OUR LITTLE STRAWBERRY

It's been nine months and four days since Hope got her angel wings.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the first night of her life...

FIRST FAMILY PICTURE

The strawberry beanie is courtesy of my dear friend Julia Whetman.  She promised to make me a pumpkin one for the fall and our future children...

These pictures were taken by a wonderful photographer from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a group of professional photographers who volunteer to take heirloom portraits for families facing the untimely death of an infant.  Hope was born at 8:20 pm.  Our photographer, bless her, came just a few hours afterwards.  We didn't know how long we would have Hope with us, and so these pictures meant the world to us.  They still do.  If any of you photographers out there want to bless a family's life in a hard time, I encourage you to visit their website, www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

This picture is probably my favorite, taken at home.  We call it 'Hope, the Lion-Hearted.'  Get it?  The bubbles around her head?

                                     

One of Hope's favorite things was to have a bath.

She especially loved having Daddy brush her hair afterwards, which happened to also be one of Daddy's favorite things in the world.  

I was watching the few videos we have of Hope the other night.

Thanks to Alicia, our sweet nurse who recorded this for us.

Here is more proof Hope likes baths...

                                     

Don't you love her little arm, dangling on the side?

I miss her so much, but I am also so at peace.

Families can be forever...