Giggles and Games … :)
What a joy it was when Tate began giggling and laughing. Finally we were able to see his fun personality and watch him enjoy life. Through his giggles we were able to feel his love. Many adults did silly things, looking like fools, just to hear that precious little giggle. Lexi and Hunter only needed to walk into a room for Tate to laugh with joy. He loved them and knew if they were around fun times were on the way.
Usually the first game I play with my grandchildren is pat-a-cake. That was a tough one for Tate for a little while. Eventually when his arms grew long enough to reach around his chunky little belly he became an expert at clapping, but that didn’t work so well at first. One day I was trying to elicit his laugh and began blowing the top of his forehead to make his hair stand up. At first it did make him laugh, but then I realized he was trying to blow too. He mastered it quickly and was obviously very proud of himself. Many times after that he tried to initiate that little ‘game’ with me.
I loved to watch?Tate play itsy-bitsy-spider. His actions were so adorable. After months of doing it and attempting to sing along he sped it up and was often leading the way with his actions always a verse ahead of the words. Tate is a leader. He is leading the way for us. I pray all of us, but especially Travis and Brandi, will be able to continue living with the joyful enthusiasm Tate taught us.
Ta-da, and Yay! I loved the way Tate would look around to make sure everyone was joining in….and if somebody wasn’t he’d give them a second chance and do it again. We all have second chances. We have to rely on repentance and the Atonement. I’m sure our sweet boy is clapping and?cheering us all on, and praying for all of the people he loves to be able to join him when the time is right.
I can’t forget peek-a-boo….with my hair 🙂 Tate loved to pull my hair over my face and pull it back playing peek-a-boo.? As I was sitting on the bench at Planet Play last week watching the cars race I was holding a baby. I remembered sitting in that same spot with Tate and him playing peek-a-boo with my hair over and over again.
It was so precious to watch Tate blow kisses all the way out the door when they left. I taught him how to do Eskimo kisses and he made a fun game out of that whenever we were together. Rubbing noses with Tate was a vigorous activity done his way. He shook his little head back and forth and giggled the whole time.
The last weekend before Tate left us he was determined to give tons and tons of lip to lip kisses. It was so cute to wach him trying to duck down and get mouth to mouth. Those slobbery little kisses were the best!
Miss this little guy so much! I can’t imagine the grief Travis and Brandi go through all the time. It is so hard to be away from your kids… I feel helpless to be able to help them at all. Even though I have my own grief with the loss of Tate, I don’t know what I can do to help them with theirs as everyone handles it so differently and nothing I can do will fix it. I love you guys and pray for you every day! I can’t wait for the reunion with Tate, he will have a long line of people wanting to hug him again!
Missing our sweet little Tate every single day! We are blessed with many precious little children to hold and love, but that doesn’t erase the emptiness of not having Tate. Loving and playing with our adorable little babies is often bittersweet as memories flow of playing those same games with Tate. I always knew I had to get my hugs in with Lexi and Hunter early and quick when your family arrived. As soon as Tate saw me he would dive into my arms and I had to be ready for him. His cheek to cheek hugs were the best! I’ll always remember him as the loving little boy he was…although I often think of him as the mature and honorable man we know his spirit to be. So many questions….what is he doing now? Does he know how much we miss him, and love him, and long to hold and kiss him? Is he touching the hearts of our ancestors that have gone before us, teaching the gospel, sharing his earthly memories? Then there are the really hard questions….what can we do to support Travis and Brandi? While I ache at the loss of Tate’s presence, I anguish over the hurt and suffering of my baby boy, Travis, and my eternally adopted daughter, Brandi. I know you’re strong and I know you’ll endure. But, I wish I could ease your pain, kiss away your tears, make it all go away. Tate is and was perfect and we will continue to learn and grow from our brief association with him. Love, you, love you, love you little buddy. (I was in the process of reviving Travis’ little ‘bubby’ to give Tate for his 2nd birthday…now what to do with it?)