Last night Ted and I were out to dinner with two really good friends, Ashley and Justin. I tried Indian Food for the first time, yes while pregnant...and I loved it. Especially the Nan (traditional Indian bread). They're great friends to have and Ashley has been super supportive and sweet about losing my parents and with the upcoming baby. She always asks, "how are you doing? "how were the Holidays-were they okay?" At dinner she excused herself to the restroom but she said, when I come back we need to reveal our favorite 08 memory so be thinking about it until I come back. "favorite 08 memory?" I thought to myself......that was a tough one because I have so many negative and sad memories about 08.
She came back to the table and we talked about a few different things and then we all went around revealing our favorite 08 memory. Mine had to be the last time I saw my parents, which was Easter weekend, Mom, Dad and Christina and Aydan came to the Close's for dinner (Mom asked when I was going to have a baby? and laughed how old she and I will probably be! She is sure laughing now...) and I also saw them in Allen Park.....we brought lunch to my Grandpa's house and Mom, Dad, Christina and I ate lunch together, for the last time. I delivered Justin his last Easter basket. He came upstairs to peak through the chocolate.
My second one, because I had to have a second one was the baby celebration. It was absolutely surreal greeting the same exact people 6 months earlier at Mom and Dad's funeral and be greeting them again for such a joyous occasion. Everyone was there, so many of my Family and Friends flew and drove in to support Ted and I and the shower itself was definitely the most gorgeous I have ever seen. It was really a special day.
Ted's favorite memory was our vacation in St. John at Caneel Bay when the two of us had the beach to ourselves. It was a tough vacation, one month after everything happended...but what a place to be to just think and process everything that we had went through.
This weekend, Ted's Mom and Dad came to Cincinnati to help us get ready for the baby's arrival one last time. Ted and his Dad put up the most anticipated chandelier in the baby room and Ted's Mom and I put together the pack n play, swing and sterilized bottles. We're getting ready and we are lucky to have them to help.
Ted's parents also brought down my most special piece of furniture for the nursery and that is Mom's rocking chair. This was in our house all growing up, moved from the living room to the bedroom, then Brandy decided to chew the leg up a little bit. When my Sister was going through my Mom and Dad's house after they died, she said to me, "you know Dad bought Mom that rocking chair when she was pregnant with you right?". I replied NO but then knew it could not be donated or given away. It was truly meant to be as the place that refinished it did an amazing job. The stain is a perfect Espresso color which matches the rest of our furniture. I know Mom would be so happy that we did this and the fact that I will soon be rocking our little one in the same exact chair where I once was...is really special. Sad too as I never thought they wouldn't be here to witness this.
Each day brings it challenges and sad thoughts but we continue to be so lucky to have the friends and family that we have. We're only 4 days into the new year and we've already shared two dinners with good friends and spent a full day and night with Ted's parents. We look forward to a year filled with happy memories and a year that continues to honor my wonderful parents lives... who left us much too soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment