The beginning…and a bit beyond…
I have so many precious memories of our special little man. I’m just going to start?at the beginning. When Tate was born we counted his toes and we counted his fingers…and he was perfect. Exactly what we had expected. Ten toes and five fingers. He looked strong and healthy and we felt so blessed to have him with us after all of the uncertainty. I was (and still am)?extremely proud of Travis and Brandi. They had spent months not knowing what to expect. They had spent months falling in love with Tate. They were prepared to accept the outcome whatever it might be. Now he was here and there was great rejoicing…..when the uncertainties began anew they accepted and moved forward?one step at a time.??They studied and learned and adapted and loved…loved…loved.
As a Grandma I was privileged to be allowed in the NICU at St Marks and again at Primaries. Even Super Mommies like Brandi can’t stay there 24×7. Her heart was often torn between staying with Tate and being with Lexi and Hunter. I tried to time my visits when Travis and?Brandi would be home with?their family. I wanted?them to know that?their sweet little babe was being loved and cuddled even when?they couldn’t be there. I was the lucky one. I’m grateful for the memories I have of rocking and loving little Tate. He melted my heart right from the beginning.
Tate was clever and learned how to adapt and do things his way. I loved the way he would hold his binkie in with the back of his hand. It was so cute to see. Before his nub grew too big he would sometimes stick his nub inside the binkie and hold it that way. Tate often seemed to be waving and reaching for things with his nub. When he developed the ability to grab things he quit using it so much for awhile. He quickly figured out he could grab things with his right hand and would twist and turn to reach things. He learned how to turn his binkie around to get it in his mouth. I can visualize him reaching for it and twisting it around to get it right. Smart kid.
Another cherished time for me was our?Sunday snuggle-time.?I don’t feel at all guilty for missing a few meetings and lots of parts of meetings. To keep Tate healthy before and after his surgery I was able to stay with him while his family attended church. Travis and Brandi both had callings where they were needed on Sundays. My calling at the time was a week day one.? What a blessing that was to have hours of cuddle time alone with little Tate. He never complained when I sang to him 🙂
Everybody remembers Tate’s trademark ‘hiding’. His little hand turned with the palm out and his nub…up close to his eyes, but never so close he couldn’t watch and see what you were going to do. Once when he was about nine months old he did that and I just said ‘Okay, if that’s the way you want to be’, and ignored him. Tate worked so hard to get my attention back. After that it was always a game, but more often than not he would just dive into my arms. Loved that!!!
