4 Days until 3 Years

I asked Sydney to tell me about one of her favorite memories of Julia. She had many, but the one she wanted me to include here was about how she liked to dress Julia. She enjoyed picking out her clothes when given the opportunity, and she would almost always choose something pink. :) When Julia was in her first months, she was small enough to fit into Sydney's American Girl doll clothes. Sydney thought that was pretty amazing. Thank you, Sydney, for that memory and the smile it brings to my heart.

5 Days until 3 Years

Julia, like most babies, loved to hear "baby talk." She especially responded to baby talk by Sydney and Isaac. They had the sweetest way of talking to and interacting with her. She would look for them when she heard them around the house and would zero in on them when they talked to her. I also loved to hear Sydney and Isaac talk to Julia. Their love for her, their baby sister, was so evident in their words, their tone, and their gestures. I am thankful that they were so willing to love her with their whole hearts. I am very proud of all of them. 

Cherry Blossoms 2013

The arrival of cherry blossoms is my absolute favorite time of the year in Washington DC. We try every year to make the 20 mile trek downtown to see the cherry blossoms blooming around the Tidal Basin in DC. Some years it is cold. Some years it is rainy. Some years it is perfect weather. This year the weather was perfect when the blooms arrived. Knowing that the peak window for the blooms is only a few days, the kids and I decided to go see them early one morning last week before school. The trees did not disappoint! (Parking is a different story!) I am so thankful that every year at this time I can remember that we shared this special time with Julia.  I think I will always associate cherry blossoms with Julia. I like that. This year was Cohen's first visit to see the trees and he was a trooper!  We had a wonderful morning and even managed to make it back to school only a bit late. :)

2011

2011

Snow Day

Recently we had a few snowflakes fall and stick for a couple of days. After the blizzards we had in the winter of 2010, snow has been scarce here. This was actually our first snowfall since we lost Julia as well as our first dunce Cohen was born.
I thought Cohen should experience his first snowfall and Sydney and Isaac couldn't wait to play outside. Cohen was not too sure about the cold air and the cold, wet stuff we kept sitting him in and putting on his fingers. Oh well! Hopefully we will have lots more snow for him to enjoy.

Halloween 2012 Photos

Halloween 2012

Pumpkin

Hermione Granger

Luke Skywalker

Getting ready to trick or treat!

My Pumpkin Patch

My Halloween Pumpkins!

 All four kids have now worn the same pumpkin as their first Halloween costume.  

For the girls it was a little big, and for the boys it was a little small.  

But they all look pretty cute!

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 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.

Day 16: Balloon Release

 Day 16: Balloon Release

Our first balloon release for Julia was to celebrate her first birthday. We had a huge party for her and bought 50 balloons to release. We had such a fun, busy time with all of our party guests that we forgot about the balloons until that night. We decided we would just do it the next day. My brother and sister-in-law were here, so we all released the balloons together in the clearing next to our house. It was a pretty sight to see with all of those pink balloons floating away. (A few did catch in our many trees but eventually made it out.)  That was just less than two weeks before we lost Julia.

Since then, several trisomy families have had balloon releases and have included Julia and many other precious angels. The Support Organization for Trisomy held a huge balloon release at their annual conference. One was released there in Julia's memory.

This week, Day 16 of this blog challenge fell on the ten month anniversary of Julia earning her angel wings (her angelversary).

We miss you sweet, Julia. You are forever in our hearts. Last weekend we stayed in a cabin in a state park. The cabin could sleep eight, but we were only five. Isaac corrected us and said that there were six in our cabin because Julia is in our hearts.

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.

Basket Photos

Here are a few of our Cohen in a basket photos...

These are reminiscent of our Isaac in a basket photos...

and the Julia in a basket photos...

and last, but certainly not least, Sydney in a basket.

Growing Up

Isaac started kindergarten this week. Sydney also started a new school at the same time. I already miss both of them terribly. I love having them around all of the time, even the moments when they make me a little (or a lot) crazy. However, my sister reminded me recently of a very important point as her son started kindergarten. This day, this first day of school, of kindergarten or third grade, is a milestone and therefore it should be celebrated as such. One of Julia's legacies to our family is the idea that every day is a gift. My son beginning kindergarten is a gift. My daughter's new school and the new possibilities it brings is a gift. Cohen's amazing growth and all of his milestones are a gift. So I tried to remember that my tears (and there were not too many!) on Isaac's first day of kindergarten and Sydney's first day of third grade, are tears of joy that we get to share such milestones. I am excited for the new school year-- for new friends, new experiences, new independence, and new growth.

Sydney's 4th of July

Sydney requested the opportunity to write another blog post, so here it is!

On the 4th, we had two parties to go to. The first party was at the Wilson's pipestem. It had a hill and lots of toy vehicles to drive around in. I also went in the bounce house that had standing foam obstacles and a slide! In the food section I got some lemonade ,a plain tortilla, and a hot dog. Yum! After that party we went to the cookout in the pipestem nearest to us. We played in Georgia and Reed's backyard. A while later, I ate some Doritos and a cupcake and the fruit kabobs we brought. Then the exploding things (fireworks) started! There were tiny fireworks that shot out of strange sticks, colorful smoke bombs, sparklers, and small fire works. Starting at 9:00 were the really big fire works!
Happy 4th of July!!!

By Sydney R. C.

Sydney is 8!

Today I celebrate the 8th anniversary of the birth day of my first born, my oldest daughter, my amazing girl, my boys' and Julia's big sister, my tiny but ever growing dancer, my inspiration -- my Sydney.  I truly could not have made it through these last couple of years without your smiling face.  I love you so much and am deeply proud of the girl you are.

Week 2

Happy 2 weeks to Cohen!  He's such a sweet little guy! We had a busy week in addition to the normal newborn stuff.  We attended Isaac's preschool graduation, had a fun visit from Uncle Jamey and Aunt Naomi, and enjoyed a Memorial Day cookout with our neighbors! Here's a look at our growing boy from his second week...

Because of You

Sydney, Isaac, and Cohen 5/14/2012

Sydney, Isaac, and Julia 12/1/2010

Dearest Julia, Your baby brother has arrived! He came into this world loudly and fiestily (if not a word, it should be for him!). His screams, his kicking feet, his open hands waving about wildly-- a beautiful beginning. We have thought of you nonstop. Cohen is here because of you. He is a continuation of the journey we began with you. It should go without saying that he could never and will never replace you. But because of you and the life we shared with you, we had the hope to keep going. Your inspiration became our inspiration. You left a beautiful legacy in our family in so many ways, and your little brother will always be a reminder of that. You were the first person I told when I found out I was pregnant last fall. I love that you were a part of that process. You were even the one to "tell" your older siblings! You and Cohen are inextricably linked, just like you are with the rest of our family. He will grow up knowing all about you. We miss you immensely but know that you are always with us. We love you forever.

Sister Smiles

This is one of my very favorite pictures of Sydney and Julia.  Sydney and Isaac could make Julia smile so easily.  She loved hearing their voices and just being near them. Precious memories...

4/16/2011