{ hope }

Ohhhh, I just have to show these photos of my cute little granddaughter. Her mom said I could...because seeing the baby in her first Halloween costume means so much to me.

I mentioned on my blog in September that Suzie's pregnancy was an unbelievably long, anxious, never-ending nine months for me. (Yes, I know, it was for Suz and Winston too, but this is all about me lol.) I was so worried; I just wanted this baby to be born. I, along with the whole family, was overwhelmingly grateful for the joy of Suzie's pregnancy after several years of infertility stress, difficult treatments, and disappointments. My impatience seemed to get the best of me, causing me to get all tied up in knots.

One day I opened an email newsletter from the author of "The Secret," a book I read a few years ago and liked and casually agreed with. In the email, there was a quote which said,

"The tighter you try and hold on to something that you are afraid of losing, the more you are pushing it away. Those thoughts are filled with fear, and if you continue to persist, what you fear the most will come upon you.

Fear nothing - just think about what you want. It feels so much better."

The words hit me pretty hard. I needed to quit thinking about my fears. I needed to have faith. And so I focused on one thing. I didn't tell Suzie this while she was pregnant - or anyone - because everyone might think I was slightly wacko. But, it helped me so much.

I thought about the new baby in her Halloween costume!

Would she be a little yellow duckie?

Would she be a cute orange pumpkin?

How about a little fairy princess?

Or maybe a ballerina - that's what her mommy would love - with a pink tutu.

I saw costumes at stores and said to myself, she will be cute as a little bee!

Or a hula girl, or a flower.

Every time my mind would worry, I'd think of another costume.

How about a cowgirl?

A monkey? A ladybug?

Never once did I think of Minnie Mouse.
And isn't it the cutest costume of all!?

Suzie made the costume with the help of Becky who visited the week before Halloween.
Suz crocheted the little cap with mouse ears and added the red polka dot bow. She made the polka dot skirt (with lace trim) and little white collar. She put it all together with the red onesie, black tights, and little white shoes that Aunt Jill made. Talk about cute!

And look at that - her first time trick or treating with her Dad. Wow.