Edie,
This past weekend we celebrated your first Easter! Your dad and I actually bought three very cute outfit options for the day: a onesie with the words "I Wanna Dance With Some Bunny" written on it with a matching pair of polka dot pants with a bunny face on the butt and two really adorable dresses. Well... you are too small for all three! So we went with another dress that is cute as well- a white dress with mutli-colored polka dots and matching little shorts. We put a very cute pink cardigan over top and had intended on completing the outfit with white tights but.. once again... they were a little big on you so we skipped that as well.
Even though we didn't go to church that morning, while we were getting ready, your dad and I played and sang along with a bunch of songs that we grew up listening to at Easter church services. Up From the Grave He Arose, Old Rugged Cross, Because He Lives. I think for both of us they remind us of our childhood and renders up sweet memories of small churches, sunlight beaming in through the church windows, Easter lilies lining the front of the sanctuary, family, and simple melodies sung from the heart and souls of those seated around us in the pews.
We packed you up and drove the two hours to Aunt Cindy and Uncle Bernarr's house in Stuart's Draft. Your dad called Papaw, Mamaw, and Aunt Shauna on the way and they all asked about you and he proudly described your Easter outfit.
I held you as we walked into Aunt Cindy's house and we were greeted with lots of excitement, hugs, and kisses. The love your family had for you the second we entered the room was tangible. You had already met Nana, Aunt Cindy, and Uncle Bernarr, but this was the first time you'd ever met so many of your other family members: Great Uncle Billy and JoJo, Uncle Ed, Aunt Lindsey, cousins Alyssa, Christopher, Claire, Brooke, Kailyn, Wyatt, Mary Katherine, Alan, and Eva, and Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ed's dad and step mom: Eddie and Brenda. You were passed around from loving arms to loving arms the whole time we were there! We had a wonderful meal of ham, deviled eggs, rolls, green beans, potato salad, broccoli casserole, and more. After lunch there were several rounds of egg hunts with 200 eggs to be found! You even "participated" :) You received a cute little lamb from Nana and PopPop and a toothbrush and Pez dispenser from Aunt Cindy and Uncle Bernarr.
We said our goodbyes and headed over to Great Grandma Edith's house, where she and PopPop were waiting for us! She always seems to light up when she sees you- it's clear that even at 97 years of age she loves you very much! We talked about your outfit, how much you've grown, and your little feet. We then all joked about how you, PopPop, and Great Grandma Edith were having a yawning contest. In the end I think it was a tie between you and Great Grandma Edith. Any time spent with her is a treasure and seeing the two of you together makes my heart full.
The next day, your PopPop told and I were talking on the phone and he informed me that on Easter after I texted him to let him know that we were leaving Aunt Cindy's and would be there in 5 minutes, he told Great Grandma Edith that you and I were on the way. He said that a few minutes later she turned her head as if she was talking to someone and said "Daddy, our granddaughter is coming to see us." We can't really be sure if she was talking about me or you- but that doesn't matter. There aren't really the words to express what this means to me. Your Great Granddaddy Phil (who I called Pop) was one of the most astounding men to ever walk this earth (although I am biased of course). He loved his family more than anything and I know that his adoration for his grandchildren was something that could not matched. We lost him 2013 but I think about him all the time. I think about him whenever I have a song in my heart and it comes out in a whistle, when I tell you "Hey, hey, hey," any time there's a delicious chocolate dessert to be had, or whenever there's a good story that's made better with just a little (or a lot) of embellishment. Just like with your Great Grandma Julia, when he passed there was a hole left in my heart and life that will never be filled. But I like to think that he is here watching over you and loves you just as much as if he were still with us in person; to know that Great Grandma Edith spoke to him to announce our arrival only strengthens my gut feeling that he keeps her company and was beaming with pride as you entered the room with your poofy red hair and little polka dot dress.
Thank you for a wonderful first Easter, baby!
Love,
Mama
