Rest in Peace, 'Wes'

I have suffered a great loss. I'm not sure how I'll get it over. Rest in peace, 'wes'. You will be greatly missed.

Pardon me while I grab a tissue. *sniff, sniff*

I remember the moment I learned about wes's passing. My sweet little Tater Tot was jabbering away when it just popped out.

"What did she just say?" I'm sure my face reflected the sheer terror I felt in that moment. No. No it couldn't be. It just couldn't be true. Alas, it was true. Wes was dead, and all I could do was look at her like she had said the most foul word you've ever imagined. Avery had uttered a 'yes' instead of the cute little 'wes' I loved so dearly.

'Wes' was the last cute little mispronunciation in her daily vocabulary. It was the last bit of baby talk. It was end of a special era, and someone is going to have to drag me out of it kicking and screaming. It isn't time for her to be a preschooler. She is still a toddler, I say. Still a toddler. All evidence points to the contrary. She is shooting up in height and has plenty of hair now. She can spell her name and bingo. She can say her ABCs. She knows so many things and is capable of doing so many things on  her own. She is a big girl. I know this. I really do. I'm just not ready.

I think back over all the cute phases, phrases, faces and such, and I feel sad. I was happy to have been such a big part of them all, but I am genuinely saddened by each small loss over the past three years. I should be used to this. My youngest child is very near adulthood. (*shudders*) I know there will be plenty of other great things over the years, but this was the cutest of the cute phases. Now, the last piece of it is gone.

Pardon me while I grab another tissue. *sniff, sniff* *blow*

Any minute now (hint, hint, baby) there will be a new addition to the family. Any minute now (seriously, baby) there will be a new baby to go through all the cute phases. I'm excited about that, but I am still grieving the loss of my beloved Tater Tot's 'wes' and all of her other cute things.

So long, little bear (Rawr!)
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-isms-and-tater-says.html

Adios, Beaker and the other Muppets.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-dances-to-carol-of-bells.html

Goodbye, sweet chubby cheeks reading Gran the book.

Ta-ta, cute baby piggy tails.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2016/09/frogs-no-snails-and-piggy-tails.html

See you later, 'ta-da'.
http://www.granthegreat.com/2015/12/tater-tot-sweetheart.html

And, finally, goodbye, 'wes'. I think I might miss you the most.

Pardon me. You know why. *sobs* *blows* *sniff,sniff*

For everyone mourning a similar loss, raise your glasses of milk for a toast. To all the cuteness we've lost, you will not be forgotten as long as there is a grandmother around to tell the tale.

Nursing a broken heart,
Gran

P.S. A memorial service may be held sometime in the near future. Or daily. Probably daily for a while.