The Name By Which She Will Be Called...

(Special thanks to our wonderful friend Amber for taking these GUH-ORGEOUS photos for us)

Yes, at over 4 months of age, our little Layla finally had her baby blessing!  I was afraid she wouldn't fit into the blessing dress that her sisters had worn, but she did, and as you can see, looked lovely.  As soon as Spencer started the blessing she looked up at him and just stared (as she often does) right at him, and kept it up throughout.  Spencer was a little choked up from the start, and stayed that way throughout. With the help of several versions of notes (thanks to Sarah not-beer's new husband and to Amber), here is a little summary of your baby blessing, Layla:

Layla April Clive--
We bless you to always feel comfortable at home and loved by your family, and feel that your problems can be shared with those who love you.
We bless you to have a strong character.  To have empathy, to be happy, and that you will radiate warmth to those around you.
We bless you with health and a sharp mind.
We bless you with a strong spirit, and the ability to recognize you spiritual gifts, that they may be a source of strength to you and those around you.
We bless you that, like your mother, you will love virtuous things.  Fill your life with light and resist temptation.
We bless you to have an eternal perspective when facing life's trials and the inner strength needed to overcome those trials when needed.

It was a wonderful blessing.  Layla is such a sweet and loving little person.  Her face lights up so brightly when one of us greets her.  She loves loves loves her sisters and all their kisses and loves and all the other things that one would imagine a baby would not like so much (like Campbell's need to squeeze her hand--hard, or Cadence's inability to control her excitement when she touches Layla's head, etc).

Layla was named for two very strong, very important women in our lives.  The name Layla is derived from LAY, as in Clora Fontella LAY Orton, my father's mother. Layla was born on her birthday, Nov. 28th, the year that my Grandmother would have turned 102.

  My Grandma Orton was one of my role-models.  Is.  She had 10 children and a foster child that she treated as her own.  She was a tiny, tough, hard-working, purple-loving, farmer's wife.  She was one of the first women of the church to serve a mission (southern states, I believe she spent most of her time in North Carolina).  She loved the Lord.  She loved her family, and she loved her garden.

Grandma made the yummiest coconut syrup for topping pancakes.  She had an abundance of kittens...always kittens.  It was like they never grew up at Grandma's.   Grandma had a special talent: the bee whisperer!  It is said that bees would land on her finger, and then she would take them outside to let them free.  Grandma was clever and feisty.  Although Grandma never had much money and was practical in many ways, she had a little penchant for fashion. She always wished she looked more like her mother, who had red hair and was lovely.  She told me when I was about 12 that I should have been a red head, too.  And that is one really huge reason that I now am!  Grandma loved the temple and worked there for as long as she could.  She had a very strong and very real testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I loved my sweet Grandma Orton.  She was such a source of strength to me.  And when I picture myself being welcomed to the "other side of the veil", I picture Grandma Orton first.

Layla's middle name is April, who is Spencer's mother.  Spencer's mother is also a very strong, hard-working, loving, dedicated woman.  She is driven and talented and let me tell you I don't think there is anything that woman can't do.  That woman flew, alone, from TX to UT when she had a two-day old and a 22-month-old so that she wouldn't miss her family reunion!!!  Can you imagine the dedication!  And fortitude?  When something needs doing, April is doing it.  You name it, planning girls' camp, arranging the music for Easter Sunday Meetings, writing somebody's personal history and editing somebody else's, helping the drama departments' fundraisers, promoting some child-of-hers' rock band and hosting a quincinera are probably on her docket at any given time.  April has a memory of a computer.   Ask her a phone number.  Just ask.  She knows it.  She remembers the smallest details.  It's delightful--I always love to hear what little things she remembers.  April is generous and very thoughtful and always looking for a way to help.  If she can't come, maybe she can at least pay for somebody else to come help, or find somebody who knows somebody who knows how to help you.  In summation, I'd probably say that she is not afraid.  She is not afraid to work, to help, to step out of her comfort zone to find solutions and successes and experiences and most of all to serve. 

And that is what is in your name, Layla.

We love you!