddy went to pick up the food and drink
Clara had organised a draw a picture of baby Thomas competition. The top three would win a rainbow pencil and everyone got a bag of jellies
Thomas was all ready to go in his smart shirt and trousers
The guests arrived and before long, the ceremony began. They had a humanist ceremony, which was conducted by Lynn O'Brien
Ellis and Phil had agreed to be Thomas' guideparents - and also to take over being Ira's guideparents too, since Christine and Kumari had both moved away
Clara read a poem, which she had been practising with Grandad Mel:
Someday you’ll jump through puddles,
Take a stroll or run a race,
Someday you’ll walk across the street
Or maybe walk in space.
Someday you’ll scale a mountain
Or join the ballet corps.
Someday you’ll walk a tightrope
Or explore the ocean floor.
Some day your feet will do some things
That only heaven knows
But for today they’re happy, simply
Just to wiggle little toes.
She also made some pledges which she wrote herself:
Baby Thomas
When you grow up, I will play with you
Cuddle you and read you stories
I’ll teach you how to read
I’ll sing you songs
We’ll go to the forest together
And on our bikes together
I’ll look after you when you start school
I’ll always be your big sister
And I will always love you
Ira gave Thomas a balloon that he had chosen himself - with Thomas the Tank Engine on it
Daddy read some pledges on behalf of him and Mummy:
Thomas…
We promise
To love you with all our hearts for all the days to come.
To hold you tight and tuck you up at night.
To make sure that there are no monsters hiding under the bed and that
there will always be time for songs and stories.
To take you on fun and exciting adventures and to make sure your birthdays are always extra special.
To listen to you and to answer your questions as best we can.
To encourage the spark of curiosity that already shines bright in your eyes.
To laugh with you, when things are funny and to be there for you when things are sad.
To remember that nobody, not even mummy and daddy, are perfect and that whatever you do even if it’s something terrible like covering your cot from top to bottom in sudocrem-we will be there for you.
That you will never be too old for a carry or too young to have a go at doing things your way.
That you will never have to worry about being anyone other than who you are.
That you will always be our little bear.
...and then Thomas was officially named
Everyone was asked to raise their glasses to 'Thomas Wren Clifford'
Mummy's friend Emily took some lovely photographs of everybody in the field behind the view
One with Thomas' Grandmas and Grandads and his cousins too
And one with Ellis and Phil
What a lucky boy he is
Emily took some gorgeous photos of Clara and Ira on the stairs
Though Ira didn't feel like smiling for the camera for long!
There were some excellent entries in the competition
Clara and Ira judged the pictures and gave out the prizes and the jellies
Ellis and Phil gave Thomas a big jelly cat giraffe (which has since been name Phyllis!) and Thomas couldn't wait to snuggle up to her and fall asleep, after a long and brilliant day
