May Babies—Lucky People!

“It’s May! It’s May! The lusty month of May! 
 That lovely month when ev'ryone goes blissfully astray!” 
~ Lyrics from “The Lusty Month of May,” Camelot

Today, on the 24th of the current lusty month of May, it snowed here in Utah! You’ve gotta love the unpredictability of this joyous month.

The saying goes that “April showers bring May flowers,” but in my family May has always showered baby girls! Three out of four daughters born to my parent’s were May babies, including me. Joyfully, my husband and I even had a lusty month baby of our own.

I have always loved being born in May, as flowers emerge beneath their winter coats and crops begin to sprout. There are people who even believe that being born in May is “lucky” because people born during the summer months seem to have a more positive outlook on life than those born during the winter months. My own great, great grandmother, Annie, was born during the summer months and they said she “always looked on the bright side of life!”

Scientists think the difference in outlook in summer month babies stems from the effect that daylight hours may have on dopamine, a brain signaling chemical, and early brain development of the fetus. At any rate, I’ve always considered myself to have a positive outlook and a good sense of humor. So I’m lucky to have been born a May baby, drawing in all that positive summer light and energy!

My daughter, Ashley, was a late May birthday gift to me. She was intended to have been an early present, but her due date came and went, along with my birth date, before she made her anticipated arrival. We’ve always teased her that she has been running a little late ever since!

I remember the day Ashley was born—as if it were yesterday. Born in the fifth month of the year, she was our fifth child and our fourth baby girl, born May 24th, just five days after my birthday. Although she was over eight pounds, she looked so little—petite, pink and cute. I couldn’t wait to take her home and go shopping for a “pretty in pink” ruffled blessing dress. For my other children—their blessing outfits were gifted, but with Ashley I was looking forward to picking out something special by myself. After having had twins prior to Ashley’s birth, one baby seemed easy—a piece of cake, and we were relaxed, cool and calm—pros at the wheel of parenting an infant. We sat back, joyously in love with our newest arrival, and just embraced our happiness. Ashley was welcomed into a home of ready made sisters and a brother, and having four older siblings meant her needs were instantly met. I don’t think we ever heard her cry hard until I weaned her at 11 months (she didn’t want to take a bottle).

I remember the day we brought Ashley home from the hospital. We had a shortened hospital stay due to flooding in Utah and water contamination. Not wanting to nurse my new baby with drinking fluids consisting of fruit juice and sugared soda pop, I opted for home. It was sunny and warm—a perfect “May” day, no need for a baby blanket of any kind. Prior to Ashley’s birth we’d built in our basement to make room for more children and because it was a beautiful day and I felt wonderful, we stopped on the way home to pick out brick for our downstairs fireplace! Afterwards we took our baby home to summer vacation and lazy summer days, quickly learning how to manage a household full of five children under nine years old.

Interestingly, the month of May was named after the goddess, Maia. In Greek mythology, Maia was the oldest of the seven daughters of Atlas—the most beautiful and also the shyest. In Roman mythology, Maia was identified with Maia Maiestas, a goddess equivalent to a goddess of spring. Like the goddesses Maia, the month of May represents the beauty of spring as it shyly comes forth to welcome the sunshine after a long winter nap. May also represents national holidays like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. It is also home to little known celebrations like National Salad Month, National Egg Month, National Barbecue Month, National Hamburger Month, and Fungal Infection Awareness Month—now known as Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

May’s Birthstone is the “Emerald,” representative of “the green of life and enduring love!” Although almost all emeralds contain numerous flaws and cracks, these rare and valuable gemstones are the most beautiful, most intense, radiant green that can possibly be imagined. The green of the emerald is the color of life and of the springtime, but it has also for centuries been the color of beauty and of constant love. In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds! I like to think that we who are May babies are much like the Emerald—beautiful, loving—rare gems, even with our numerous flaws and cracks! Hopefully—like the Emerald gemstones of May, we are still valuable in God’s eyes, even with our imperfections.

May’s Flower is the “Lily-of-the-Valley,” representative of “Faith, Courage, and Love.” The Lily-of-the-Valley is an old-fashioned delicate perennial, with tiny bell shaped flowers that bloom in the month of May. However, there is not anything delicate about this hardy shade-lover. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a tough-as-nails perennial that will keep going after many others fail to thrive. Throughout my childhood, my dad used to loving refer to me as gentle and loving—”Linda Lamb.” I knew my parents loved me long before I knew I was a child of God—loved as His daughter. Who would have imagined that an unknown disease called “Lyme” would teach me of my true worth in His eyes and make a formerly tiny flower, tough as nails—surviving in the face of uncertainty and personal challenges!

Happy Birthday Ashley! 

 Here’s to my own little tough as nails beauty—a loving, lucky,
child of May!

“The world's favorite season is the spring. 
 
All things seem possible in May.” ~ Edwin Way Teale

It's May!

Tis like the birthday of the world,


When earth was born in bloom,

The light is made of many dyes,

The air is all perfume:

There's crimson buds, and white and blue,

The very rainbow showers


Have turned to blossoms where they fell,


And sown the earth with flowers.

~ Thomas Hood, Humorist and Poet

(May 23, 1799 –May 3, 1845)