August 13th, 2013-Madelyn's Birthday

So earlier this year, while we were attending David's BYU graduation, we heard Elder L. Tom Perry speak.  He said, Sharing a family tradition told of how his parents would put four objects-a baby bottle, a bank, a toy and a Bible-in front of their child on the baby's first birthday.  "Each item represented the different values each of us might have, our four basic needs in mortality.  Family tradition held that whichever item the baby chose, that would become their focus in life."  For the rest of the talk, see http://www.lds.org/church/news/elder-perry-tells-byu-graduates-to-keep-priorities-balanced?lang=eng 

So I thought it would be fun to do this tradition as well to see if it really works.  We put out a bottle, a Book of Mormon, a toy, and a bowl full of money and waited to see what Maddie would choose.

  

 The baby bottle it is! Elder Perry taught that the bottle symbolized good physical health and emotional strength.   (Maybe we won't have an emotional teenage daughter, that would be nice!)  Second place was the Book of Mormon, which represented spiritual strength, so we felt pretty good about her selections.  

 During her special day, we played a lot together, she took a great nap, as well as took great care of her baby dolls.

 For dinner, I made sure to have all food that she could eat.  So we feasted on sweet potatoes, steamed zucchini and then watermelon for dessert.

 Todd helped her blow out her candle in the piece of watermelon.

 Then she dove in!  It was quite the messy, juicy treat for her. Then for one of Madelyn's favorite times of the day-bath time.  I gave her an extra long bath.  

 During bath time, the doorbell rang and a friend from the ward dropped off a birthday present.  Once we dried off, it was time to open more presents! Madelyn gave cute pairs of socks, a snuggy soft blanket, and flower hair clips.

It was a wonderful day to cherish our sweet Maddie Jane.