A Day of Blessing.

On Sunday we celebrated our precious Maylie's baby blessing.

My goal this time around was to simplify and enjoy the day to it's fullest.

So my thoughtful parents suggested sack lunches in pretty pink sacks and we filled them with muffins, bananas, and juice.  At first I was a bit reluctant to abandon the traditional sit-down dinner, but I'm so grateful we did.  The sack lunches were perfectly simple.  It was such a lovely day.

Dear Maylie,

     You were blessed on Sunday, February 5th, 2012...six years and one day after your your Daddy and I were engaged.  And for this reason, I will always remember this special day of yours.

     You looked so lovely in your blessing dress that long ago belonged to me...

      So many of your family members were gathered around you on this day:  Gram and Pop; Great-Grandpa Johnson; Grandpa and Grandma; Papa and Nana; Jacee and Chad (Holland, Eliza, Nelson, and Madeline); Payton and Melissa; Molly and Chris (Colbie); Nicole and Jason; Natalie; Megan and Sadie; Lynne and Gregg; Eva and Sid; and Grandpa and Grandma Lystrup visited last week.

      Daddy gave you the most tender blessing, relaying to you how you are a choice daughter of our Heavenly Father reserved to come to the earth at this time to shine as a light and a star to guide those around you.  You were blessed with the light from the Savior to shine in your countenance that you might be an example throughout your life.

      Maylie, words cannot express how blessed we are to have you in our family.  We have felt that you have been waiting to come for so long...and now you are here in all of your glorious radiance.  Your angelic sweetness fills my heart with joy so abundant that my cup is brimming.  I could not be happier.  Thank you for coming.  Thank you for the grace you have brought to our family.  Thank you for the edge of refinement you have brought to this household of little boys.  Thank you for the heavenly aura you have bestowed on our home.  Thank you for being you.  You are the ray of light that I needed...that we all needed.  And I'm so glad that Heavenly Father sent you to us.  You are Grace my little Maylie.  And I love you.

Love always,

Mommy

Maylie's Newborn Photoshoot

Yesterday we sat in Gospel Doctrine class and an older gentlemen next to Patrick asked if he could hold our baby.  He asked what her name was and we told him.  He then replied, "Do you know what Maylie means?" He paused, "Beautiful."  We smiled and chuckled, thinking he was merely giving a compliment-joke.  He quickly added, "No, really.  In Chinese 'Mei li' is the word for beautiful."

I felt all warm inside, wondering if this could really be true.

So today I did a little research and this is what I found.

The Chinese word for beautiful is:  美丽 - měi lì

Serenade to Maylie Grace.

"Open your eyes now
it’s time to see
if you can reach me
open your eyes now
it’s time to leave me
open your eyes now
it’s time to see
if you still believe in me
open your life now
I’ll try to be all that you need me to be
she’ll be a star now
  I will follow her lead"
~Andrew Belle, Open Your Eyes

I've been spending the days gazing endlessly into your deep, blue eyes and caressing your dark hair turned auburn.  I reflect often on the story of when you came to us on that dark, cold night...how you left me and came to me all at the same time...how you opened your perfect little eyes for the first time, those eyes that glow with the light of Christ.  And I saw in you what I've always known I'd see--a star, brilliant and captivating, leading those around you to think of Him...to return to Him.

I haven't taken nearly enough pictures to capture the essence of you, but I have held you and tried to breathe you in, soak in your precious newborn self before it's gone forever.  But still I live in constant fear that with each passing minute you'll grow up before my eyes.  The words from a song swirl through my head, feeding the nostalgia and perhaps, the motivation to enjoy...

"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

"Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple..."
~Taylor Swift, Never Grow Up
 

It's still dark outside as I write this in the still of the morn.  Today's a new, glorious day to love you, to nurture you, to be your mother.  And I rejoice that you're mine.  Long before you were born or even conceived, I dedicated this song to you.  Because somehow I knew you, who you would be, and how you'd be mine.  Truly Maylie, you have turned this Winter into Spring...even your name signifies this as "May" means "Spring."  Each line of this song embodies how I feel.  It's as if this song were written just for you.  And I still can't believe that you're mine.



I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not in a dream
That's how it seems
I close my eyes and breathe in the sweetest moments I've ever known
It feels like home
And here I am I want to be your everything
There you are
Turning winter into spring

And everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're a standing ovation
After years of waiting for a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

I fall apart
Just a word from you somehow seems to fix
Whatever's wrong
Oh, you reach into the weakest moments
And remind me that I'm strong
You've got to know
I'd be a fool not to see you, or even worse
To forget that you're more than I deserve

Cause everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're a standing ovation
After years of waiting for a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
Nothing makes sense when you're not here
As if my whole world disappears
Without you what's the point of it

Cause everyone that sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile
You're the dream that I've been chasing after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

I love you my Maylie.