Yummy fudgesicles!

This was a great moment. MIKE set up this photo op. He decided to feed my baby a fudge bar. Yummmyyyy... So he said, "Suz, quick, grab your camera." And I snapped away taking many photos and we laughed and laughed as we watched Madelyn enjoy this yummiest treat she had ever eaten in her lifetime. The greatest part of this was that I got to go bathe my chocolate bunny and Mike volunteered to clean her chair which was uber-yuck! Aagh! I love that man! =)

I LOVE this baby! She is my total buddy and I really want to do nothing in the day except to hold her, play with her, and laugh with her. She is so squeezable and lovable and she makes my heart happy. If I am having a tough day, Mike will say to me, "Just go hold your baby and you'll feel better." ha ha And he's correct! One hug from her is all it takes to make my heart full of joy. So Madelyn has adopted a nickname. We call her Madey-Lucci, and often it's just shortened to The Lucci or just Lucci or Luccers, etc. The boys in our neighborhood call her Grandma Lucci, which is hilarious and not sure where it came from but she does answer to it.

She is 11 and 1/2 months old and it's tearing me apart to watch her grow older. Possibly because she's my baby caboose so it's physically painful to see her progress and grow towards the big world of Toddlerhood. I want her to stay little for as long as I can keep her.

My family is trying to teach The Lucci how to walk and I keep tugging on her shirt to keep her down so she won't grasp walking yet, as if this might somehow keep her young a little longer. Despite my efforts, I know she will eventually grow up and grow too big for me to hold her on my lap and in my arms. But for now, she's MY chubby, full of rolls Madey-Lucci and I am enjoying every possible moment with this perfect treasure in my life.

Sad week

This past week was such a sad week. I attended to two funerals that were both so beautiful and loving tributes to two people that I love and am grateful to have known. I am a better person because I knew Paige and Mary Ann. Heaven just got a little sweeter when it welcomed these two special people in...

The first was for our dear friend's little 18 month old daughter Paige, who died unexpectedly from complications due to her heart defect. She was such a miracle to even be here for 18 months! Which is why it makes it even that much harder to let her go, I think. We had her for 18 months, why can't we have her for 88 more years??? Is that too much to ask? Heavenly Father blessed the Bloomfield family with Paige and HE blessed Paige with her family that fought for her, cared for her, loved her, and they truly enjoyed every minute with her until little Paige earned her angel wings. Please pray for our friends that they will continue to be carried and comforted by our loving Heavenly Father and that their hearts can begin the healing process. We will always remember and love you, Paige! THANK YOU for being such a stellar example of courage and faith to all of us around you. I am a better person for knowing YOU!

You can read about my amazing friend Jamie and her incredible family. You will not even believe how amazing these people are and you will just LOVE them as I love them. And please send prayers their way as they are hurting in a way that I cannot understand and they can use all of the love sent their way.

http://jamie-bloomfieldfamily.blogspot.com

And...

We said goodbye to our dear and ridiculously talented friend, Mary Ann Noorda, who passed away due to complications from an infection she was fighting. It was so unexpected and sudden leaving us all with many questions and in shock. She leaves behind her sweet husband of 16 years as well as her darling 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. I ask you also to please pray for my sweet friends that Kent and the children will also continue to be loved during this difficult loss of their sweet Wife/Mom as she was the center of her family, the light, the energy, the love. She will be greatly missed by her husband and children and her family so they need lots of prayers to have the strength and courage to carry on and move forward trying to heal their hearts following this devastating loss.

http://maryann-and-kents-family.blogspot.com

and

www.craftingwithmarynn.blogspot.com

I am so grateful for the chance that I had to know both Paige and Mary Ann. It's amazing how Heavenly Father takes the great ones when we so desperately need them here. I trust in His Plan and have faith that HE knows what he is doing. I loved these people both in very different ways and learned a tremendous amount from both, as well. They are truly ELITE daughters of God and they were better than this earth and they accomplished everything they needed to do in order to leave this world and return to live in the loving presence of our Heavenly Father. I am comforted to know that they are both out of the pain they both struggled with and in a peaceful place surrounded by those they love and who love them.

Rest in peace, sweet Paige and beautiful Mary Ann. We will miss you!