hugs

This is "Nathan Bear". 

The sailboat onesie is part of the layette that we bought for Nate (but he never wore).  We let my then 9 year old daughter make a special comfort bear at Build-A-Bear a couple weeks after his death.  We thought it would help as she cried herself to sleep every night.

5 years later.  It still sits on her bed.  Every day.  It's well loved.  It's a source of comfort for her.  This morning I took it off her bed and gave it some love.  I woke up to sadness.  I needed hugs.

I let Brady play with it and the first thing that he tried to do was share his pacifier with him.  I was so glad that I had my camera and was able to capture this.  It just melts my heart. 

He will never know his brother.  This is as close as it will get.