Grandma's Funeral

My Grandmothers' funeral was beautiful, just like her. Hopeful and full of joy in the wonderful life she led. She had so much love in her life. One of the things she was known for was writing letters- to everyone, for everything. Birthdays, holidays, special occasions, and just to say hello- you got a letter from Grandma. To say goodbye, we all wrote letters to her and left them with her in her casket. At the graveside we all released white balloons into the sky to symbolize her spirit rising up. It was just right.
Just how Grandma would have wanted it- her funeral got the whole family together. And Sophia was quite the hit of the party. We decided she was there to make everyone smile during the funeral.

Sophia with my cousins

Sophia and Aunt Margie

All the ladies in the family- wearing Grandma's hats (yes, she really liked hats)

3 month-er

Time has flown- I can't believe Sophia is already 3 months old! And she is growing so fast each and every day.
My favorite things about Sophia recently:
#1 Her determination to stand. She loves it, and if you put her down she'll start crying half of the time. She is so super wobbly (hence the very blurry picture), it's so cute
#2 Her laugh- it is a little high pitch giggle and it is the most wonderful sound ever to my mommy ears
#3 Reading to her- she loves when I read picture books to her- she will just stare at them for as long as I go
#4 How she sleeps- we've been putting her to sleep un-swaddled lately, and she falls asleep with her arms up behind her head with her little pacifier, it is sooo cute
#5 Baby talk- she'll goo and gaa to you, then you talk back, then she'll do it again- back and forth, back and forth. We love having baby conversations. I don't know what she's saying, but I am sure it is deep.
#6 Reaching and sucking- for and on everything she can get at. She can't grasp super well yet, so it's more like balancing the thing between her hands and bring it to her mouth. When she has nothing to grab, her hands are her favorite chew toy.
#7- Rolly polly- she rolls from her tummy to her back, then lately she grabs her feet and rolls from her back to the side. A little baby ball of fun.
All in all, it is just too fun with Sophie- I miss her while she sleeps, and can't wait to see her big smile when I go in to get her in the morning. (Ridiculous, I know). I love my little girl.
Excuse the drowsiness in the first few pictures- baby very tired after Church.

My happy happy baby (she's usually only happy for about the first 2 minutes of tummy time- then it breaks down)

I love her huge eyes in this one- like a kitten or something. Heart melt, heart melt.

Sophia's Blessing

We were so lucky to have so much family able to come for Sophia's blessing- it was such a beautiful experience and day. I did not think it would impact me as much as it did, but I can not begin to describe the love and joy I felt for my little girl as she was blessed.

My little baby doll in her beautiful white dress

Don't let the smile fool you- she hated getting in and out of that dress!

There were 4 generations of family on both sides (mine & Rick)- here is my side, taken with my Grandma a few hours before she passed away.

Grandma and Grandpa Smith

Looking at Great-grandpa Preston

Cuddling with Great-grandma Preston

First trip to the beach

I don't know what it is, but when you grow up near the ocean, it becomes a part of you. I always feel a longing for the ocean, and sharing it with Sophia was wonderful.

Sophie and Aunt Heidi

First time meeting the sun.

Okay, so maybe Sophia has technically seen the sun- but due to the miserable Michigan winter, she has never truly experienced it. I had to introduce her to the sun, Vitamin D, and green plant life. It was all very exciting.

Fully stocked Farmer's Market in March! I love you California.

I just loved this picture of my Mom with Sophia.

First's & Last's

The last two weeks have been surreal- filled with first's and last's.
It all started with us, last minute, deciding to go to California to have Sophia's baby blessing. She had her first plane ride, first time meeting her grandparents and great-grandparents, and aunts and uncles. She went to the beach for the first time too!
Then, on the night of Sophia's blessing, my Grandma Jennie suddenly passed away. She had lived with my parents since I was 9 years old and was 93 years old. She was feeling great all day, and had fun celebrating Sophia's blessing with all my family. She was reading an old letter from my Grandpa when she said she felt warm and couldn't breath. Rick and I, and my parents, were all by her side, and she was gone within 5 minutes. Peacefully, serenely- she went to be with her sweet husband again.
So it was the last time for me to be with my Grandma, the last time to hold her hands and give her a kiss on the cheek. We stayed an extra week in California to help with the funeral arrangements. We said good-bye in a very wonderful funeral, full of hope and joy. Sophia was my Grandma's 47th posterity (children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren). I am so glad they got to meet. I have a feeling they must have orchestrated all of this so that we could see my Grandma one last time.
I will post pictures from all of the events individually over the next few days. But as I reflect on the events of the last few weeks, how one life just started and another just ended- I know that first's and last's are all subjective when you talk in terms of eternity.

First Plane Ride

What's more stressful than flying across country with a 2 month old? Not much.
Well, that is really my fault for getting stressed about it- in the end she did GREAT.
I think the engines put her (and Rick) to sleep most of the time.

Chillin' in the terminal