Isabel Marlene

Here at 10 pm I am back to editing photos of my nephew's new baby girl.

Isabel Marlene Toman.

She is perfect.
Beautiful.

Her older brother, his father's mini-me is all cute during the photo shoot... wants to lie down beside her on the studio blanket and with his clear blue eyes and mischievous grin points at her eyes, her mouth her nose and kisses her.
This tiny piece of heaven so recently given to us to see.... the reflection of her grandma and namesake.
Marlene.
My sister.

I knew having a nephew, one of my eldest sisters' sons, get married could mean that one day I might meet a baby girl that is my sister's first granddaughter.
Ohhh...if she were here.
She who raised three handsome, strong, tall and sturdy boys. But never a daughter.
She would be smitten.
Glowing in the grandma-love and pride of a wee one so delicate and feminine and precious.

Precious Isabel.

I wrap you in the wedding dress I've saved... salvaged from your Grandpa's purge of all things unnecessary to his going forward after your Grandma Marlene had died from brain cancer.
I held it thinking SOME day maybe there would be a granddaughter...
and here you are.

And I lay it carefully down.
And I lay you on it.
And I wrap the old lace and gauzy white fabric around your new baby skin.
You smile.
The wedding dress... a promise, in sickness and health for richer or poor...til death do we part...
Too young to die...only 44..... she never met her daughter-in-law, grandson or you....
But she talked about the 'what if's'...and here you are. The first female for her :)

Click.
I take so many photos... yet you smiling while wrapped in your grandma's wedding gown is the shot that now makes me weep as I edit photos.

Sweet girl.
I am not your grandma, but I am your great-aunt, and I too loved this one whom you have only met in eternity.

<3 p="">