The week leading up to the March of Dimes, March for Babies walk was a tough one. I was tearful every day, missing Sofia. It's hard to believe that it's been so long yet I still feel like it was yesterday that we said good-bye. No matter how many times I replay everything in my mind I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the enormous loss we have suffered.
It was a rainy day for a walk and considering the abnormally warm weather we have been having since January, the cold was a bit unexpected. Last year it was cold & windy. I had hoped for a warmer, sunny day but it was cold & wet. I thought to myself that the rain falling down was fitting with all the tears falling down my cheeks each night. A friend commented on facebook, "You need rain to make a rainbow!". How true that is, and how deep as well...
This year we purchased a sign for Sofia (money goes to March of Dimes). Her sign was one of the last on the walk and we stopped - our whole group huddled around as we took Rose out of her stroller and under the umbrella - and snapped a picture. If it hadn't been pouring we would have attempted our group photo right there. Maybe next time.
I wanted to get a group photo before the walk when it was only lightly misting but everybody was telling me to do it later. Then "later" it was raining so people left before we ended the walk which was disappointing. We understood though, because it was pretty icky outside. I was just bummed we didn't get a full group photo. Next year we're doing it first (and it'll probably be bright & sunny at the end of the walk, ha!) Here is most of the group:
It was nice to go represent Sofia and all the babies struggling or gone too soon. I didn't see Betsy this year but I did see little Olivia's sign. Rose was such a trooper (of course she was probably the most dry out of everyone in our group being inside her warm car seat/stroller & covers). She was her usual smiley self and proudly wore her T-shirt in memory of her big sister.
The back of our shirts:
We would like to thank everyone who joined us on the walk and to those who donated in memory of our Sofia Rose. It means more to us than I think people realize. There won't be many times in our life where we get to do something for Sofia and this is one way we can honor her and help babies survive in her name.
