Before I move from Christmas-related posts to New Year-related posts, I need to talk about the most special Christmastime experience of all: blessing my little baby Ellie.

Although we Mormons don't believe in baptizing infants, we do believe in blessing them, and it's an important event in a child's life. In preparing for this event, Shelly even called my attention to a poem cited frequently to the young women of the Church about the "Three White Dresses" a woman wears during the important moments of her life: her blessing dress, her baptism dress, and her wedding dress.

Well, Ellie's blessing dress was the same one that Shelly wore when she was blessed as an infant. Shelly's mom made it for her, and that makes it all the more special. There are little heart-shaped buttons on it, signifying that Shelly was born near Valentine's Day. For Ellie's purposes, it just means that we love her, I guess. Anyway, she looked beautiful. She always does.

We decided to bless Ellie in Utah at my parents' home, because that way a lot more family would be able to participate. Shelly's parents and sister came up from Phoenix, so Ellie had a lot of familial support. Participating in the circle were both of her grandfathers, four of her seven uncles, and her self-proclaimed godfather, Unckie Chavez.

This is, of course, the first time I have performed a baby blessing. In fact, I've only participated in one circle before, for Shelly's cousin's son. So although I knew what I had to do, and although I've given quite a few other priesthood blessings in the past, I was a little nervous. After all, this blessing is supposed to be special. I'm supposed to promise her attributes and blessings that will be with her throughout her life. What if I forget something important? What if I can't feel the Spirit prompting me on what to say? Should I stick to the kind of stuff everyone always talks about (strong testimony, marry in the temple, etc.), or branch off onto something unusual, like the guy in our ward in Cambridge who blessed his daughter with "your grandfather's love of good cheese"?

We started off the event with a hymn, "Families Can Be Together Forever." That's where it hit me. I didn't cry, but I couldn't sing, either. I was just so filled with love for my baby and my wife and even our other future children, I was overcome. I think that was a good preparation for me as I stood up to administer the blessing. The Spirit was with me.

I did a fine job. Not the world's most eloquent blessing, but good enough for my baby. I'm so excited to watch her grow and learn and develop. She's started smiling in the past couple of weeks, and my heart melts every time she does. I hope I can treasure these blessed moments of infancy while maintaining that awestruck love for her throughout her life.