Christmas Letters

My Dear Sweet Ella,
Our firstborn, our first love. We love and miss you greatly. It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be your first Christmas. You still would have been so tiny and probably wouldn’t have understood all of the festivities. But, we would have dressed you in your Christmas best. And, I imagine the family would have taken turns passing you around, fighting over who got to love on you next. You may not be here to open it, but yesterday your daddy wanted to go to the toy shop to buy a Christmas gift for you. We had it wrapped and it is sitting underneath the tree we decorated in your honor. It pangs me to know you will never open it, but I hope you were looking down on us and were able to see what we chose for you. You have touched many lives and many people have done good deeds in your honor. Just the other day, your Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Teena donated a bag of toys and books to the Children’s Hospital in your name. If I could have one Christmas wish for you, it would be for you to be happy. I hope that you are playing with all of the other angel babies in heaven and that your Grandpa Eric is supervising. Merry Christmas, sweet baby.
We love you! We will always love you!
Mommy and Daddy



Merry Christmas, Jelly Bean!
We loved you before we even knew about you. You have brought us much happiness and hope. Your daddy and I have many dreams for your future. We love and appreciate each moment we have with you and can’t wait to officially meet you in June (so please, stay put!). We long to hear your first screams and look into your eyes. Yesterday, we learned whether you are a boy or a girl. Both of us are just ecstatic and can’t believe how blessed we are. I’ve already started calling you by your possible name. Your dad is sticking to Jelly Bean- the name he coined, by the way. He thinks it should be your real name, too. Don’t worry… With a last name like ours, I’ll fight for you to have a simple, beautiful name. After our appointment, your daddy wanted to go to the toy store to purchase your first Christmas present. We bought one for Ella, too. Both gifts are sitting under the tree. We can’t wait to spend next Christmas with you.
All of our love,
Mommy and Daddy



Dear Daddy,
It is my second Christmas without you. I still can’t believe you are gone. You cross my mind several times a day. Just this morning I thought of you when a friend made a comment about her neighbors bbqing out in the freezing cold. I have so many memories of you bbqing in twenty degree weather when we lived in Boston. When I think of you at Christmas, I think of all of the yummy food you’d prepare for us to munch on. I still miss your pigs in a blanket- the one time of year you could catch me eating hot dogs. We always loved how you would go shopping and get us gifts that you picked out by yourself. Brook and I always teased that you could put together an outfit better than anybody. I certainly hope you aren’t alone this Christmas. I hope you are loving on Ella for me. All of my love.
Your baby daughter,
Bree