hand-me-downs

When Brian and I got pregnant with Fiona, our friend Julie sent us huge bags of clothes for our baby.  I was so excited to see all of the fun little outfits and couldn't wait to dress my little doll.  I don't think I washed any of it...that dreft wash out the germy allergen stuff is so not me.  I just separated it all into sizes, bagged it all, and waited patiently for the day she could wear it all.  And she did.  Every single outfit.  

Today as I cleaned or maybe I should say "attempted to organize" Mack's closet I realized something about hand-me-downs.  Julie didn't send me clothes.  She sent me memories of her baby.  I bet when she packed those large bags she remembered specific days when her little girl wore those same tiny outfits.  I appreciate even more that she shared that love with us.

Today when I opened one of the boxes I set aside for Mack, I found three pair of Elmo panties I bought for Fiona.  It took me back immediately to sitting on the potty for 30 minutes reading Good Dog Carl to her while I patiently waited for her to give me a reason to dole out an M&M.  I also came across all of the pajamas my baby Fiona used to wear when I would snuggle her in bed.  I saw the pair she wore when Santa first left her a letter on the table.  I cried all over again.  I had a good laugh with Fi  when we found her favorite 2T bathing suit.  She wore that thing all the time.  Today when I picked it up, the elastic actually snapped much like a piece of raw pasta.  I pictured her wearing it at the Hilton Hawaiian Village standing with her legs stuck in a beach chair giggling her little 2 year old head off.  I miss her in that bathing suit.  I miss that moment.  Whoosh.  It is gone forever.  Replaced by new moments that are just as special...only different.


Tomorrow when I wash all of the musty outfits that Mack has grown into, I will begin to relive so many special memories of my little Fiona.  I am watching Mack grow into the beauty that I have seen Fiona blossom into and then when Mack grows too big, we will pass them on to be loved by someone else.