Easter with Eliza

Grandma and Lizzy bonding time - pure joy

This week Mary and Baden went to London and France for a long awaited trip. They came to Centerville first though to drop off my Easter gift - our little Lizzy, (Eliza), who is 2, but almost 3. They took William, our chunky 9 month old grandbaby with them. He's still nursing!!! They had a great time, but believe me when I say, I had the greatest time of all of us. I got to know my absolutely precious Eliza at 2 years old. They live in Spokane, Washington and so we get to see them about every 3 to 4 months, which is wonderful, but not as wonderful as everyday would be.

This little girl has huge brown eyes that pop right our of her head, naturally curly hair, can talk like a 5 year old and is extremely expressive in her words and facial expessions. She celebrates all the smallest parts of a day - what she wears, the color pink & being a ballerina, each book we read together, (which were a zillion), how patient she noticed that she was at a meeting I went to, her chocolate milk, even her naps. We would read a bunch of books together and then when I finally said, okay, time for a nap, she would lay down with the sweetest smile on her face and tuck both hands up by her face and close her huge eyes and go to sleep. Sometimes she would grab my neck and stick her face close to mine, so that if I opened my eyes, I could see her beautiful face right there, in all it's pureness. I knew I loved her from the moment I saw her, but to have 10 days with her and really get to experience her absolute innocent and sweet personality was the best gift ever.

When I asked her if she needed to go potty, she would always say, "no, I went last year". :) We laughed at her hysterical comments over and over. A two year old can rarely speak what goes on in their heads and it comes out so cute. It was so sweet to see how much she loves William and how much she missed him. When Grandma and Grandpa Smoot came for Sunday lunch, she launched into an hour conversation with them about how she was going to be baptized by her dad, because he had the priesthood. She knew everyone who had the priesthood and everyone that didn't. She remember, after I told her once, that Sam didn't have it, because he had to be twelve. I couldn't believe she remember that so many hours after I told her why.

I made her a little scrapbook of our time together and I think she really liked it. Before she left, she helped me add some pictures. It was such a treat and I miss her. She reminds me so much of Mary's adorable little personality, sweet and without guile, just wanting to do what she should. (Thanks Mary and Baden for being such amazing parents to our 2 little ones. We appreciate the chance to be with Eliza!)

Shana and I just went on a walk together. It's amazing all that has occurred since Thanksgiving Day. Shana was due to give birth on Jan. 17, to a little girl, but Lily was born a month early, on my birthday, Dec. 12, 2007. Lily had passed away a couple of days before. Shana couldn't feel her moving any more. Both Shana and Justin's cars had broken down and so they called me for a ride to the hospital. There wasn't a heartbeat when we got to Lakeview. The ultrasound confirmed our worst fears. The baby had died. Nobody knows why. The cord wasn't around her neck. The autopsy should tell us in another week or so. A beautiful grave side service was held on Saturday, the 15th. Lily is buried at the Bountiful Cemetary.

Three weeks has gone by since Lily's birth। Today is Jan। 2, 2008। Watching Shana and Justin grieve, has all but broken my heart, but their strength has strengthened all of us who love them। Lily was beautiful and it's comforting to know that she is in a place of peace and rest। I love you Lily and can't wait for the day to hold you again in my arms and watch your parents do the same. I didn't even get a chance to know you, but I miss you and the wonderful times we would have had together.


I love you. Rest well,
Your Grandma