I cried when I saw the video tonight, it's so beautifully done. Thanks so much to all the families who participated by sending in their baby's photo.

To view the commercial, visit www.parents.tv and you'll see a big video area, just to the right of that you'll find a listing of videos you can choose to watch. Scroll through the list, and not quite half way down you'll see one titled "SIDS Awareness". Just click to view it.

Updated:
Amber Holly Stocks

Added:
Jason Jack Ramos
Logan Lee Senters
Meadow Elizabeth Nell Sister
Jariel Alfonso Cotto
Jessica Lynn Santiago
Natasha Marie Beltran
Anthony David



There are still some others yet to be added. I'll update again when I can.

These babies were added to the nursery:

Tristen David McKissick
Elizabeth Marie Ousley
Laccie Lynn Brooks
Kai Joseph James Bloom
Elliott James Brown
Christian Thomas Hromada
Dylan Westyn Price
Ethan William Lee Jackson
Aubrey Lynn Klausing

I hope everyone had the best possible Christmas. I never know how I'm going to be over the holidays, some years I'm able to get through without many tears, but this year was a rough one and I had a pretty big cry missing my boy Christmas day. We were in Toronto with my husband's family for the holidays so I asked Edward to take me to the cemetery, I know he doesn't like to go there, but I really needed to visit Jacob's grave this year. We didn't stay long though but at least I did get to be there.

While in Toronto my computer blue screened, nothing we did would get it to boot back up. My computer blue screened back in 2005 and completely crashed so I was a bit panicked because I had recently finished the third collage for this year, I just needed to get the back graphic finished up and I wasn't looking forward to doing that again, not to mention all the other files that would be lost in a crash. Thankfully Edward was able to get it working again when we came home and the first thing I did was back up the collage! I've gotten pretty good about backing things up regularly but just hadn't gotten that backed up yet. Computers sure are a nuisance sometimes! I won't be on much though until after the new year as we're having a bit of a holiday. We're looking forward to a new year and I wish all the best to all of you in the coming new year.

Story added to: Bryson James Apple

Pages added for:
Gracie Jeaune DeSoto
Adrianna Marie Armentia-Braxton
Trevor Paul Lee

Sa'nyah Mechell Gonzalez was added to the nursery

Added to the nursery:
Matthew George Alexander Stewart

The Holiday of Angels is over for another year. This was the 7th year for it and already many people have signed the guestbook. Several people showed up in chat last night too. It was really nice to connect with people again!

My gift this year came from Stephanie Wilcox and she sent me a beautiful metal "Tree of Life", and an adorable stuffed lamb with a spot on his tummy to hold a photo of Jacob, and writing on his chest that says "Always in My Heart". Lambs and goats are special to me and remind me of Jacob because of the little sounds he used to make, and I have collected stuffed animals for him since shortly after he died, so the lamb was an extra special gift to me.



The tree is just beautiful and came with 9 little tear shaped clear jewels to hang on its branches. Nine was the perfect number because there are nine people in my family right now, not counting Jacob, there are nine of us here who are missing Jacob. There's Edward and I, and the children - Jesse, Alyssa, Caitlin, Chelsea, Lilianna, Danielle and Clara. There's a tear for each of us to hang on the tree. The tree also came with a little card that has a beautiful poem on it.



The Tree of Life
by Lisa O. Engelhardt

If I could grow a tree for you,
I'd water it with tears,
And nurture it with memories
gathered through the years

Grounded in firm values
this tree would find its roots
And from its legacy of love
would grow the sweetest fruits.

Ever branching outward,
its canopy would swell,
A living, loving tribute
to a life lived full and well.

Finally, its leaves would reach
the floor of heaven, and then
I'd climb up on its branches...
just to hold you once again.

and on the back of the card it says:

May this poem be a tribute
to your living love,
and this gift
connect you in spirit
with the one you have lost.

I'm so grateful for the special gifts in memory of my little man and I hope others had a good experience with the Holiday of Angels this year too.

Added to the nursery:
Cory Antoine, Jr Buffinet

Updated pages:
Jacob Valentine Rivera

Today is gift opening day! As usual, whoever would like to is welcome to join me in a Yahoo Chat room to open our gifts together. Since we're literally spread out around the world, it's the only way we can join together to open our gifts. As in years before, once you have opened your gift, sign the guestbook (click for link) to share what you received in memory of your little one.

To participate in the chat, we use Yahoo Messenger, and since we can no longer make private chat rooms we'll just use one of the quieter public chat rooms. To find out which room we're using, just message me anytime after 8:00 pm EST and I'll let you know which room to go to. My ID is babyjacobsmommy on Yahoo Messenger. If anyone needs help figuring out the time zones, there's a handy converter here.

You are welcome to participate in the chat, even if you hadn't participated in the Holiday of Angels this year.