Let the journey begin...
Via crumbs and drool, the lounge is claimed
the blessing of the 3rd seat
first lunch, sofia
in special bulgaria bib
test-driving w
maria + wyeth, a quiet caterpillar moment
in the chilov's yard -
yes, that's a boy on a motorcycle
outside the chilovs
St Sofia, the oldest Bulgarian orthodox church in Sofia and the incredibly beautiful, auspicious, historic and triumphant place of wyeth baptism
baptized to be plus father plus grandparents
non-chalant, as ever
stuff of the baptism, though the scissors worried...
how many babes...
flowers, icons . stage is set
that's st nicholas - wyeth's middle name being "nicholas". Oddly, there's not (yet) a saint wyeth...
baptismal paperwork - wyeth-related?
all save for dad
all save for ruslan, and wyeth looking icon-wards
still calm
the baptismal stage
special water? made special by the babe...
prayers begin
particpitory candle-lighting
solemn wyeth
blessing the water (i think)
prayers for our baby
(cyrillic prayers that is)
hypnotized by candlelight
wyeth with spoon
back to us (front to god)
getting the babe naked
applying of the (holy) oil
wyeth - game but wary
the dunking! (courtney is not great camera-woman)
the baptism! (and look closely, someone's peeing in that by which he's blessed...)
and we're out
and we're screaming
SCREAMING
but cute AND blessed
he already looks cleansed
satan scared off, everyone's more relaxed
and thoughtful
now, step 3, cutting of the hair
calmly calmly
3 generations of chilovs - the mafia portrait
attentive w
the deed done, the men pose
post-baptism lunch place
preparations to feed a baby
briefly, he did sleep
me + w
oh, the eating we did
lunch to celebrate and a moment of adoration between grandpop (papi) + grandson
pooped, as only the newly-baptized can be, Wyeth takes a stroll
two grandpops in front of Alexander Nevsky church, discussing a boy's future (perhaps)
R + W at Rila monastery
the group at Rila
rest with dog
chewy toy came with
the Rila murals - idea for wyeth's room...
deer - for wyeth's room too
they walk the arcade
they stand on a bench
they drool
sarah does photos
interior of the church (taken at great personal risk, unbeknownst to roaming, suspicious, priest)
a grandpop at rest
oh those chilovs
the little family
fried bread with sugar - but better and with fancier name
now just two
surprise, everyone likes fried bread with sugar
and then to lunch
not a kid's menu
menus are serious business
surprise - wyeth likes french fries too
everyone in one! (via self-timer, camera set a tad low....)
jolly guys
men, some serious
chilov's plus dad
ladies + w
me + my boy
wyeth's dinner throne
at Maria's birthday
frolicking (during my birthday lunch)
botany 101
GRASS
LAMP!
more grass and
GRAVEL!
a drum!
who's grumpy now
grandparents all around
my birthday slice
Wyeth - pretty sure he's missing something
Wyeth, a rare quiet moment, with sippy
the family
the imperfect makings of a group photo - rus takes a call
at Julian's bachelor pad (evening in sofia light)
cool boy, dads in shadow
grandparents in the bachelor pad, striking poses
big thoughts for all
Julian's view (Sofia city center rooftops)
