This bowl was part of a unique ritual where we bless the baby with the elements of earth and our being — air, fire, earth and water. The family had this beautiful bowl made especially for the occasion. Isn’t it lovely? I, along with the godparents, infused the water with prayers for the baby. After the ceremony, I poured the water into the roots of a tree with heartfelt gratitude.

When there is an older sibling, we do a very special blessing of the siblings with my hands gently upon their heads. Often after the blessing, the parents present a gift to the siblings that represents their bond. This sibling gift was playful and meaningful. The block puzzles spelled out the word “brothers” as well as the siblings’ names—in this case, Avery and Maxton. The blocks also featured their photos. Each box was painted in the child’s favorite color—one yellow and one red—with their names written across the front. Note the lovely inscription on the back of the wooden box that held the blocks. Great job, Mommy Meredith, who came up with this idea!

I meant to post this yesterday for Mother’s Day! Want a wonderful tribute.
Be sure to watch it until the end.