Blessing.

Today we blessed our sweet Azalea. She is just the best baby the world has ever known. I'm so grateful for her sweet spirit that she brings to our home, and that Heavenly Father trusted me to be her mommy! I'm also so thankful for my wonderful husband, who was able to give her a blessing today at church. It really was so beautiful, the things he blessed her with. Here is what I remember:

*She will be virtuous and chaste
*She will be a good example for her brothers, sisters, and future children as a mother
*She will get married in the Temple and will find joy in this
*She will be blessed with discernment, to "know right from wrong, better from worse"--in Matt's words
*She will be obedient and will know the importance to listening to her parents
*She will be kind and confident
*She will know her divine nature as a daughter of God
*Her kindness and confidence will inspire and uplift other young women around her.

This blessing seriously brought me to tears. How amazing to have all of these qualities? It made me reflect on how I, as a mother, can make sure she is raised in an environment that will allow her to develop these gifts. I have a seriously special little girl in my care, and I need to make sure to be the mother that she deserves. We all just love Azalea SO MUCH.

After the blessing, we had a bunch of treats at our house to celebrate her coming to our family. I made zucchini-caramel cupcakes, lemon raspberry muffins, strawberry coconut balls, and a yummy citrus raspberry punch. I had mason jars as cups and adorable teal striped paper straws. It turned out so cute! I wish I had gotten pictures of everything, but we dug right in before I had the chance! It was all so delish. Thank you to pinterest for allowing me to steal all of these cute ideas and yummy recipes!

Maxson had so much fun playing with grandmas, grandpa, aunties and uncles, that he literally passed out in his high chair. This had never happened before! It cracked me up.

My heart is so full. I have the best family and friends a girl could ask for, and to top it all off, I get to be the mommy to these babies. How'd I get so lucky?!