Too Much Name for Her Mouth

So, yesterday was my brother's birthday. The family got together for dinner at Red Lobster. Well, not the whole family. My cousin wasn't there and it was hard being together without Mande. But I don't want this to be a downer today. Today, I want to share a Mande story. Mandelyn couldn't say her whole name, Mandelyn Belle Babcock. It was just TOO much name for her mouth. Instead, she would turn Italian (which she didn't have an ounce of in her) and say, "I'm a Mandelyn-A-Bellcock." I wish I could hear her say that right now. Actually, what I wouldn't do to hear her say, "Baby Handsome" just one more time. I miss you Mandelyn.

Mandelyn's Gone NOT Forgotten

I finally decided to get onto myspace and all I want to do is talk about my niece. It seems like everytime I get on this computer, all I ever want to write about is my Princess Mandelyn. I get grumpy, not so much because of me, although I miss the heck out of her everyday, but mainly because of my boys. Cameron and she were like "peas and carrots" as Forrest Gump said. No two cousins could have loved each other more. Cameron has his good days and his bad. How do you explain to your 6 year old that his 3 year old cousin isn't coming home, but be happy that we got to know her? I try. Some days it comes easier to me, but then there are days like today, where nothing I say comes out right. And Dylan, bless his heart, will never remember just how much she was in love with him. He does, however, remember her. I can say to him, "Where's Mandelyn?" And he'll go straight to her picture on the wall, and the collage I made, stare at her and talk to her. It's the sweetest, but also bittersweet, you know? It's just so frustrating at times. I wake up from a dream about her and the realization she isn't here hits me like a ton of bricks sometimes. I realize that we aren't meant to be on this planet forever, and that there is a better place for us in the end, but her end came too soon. Today, I feel as though I'm in a dream and would like it if someone would pinch me back to June 1st. Mandelyn may be gone, for now, but she will never be forgotten.