Marlayna Joy

Marlayna Joy Freitas was born on April 10th at 1:17 p.m. She weighed 5 lbs and 12 oz. and measured 17 and 1/2 inch long.

Labor pretty much began at 4:45 a.m. and lasted until 1:17 p.m. just over eight hours. Not exactly a picnic for any of us. especially being up for 36 hours with a brief nap between. Becky had to overcome vomiting and numbness before she could enjoy her baby girl. Marlayna had lungs that didn't want to work just yet and needed help from a machine to blow air into her lungs. Nathan had feet that felt like they walked through disney land ten times and starvation because he didn't want to miss a thing. Right now we are enjoying the calm before the real life begins.

Marlayna is named after a girl I met on my mission in Montana. My first area was Billings and my trainer and I were the missionaries in a family ward and a single adult ward.

Marlayna Arcile Wiley was a ward missionary in the single adult ward. She was one of the best ward missionaries of my mission. She is one of those people who I met and instantly loved. Not only was she a devoted single adult ward missionary (which is super rare) she is absolutely devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is funny and witty. She makes friends with everyone and she keeps them! She never says anything negative or cruel about anyone else. She is true! She has been and continues to be a great example to me. Before I finished my mission Marlayna was sent to the Maryland Boston mission! She is now studying at BYU-I.

Serving a mission was a great time in my life. I loved it. Many many many people have impacted my life, but I really REALLY like Marlayna's name and since she has impacted my life by her good example and she happens to be from my mission too, we named our daughter after her.

Marlayna Joy's middle name comes from my Grandmother on my mom's side. She was a great woman! She was killed in a car accident when I was 5 but, I do have memories of her! She would play hide and seek with us and always gave us wonderful hugs! She always seemed happy, a true reflection of her name...Joy!

Growing up in San Jose where my mother was raised was cool! Especially when people who knew my grandmother would tell me things about her! Everyone loved her! She was a very service oriented woman. She devotedly served in many callings of the church. One calling I know she had was the Nature Lady at girl's camp. They called her Madame Butterfly. Isn't that cool!!!

Well, that's pretty much the story on Marlayna Joy's name. She already has a number of nicknames.

I like to call her Marlayna or Mara.

Nathan likes to call her M.J. (her initials and the heroine's name on Spiderman =-)

Julie my sister likes to call her Marley...and sometimes even calls her Bob (because of Bob Marley)

My mom likes to call her Layna.

I don't know if one sweet little girl could have more nicknames.

I am trying to post this at the hospital but I am unable to load any pictures. You will have to wait until I get home.

We finally managed to get a few pictures up. More will be coming so be patient.

One of the few pictures we have of Marlayna. She doesn't open her eyes too often yet so this one is a little blurry but you can still see how beautiful she is.Becky enjoying her new role as a mother!
Nathan trying to look comfortable in his new role as a father.