New friends

Dear Stevie,
Wow, I am so behind and have so many things to tell you, baby girl!

One thing that has been just awesome about this summer is that I've had the opportunity to meet a bunch of my 'blog friends' in real life. I can't even put into words how wonderful it is to just be around other moms who get what it's like to lose a baby. I have a lot of wonderful, amazing friends who haven't had a loss, and while they can be great listeners, and emphasize with my pain, they can't really chime in and say, "yes, I know exactly how you feel." It was truly awesome to be with friends who can (and did!)

The first blogger friend I met up with is Melissa, Sammy's Mama. Melissa's little brother actually just married one of close friends and college roomies, Lisa, so we sort of "knew" each other through that connection as well. Melissa found out at her 20-week ultrasound that Sammy had Anencephaly, a diagnosis "incompatible with life," just days after you died. In June, she was in the Twin Cities visiting family, and we met up for lunch. I had such a great time being with her and being able to speak so freely about our babies. Then, because she is awesome and felt like doing something fun and spontaneous, we went to the local tattoo/piercing parlor, and she got her nose pierced! I really wish I would have had my camera with me to document our day (and am quite shocked that I didn't, seeing as that thing is usually attached to my body at all times!)

About a month after hanging out with Melissa, I had the chance to get together with Deanna, River's Mom, Tiffany T, JuJu's Mom, Tiffany D, Ellie's Mom, Natasha, Aiden's Mom, and Jenna, Noah's Mom.It was such a great day. I felt like I had been friends with these girls for ages, and even though all of our stories were really different (from stillbirth, to SIDS, to infant loss), the common bond we shared was so strong. Our day included a luncheon for moms who had sick children or had lost a child (we felt kind of out of place there, but got free Vera Bradley totes out of it!), painting pottery (super fun and relaxing!), and dinner at one of my favorite places in Uptown. I came home totally wiped out, but also so refreshed from such a special day with so many special mamas.

 Tiffany T, Jenna, Me, Natasha, and Deanna with our new Vera Bradley totes

 Of course I painted dishes for my two dogs...so spoiled I tell ya!

Deanna's sign for River's Garden

 Jenna's piggybank for her rainbow baby :)

 Tiffany's heart and frog for JuJu

 

 Tiffany's cute little dragonfly

Natasha working on her monkey :)

Yummy dinner!

So last but not least, about a week and a half ago I was in New York for vacation and was able to meet my good friend, Ann, Alyssa's Mama, who I've known pretty much since you died, as well as three other amazing new friends: Megan, Susan, and Jamila. We all met up for a professional photo shoot for an awareness campaign Faces of Loss is cooking up for the fall (wish I could tell you more, but it's gonna be awesome!). 

 A little behind the scenes peak of the photo shoot. I guess I can add professional model to my resume now (ha!)

 Jamila, Megan, Me, Ann, and Susan in Brooklyn, NYC

Me and Ann. Miss you girl and wish we could go shopping or something together! :)

Thanks, Stevie, for bringing all these amazing new friends into my life. I wish we'd met under different circumstances, but I am so glad to have them in my life just the same. 

Miss you lots.

Xoxo

Mom