Happy
Birthday Brandon!
On July
12, 1997 at 7:35 pm, God blessed me with a 6lb. 8oz.
beautiful baby boy, Brandon Lee Carpenter. When I
first laid eyes on you I was truly amazed at this
little soul I was carrying inside of me for 9 months
and now finally you had arrived. With a head full of
hair and beautiful eyes, I always knew you were God's
gift to me, my angel sent from above.
You were
always a good baby, you only cried when you were wet
or hungry, always full of smiles in which you made me
proud to be your mother. Brandon, you not only filled
my life with happiness, but also everyone around us.
Smiles like rays of sunshine made our hearts
smile.
My heart
and mind are filled with loving memories of our short
but blessed times that we shared together. Your loving
cry for mom still touches my heart today.
My first
attempts at feeding you were messy. We both were
wearing squash! Then mom let dad feed you your first
table food, spaghetti-o's. What a mistake. You were
stained orange for a few days. We laughed quite a bit
about that one. You loved to gobble down cheese curls,
frito's dipped in mustard, and pop corn. Thanks to
daddy and Aunt Heather. McDonalds, Wendy's, and Taco
Bell were your favorite fast food places.
We
celebrated your first birthday at Glenwood Park with
our loving family and friends. All the excitement
tuckered you out. You were even too tired to eat a
piece of your birthday cake. When you ventured out to
take your first steps in life, your dad and I
were there to watch and catch you if you were to
fall.
Brandon,
you were always getting your little hands into
everything! I remember when you were one year old and
your dad and me were painting. Mommy went to the
kitchen and your daddy to the front door. You decided
you wanted to paint, too. Only you painted yourself
blue, instead of the walls!
When
we'd go to Grandma and Grandpa Meeker's house, you
always gave Grandma a look that she couldn't resist.
You knew where Grandma stashed the lollipops. You not
only got one, but two or three. You loved watching
cartoons and you had your own video library. Your
favorite cartoons ... Scooby Doo, Teletubbies, and
Blues Clues always made your face light up and a smile
appear. Your library also included Aladdin, AristiCats,
Titanic, Paulie and Blues Clues and you just adored
the little girl on the Pepsi commercials.
The
vivid memory of how you fell asleep still remains in
my memory. You would wear your favorite Cleveland
Browns P.J's, sucking on your binkie, with your bottle
to your nose. I would sit and sing Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star while running my finger up and down the
bridge of your nose until you fell asleep. I'd top it
off by giving you a kiss good-nite and telling you
"Mommy Loves you, Goodnite Brandon". I would
sit and watch you and wonder what you were dreaming
about.
I
remember you doing many things that you just loved to
do, like your first horse ride, potty training,
camping and fishing with daddy. I missed you being
away from me that short period of time while camping,
almost as much as I missed you being away from me the
week your little brother Hunter was born. On your
first go-cart ride, you didn't want to go with anyone
except mommy. You loved swimming, just like a fish in
water.
You
never wanted help, always wanted to be a big boy and
try to swim on your own. You were so cute in your
little speedo's!
Brandon,
you were mommy's little side kick, everywhere I went,
you went. Everything I did, you wanted to do, whether
it was doing my hair or putting on make-up, you wanted
it done, too.
When
your brother Hunter was born and finally arrived home,
you were excited but a little jealous. You were a big
brother then, and will always be Hunter's big brother,
now and forever. Even though you were brothers, you
fought over everything from toys to food.
You
started school at 16 months. Your school was in the
next town so when it came time to put you on the bus,
mommy cried, not only because you were going to school
but because mommy's little boy was growing up.
After
that, daddy had to be the one to put you on the bus.
Hunter joined you in school, you boys even had the
same class. Out of the many precious things that you
made in school, from your first hand print to the
Santa candle,
all are still kept and cherished. I will always hold
these precious mementos very close to my heart!
You were
well loved by everyone, from your teachers,
classmates, even the bus driver loved you, Brandon.
Brandon, our bond is still strong, if not stronger.
You will always be mommy's boy. Your life here on
earth was too short, but the time you were here you
touched the hearts of anyone and everyone who knew
you, even those who didn't know you. The memories we
share will not be forgotten by me, your dad, your
brother and the rest of the family that misses you
more and more as time goes on. Mommy knows that you
are in a better place, safe from a world full of hurt,
anger and violence. I often wonder what you are doing
up in Heaven. are you playing? Are you looking down on
me? I often wonder what you look like. Are you still a
toddler or a young boy now?
No
matter what Brandon, you will always be my baby. If
God would grant me one wish, it would be to hold you
in my arms one more time, to kiss you, smell you and
hear your little voice just one more time. You were
robbed of your life my baby, you never had a chance to
go to proms, graduate, date and find the girl of your
dreams. Never to marry and have children of your own.
Brandon, mommy will always love you and miss you until
the day we meet in Heaven. But until then, please be a
good little boy, watch over mommy , daddy, Hunter,
Grandma and Grandpa Meeker, Aunt Sarah and Grandma
Carpenter. You were my angel on earth and are now my
Angel in Heaven. I feel at peace knowing that you
definitely earned your wings and Golden Harp. You are
not only in the arms of the angel, but you are one!
Happy Birthday Baby!
Love
Always,
Mommy,
Daddy, Aunt Sarah
Grandma
& Grandpa Meeker
Grandma
Carpenter
