Cohen at 5 Months

At 5 Months I Can...

- Eat baby food! So far I really like bananas, pears, apples, and sweet potatoes!

- Use my hands to play with my toes

- Try to pull myself up to sitting in mommy's lap

- Laugh and laugh and laugh

- Play with lots of toys

- Weigh in at 17 lbs!

- Balance and bounce in the exersaucer!

- Almost sit up!

Likes:

- Daddy's silly voices

- Baby food!

- Tickles

- Mommy holding me

- Sydney and Isaac reading, singing, and playing with me

Dislikes:

- Long car rides!

- Peas!

Day 29: Music

 Day 29: Music

"You'll Be in My Heart" - Phil Collins

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Day 28: Memory

 Day 28: Memory

Today is about sharing a significant memory from my grief journey. One that stands out to me is from the day Cohen was born. He was born on May 14, nearly 5 months to the day from when we lost Julia. I was in the same delivery room/operating room where I delivered Julia 18 months before. I had the same doctors. I was beginning to feel a sense of deja vu. That feeling combined with the effects of the spinal anesthesia made me start to panic and have difficulty breathing. I was missing and grieving Julia and nervous and excited for Cohen's birth and I just did not know how to reconcile those emotions. In that moment, I had to focus on Cohen. I had to focus on him as the gift she gave us to celebrate life. And when he was born and I saw what a big, healthy baby he was, my heart was full of thankfulness for life -- for the lives of all four of my children. 
I love you, Julia.


October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Day 27: Artwork

 Day 27: Artwork

By Sydney Childress

This is a drawing by my daughter Sydney. She drew a picture of herself holding Julia from the first day she met Julia.  She even drew the "Big Sister" shirt she was wearing that day and the pink hat that Julia wore for the first few weeks of her life. Sydney has been able to capture several special moments with Julia with her drawings.  I am amazed by her.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Day 25: Baby Shower

 Day 25: Baby Shower

There were several offers for baby showers before Julia was born. We knew that she had severe heart defects and likely a chromosome disorder, but because we did not do the amniocentesis we did not know she had Trisomy 18. Her heart defect alone put her life at risk, and in my own heart I felt that Julia's prognosis and diagnosis were worse than we knew. So, I decided I was not up for a baby shower. I had sweet friends, though, who wanted to bless me with a shower anyway. I am thankful that they did. They kept it small and made it so special. Thank you to my dear friends for this beautiful show of love and support.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Day 26: Their Age

 Day 26: Their Age

+263 days pregnant+

+382 Days on earth+

 645 days together on this side of heaven


October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Day 24: Siblings

 Day 24: Siblings

Sydney, Isaac, Julia - Dec 2010

Feb 2011

April 2011

July 2011

Sydney, Isaac, Julia - Nov 2011

Sydney, Isaac, and Cohen

To read a post written by big sister Sydney earlier this year, please click here.


October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. This national observance month was established in 1988 by President Reagan.  This post is part of Carly Marie's "Capture Your Grief" 31 day photography project for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.