A Year of Light: Celebrating Our Sweet Nellie Grace

Long before I held her, I knew her light — a promise whispered through dreams.
Some children bring laughter, some bring calm; Nellie brought both, wrapped in the glow of pure grace.

In the wee morning hours, when the world was still and the stars kept quiet watch, the only sound was the soft hum of the night as I sat waiting for the first pictures to arrive — the very first glimpses of our newest little light, Nellie Grace. When they came through, I remember catching my breath. Even through the glow of a phone screen, I could feel it — her presence, ancient and new all at once, as though a piece of heaven had just touched the earth.

Her big sister woke soon after, as if stirred by that same invisible thread of wonder. She had to see the pictures too, her sleepy eyes widening before she drifted right back to dreamland. The next morning, I had the joy of bringing her to meet her baby sister for the first time. That moment lives in my heart like a jewel — a sacred stone placed upon the altar of memory.

But even more than that precious day, what fills me with gratitude is having walked beside Nellie through her entire first year — witnessing her laughter, her will, her spirit unfolding like a flower that already knows the sun.
And maybe that’s why I recognized her the moment I saw her — because somewhere, I already had.

Before she was even born, I knew her. I had seen her in my dreams — her light hair, her bright blue eyes, her gentle presence. Everyone else said, “She’ll have brown eyes like Mileena,” but I kept saying, “No, they’ll be blue — I’ve seen them.” And when she arrived, there they were — the very eyes I had dreamed of, looking back at me as if to say, You knew, Oma.

Before she was born, I wondered how it would feel to have two little granddaughters. Would I bond the same way I did with Mileena? I was reminded that love is infinite — it expands without limit. And it’s true. The love I feel for Nellie came instantly and naturally. It’s different, but just as deep, just as sacred — because she is her own radiant soul.

From the very beginning, I could feel her strength. Though she started small — just 5 lbs 9 oz — there was nothing fragile about her spirit. In those early days she wanted only to be held, her tiny body tucked safely against our hearts. Yet beneath that softness, power was stirring. It soon revealed itself in her voice — our little banshee, crying with a might that filled the room and made us all laugh in awe. Even then, her little lungs carried joy — that fierce spark that was never just a cry, but a declaration of life. From that first powerful cry to the joyful sounds that followed, her voice has always been her song — fierce, free, and full of life. And then came her shrieks of glee — wild, hilarious, uncontainable bursts of joy that are pure Nellie. When she lets them loose, we can’t help but join in. They are the music of her happiness, the sound of life in full bloom.

Her daddy jokes that he somehow ended up with the two loudest little girls — but that’s what happens when children are raised in love. They don’t fear their voices. They know they are safe. They know they belong.

The only time Nellie’s sunshine dims is when she’s hungry — and she makes sure we all know it! We’re well-trained by now: feed her immediately. Her joy returns the moment she’s full. Her smile could light a candle from across the room, her laughter bubbling like spring water, her bright blue eyes sparkling with delight. When she smiles, the whole room seems to exhale — even the air feels lighter.

Beyond her laughter and her strength, what defines Nellie most is her sweetness. She’s been an easy baby from the start — content, curious, peaceful in her own rhythm. She’s joyful but calm, happy to play quietly or snuggle close. There’s a serenity about her, a gentleness that fills every space she’s in. She doesn’t demand much — just love, warmth, and food. She’s the kind of baby who reminds you how simple and pure joy can be.

​And what a gift that she looks so much like her mama — our beautiful Lexy. From her fair hair to those clear blue eyes, she’s her mama’s reflection, a gentle echo of the woman who loves her so deeply. Just as Mileena mirrors her daddy, Nellie carries her mama’s light — a perfect balance of lineage and love. Seeing her now feels like watching a wish whispered to the stars come true — a new light joining our family constellation.

Some souls arrive already glowing — their laughter a language the angels still remember.

Nellie’s independence bloomed quickly. Try to feed her and you’ll see that spark — she insists on doing it herself. The aftermath is usually a glorious mess, and I keep telling her daddy they really ought to get a dog to help clean the floor, but he’s still not convinced.

She doesn’t want anyone holding her up when she walks either. She’ll get there on her own — any day now. She tumbles again and again but never gets frustrated, only giggles and tries once more. There’s such ancient joy in her perseverance — as if her little soul already knows that falling is just another way of learning to rise.

Her easygoing nature makes every day flow easier — she’s gentle, content, and full of laughter, yet she’s no pushover. Her quiet strength already shows when she holds her ground with her big sister. Once she’s walking, I have no doubt that balance will shift — two little forces of light orbiting each other, learning how to glow side by side.

I once worried that Mileena’s bright personality might overshadow her baby sister, but Spirit knew better. Their lights are distinct, yet equal — one radiant sunbeam, one wild moonbeam — each reflecting her own kind of magic into our world.

Her trust moves me most. When she’s being carried, she doesn’t cling or hold on — she completely relaxes, her weight melting into your arms. That kind of surrender comes from knowing, deep inside, that she is safe and loved.

Her name, Nellie, means “bright, shining one.” Her parents couldn’t have chosen better. She truly is light — laughter and love made visible.

Sometimes I wish I had more one-on-one time with her, like I did with Mileena, but the moments I do have are treasures beyond measure. The sleepover nights — her tiny body curled against mine, her breath soft and steady — felt sacred. Even when she had trouble settling because her familiar bed wasn’t there, I didn’t mind the long hours. Holding her close, I could feel something timeless, something beyond words. In those quiet hours it was just she and I — our hearts in rhythm, souls remembering one another. I could almost feel the ancestors smiling, as if they recognized this bond that stretches beyond time itself.

Being a grandmother is one of my greatest teachers. These little ones remind me to slow down, to laugh louder, to notice the miracles hidden in the ordinary. They show me the Divine in every moment — in the shimmer of afternoon light drifting softly across the room, or in the laughter that rises like music and changes the whole feeling of a home.

And now, here we are — one full year of Nellie Grace. One year of joy, growth, and golden light. One year of watching love expand in ways words can barely capture.

Just as I did for her sister on her first birthday, I created a reborn doll for Nellie — a labor of love and devotion, shaped by my own hands. The kit I chose was called Joy, which felt destined for her. Every brushstroke, every tiny detail was a prayer stitched in patience, a reflection of the light she’s brought into our lives. Now she’ll always have a piece of Oma to hold close — something crafted with all the love my heart could give.
​
As she grows, her light reminds me that the soul is timeless — its glow only deepens as it learns to shine in new ways.

​Happy first birthday, our ray of sunshine. I can’t wait to see who you become — though if this first year is any sign, I think the world’s already brighter because you’re in it.

May her path always be guided by the same light she brings to ours.

Brightest Blessings,

You are my ray of sunshine — laughter in motion, light made love, the dream I didn’t know my heart was waiting for.