December 3, 2009
Dear Sierra,
I miss you so much, baby girl. The darkness and coldness of winter - and the holidays - have only increased my longing for you. I remember so clearly your brother's first Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I think of how you should be the same age he was at this time in 2006. On Thanksgiving we lit a candle for you (and Uncle Todd and some others missing from the table) and it burned between Daddy and me for the whole meal. But I kept imagining you sitting in my lap or in the infant carseat like Austin did his first Thanksgiving. My mind adds you in everywhere - kicking happily on a blanket on the floor while I'm playing with your brother, in the backseat in your carseat when I'm driving, riding snuggly in your sling while I'm shopping.
Thanksgiving was sort of hard, but good too. Austin was sick, and one of our friends had very definite ideas of how the cooking and everything should go and made me anxious. And, of course, you were missing and I was sad. But we did have a good, low key celebration with just a few friends in a very beautiful spot in Vermont.
I usually love the build up to Christmas. This year I feel like I just don't have the energy or the heart for it. But I'll do it for Austin. I'm grateful for his enthusiasm. He's so excited for it this year, making his list for Santa and planning what gifts he will give to Daddy, Grandma, his Aunties, and so on. I will do it for him, and I'll think of you and how you would have loved the lights on the tree, the excitement of your brother, the motion of snowflakes in the wind, the sparkle of your first ornament. I wish you were here, little one.
All my love,
Mama
***
I'm still thinking of ways to include Sierra at Christmas. I want to get her a "baby's first Christmas" ornament with her name on it, and I'm trying to decide what to do with my Christmas cards. I might put in a card with a picture of her footprints and her name and date - basically a birth/death announcement, which I never did formally. Or I might just write an "In memory of..." line under our names when I sign the cards. I'm going to include a picture of Austin, which is what made me think of including her footprints, but is that too sad for Christmas cards? Any advice or suggestions? How are you including your baby(ies) this holiday season?
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There are undoubtedly people who would think the footprint it too sad or in bad taste for a Christmas card, but I think it is a lovely idea, a way to include both of your children in your card. Since you never did a birth or death announcement, you may want to think about whether you will write any explanation to those you would normally send a Christmas card to that may not know about Sierra.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending out a card with a picture of Kathleen holding a stuffed cardinal that was Henry's. The card also has a cardinal in the card design. (Cardinals are one of my Henry symbols. Some people will get this; others will not, but it is my way of including Henry.)
My cousin's mother-in-law gave me a candle last year at Thanksgiving and another one this year to light for Henry. I made a small tabletop tree with cardinals and hearts on it last year that I will put out again. And I'm making cardinal ornaments for my nieces and nephews.
Wishing you peace and light in this hard season.
'My mind adds you in everywhere . .' this line just broke my heart.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what to do about including G in our Christmas cards. To me, the space in our signature where her name should be is glaringly obvious. But perhaps it wouldn't be to others?
I hope you find a way of including Sierra that you are happy with. I love Sara's inclusion of Henry via his red cardinal. xo