409

Last month we met with our minister to discuss Jakob's baptism. (Still no date set, but it might be in January.) Being the traditionalist that I am, I want to find a Christening gown for him to wear.

Easier said than done.

I think I'm doomed on a number of counts:

• Baptism isn't as common as it used to be;
  
• Christening gowns aren't as common as they used to be;
• For boys, the prevailing trend is to white suits or other such nonsense, rather than a Christening gown.

So those few gowns that I've been able to find, whether in store or online, tend to be frilly and flowery and girly and really not even what I'd want if we'd had a daughter. There's one store on West Broadway that has gowns, none of which appealed to me. What's worse, the clerk kept trying to sell me on those horrid white suits, no matter how many times I told her I wasn't interested. They offered up their catalogue, and I quickly found one Christening gown that I actually liked. Naturally, it has been discontinued.

A-ha, didn't I remember see Christening gowns in a shop in Oak Bay when we were in Victoria with Werner's parents? I know, I thought to myself, I'll check there while we're in Victoria. And I did. And even though it has only been a few months since I was last there, in that time the store has stopped carrying Christening gowns because they weren't selling.

I did, however, see one gown in Victoria, at the Irish Linen store. Absolutely perfect. Stunningly simple, pure linen, and one-size-fits-all (important, since the baptism hasn't been scheduled yet). I love it and would love to have Jakob wear it for his baptism.

But.

It's $409.

That's a lot to spend on a garment that he'll wear once¹ and spit up on many times.

Yes, I spent a whole lot more than that on my wedding gown and wore it only once, but at least I wore it for a whole day. (And, no, I can't bring myself to have it butchered to be made into a Christening gown.)

But it's perfect.

But it's the same amount of money as Jakob's 'free' airfare to Europe.

The quest continues.


¹ Anyone who dares to suggest that we have additional children who can subsequently wear the same gown can expect receive, by standard mail, the dirtiest diaper of the week.