Squirts - it is a big day for us because you are 1/3 of the way cooked today but it is also a sad day as it is the one year anniversary of when Grampa Larry died. I won't go into all of the details of his death but I do want to share with you that I think he is a huge part of why you are with us now. See, Grampa Larry was taken unexpectedly. Yes, we knew he was sick and was going to pass on but it was unexpected in the manner that he was so young. I think he was kind of scared of kids but I do think that you would have loved him. It seemed the more adverse he was to kids, the more they wanted to be around him. Your cousin Andrew even ranked him in his top 3 favorite people at one time and that was tough competition! He might have been really scared of you as little squirts but he would have liked playing with you and teasing you when you got older. He probably would have been embarrassed the first time you called him grampa. He would have taken you fishing. He would have shown you how his leg came off and watch your eyes get all buggy. He would have taught you how to light smokebombs on the 4th of July. I can even picture him sliding you squirts under a car to learn how to work on them or strapping you into his prized El Camino to take you for a ride. He may have even shared his prized stash of candy with you if he was really in a good mood that day! Unfortunately, he isn't here to do those things with you but I imagine you have met him already and he is keeping you company as you are growing inside me now. I also imagine that you will see him when you are little squirts here living with us as I truly believe that he is with us and kiddos can see those who are watching over us. Finally, I also believe that Grampa Larry was instrumental in helping you come to be. After he was gone, I dreamt about him in October. In the dream, it was so real it was like I was talking to him and I believe that I was. We talked about some private things, some silly things and we talked about you. He asked if I wanted a family and I told him that I didn't know. (I knew we did want you squirts but I didn't know if we emotionally or physically ready to try yet again to have you) He told me that I really needed to make up my mind. Well, come June, we did make up our mind to try one last time. I didn't think the treatment would be successful on the first try. I figured it would take 2 or 3. But, voila, you squirts were created on the first try and you are 1/3 of the way grown and I think Grampa Larry was instrumental in that. I will share a silly picture of him with you that will let you see how I think he would have acted around you. His great-nieces had just gone to the circus and dressed him up when they got back. For someone who tried to be so tough and macho, sure was a softy when kiddos were around.
