A Group Effort

Many of you have

 said

that you can't pretend to understand how we must feel...

but actually, 

I think most of you actually

can

empathize

with what we are going through...

It's evident in the way you have taken care of us.

I actually think you can imagine what this feels like

and that's why we have been covered in loved

through the past few weeks.

_______

______

From the immediate arrival of family

  to be by our sides

as we said goodbye to our daughter

...

Family stroll through to Kensington Palace in an attempt to get some fresh air.

Grandparents out for lunch in Notting Hill

A field trip out of the house for tea at Fortnum & Mason with my mom & Tyler's mom

... dinners & groceries dropped at our door...

... gorgeous flowers & sweet gifts sent

to brighten our day and remember our girls ...

She likes our shenanigans, don't be fooled.

messages of encouragement sent with perfect timing...

... and the faces of loved ones that come

and offer hugs of support

 or that stay for a while

reminding us that life is good

and that we are blessed.

You've rejoiced with us for the arrival of Viola

and you've grieved with us for the loss of our daughter.

Going through this with others

has made it bearable in a way

I hope that I never forget.

Thank you so much

for helping us calibrate

to our new normal.

Viola's first Saturday morning on Portobello Road

I've read every single email that has come to my inbox.

Some make me cry big tears

and some make me laugh...

I'm so grateful for the friendships

I've made with so many of you.

The blogging community

is an amazingly cool, smart

& good-hearted crew.

_______

_______

And yes, the blog posts you've been seeing

were written in advance

in anticipation of having my hands full post-delivery.

My brain isn't that functional yet. ;)

*images via instagram. Username: aspiringkennedy