Still being loved on

As you know from this post about my Nesties, Jim and I are being loved on from across the miles.

Well, one such friend went above and beyond her requisite “baked goods” duties – though the homemade s’mores granola bars and butterscotch chip bars were to die for.

My dear Brooke, who also gets the credit for the blog’s redesign last month, sent the sweetest card, and extra-special treats for each member of our family.  Not to mention that she intentionally timed the delivery to come immediately after our MFM appointment.

A $25 Visa gift card for Jim, a $25 spa/salon gift card for me, and roller markers for Seth.  I couldn’t have been happier, especially with the Crayola’s for Seth, because I’ve been feeling a little lacking in the good-mommy-who-fosters-her-child’s-creativity department.

And look!  He’s already used them (and yes, I helped a little…)

But I swear, all I did was the red smile.  The rest is pure Seth genius.

I can’t tell you all how much Brooke means to me – not just because of her amazing generosity, but just because of the bond she and I share.  I encourage you to click over to her blog to read about the trial she and her husband faced just one year ago.  After our break-in in April, I sat in my bedroom and cried long-distance to Idaho as I asked Brooke how I was ever going to get past the sucker punch of such a trauma.  I told her, as I talked with her Friday, that I couldn’t believe I was sitting on the same spot on my bed, asking her the question again, on an entirely new level.  Sadly, she didn’t really have any answers for me, but I’m glad she’s holding my hand nonethelesss.

Not to be outdone by a west-coaster, my dear neighbor Christina invited Seth and I over for a playdate on Friday afternoon.  I wish I had pictures to share with you of Seth and his buddy Madeline – they are a hoot together.  Christina and I have a lot in common, the least of which is a love for a good espresso.  =)  She made me a decadent iced coffee while we visited and then sent me home with this:

I’d heard of the famous Gigi, but had yet to sample.

Oh. My.

Check those babies out.

I was afraid they’d be sickeningly sweet – after all that is about 4 inches of frosting, but surprisingly, they weren’t as decadent as I’d expected.  I still scooped about 2/3 of the frosting off (I had the strawberry one on the bottom right; Jim had a chocolate one), but the cupcake itself was delicious!

Seriously, you have to check out the Gigi’s lineup – and tell me which one (or ten) you’d choose to indulge in!  I’m thinking I’ll have to try the Red Raspberry Delight next.

But in all seriousness.  We are almost eight weeks out from saying goodbye to Duncan, but we are still in the midst of it, you know?  Well, maybe not.   But we do.  It’s still hard, to wake up daily and look at my (relatively) flat stomach; to be preparing tubs of infant clothing for consignment; to wonder if we will ever have another biological child.

So the love of friends from all over, those who continue to support us through this loss, is extraordinary and so very appreciated.

As Seth would say, “Muah!” (big, big kisses)