A Whirlwind of Weddings, Engagements and Babies

Over the past few months, it seems so many of Jason's closest friends have either gotten engaged, married or are having babies.  This has definitely been so bittersweet for me.  I am so happy for them, but so sad that I will never get to love and harass my own daughter-in-law or hold and get spit up on by my own grandchild.  I have said before that I have the greatest friends and so did Jason and all of them are doing everything they can to make us feel a part of their families as they go through these major life events.  And I can't thank them enough.

Jason always wanted to get married and have children.  His goal was 3 children and a wife he adored.  He was very picky though.  I think I drove him crazy asking about every girl he dated and whether there was a connection or not.  

Jason had picked out his future son's name when he was just a freshman in high school.  While initially I believed it was a joke, over time I think he had convinced us and himself that it would be the perfect name.  So, his first son was going to be Fitzgerald Franklin.  As a baby and toddler, he would call him Fitzy.  Once he started his own baseball or football career, he would be known as Fitty Franklin.... Jason would tell us he could hear the crowd in the stands cheering "Go Fitty..."  Fitty Franklin was going to be the man.  Then as a adult, depending on the path he took, he could either be Fitz and become the president of the US (remember the president from "Scandal" and, of course, we all know what the "F" stood for in JFK), stay as Fitty if he became a career athlete, or if he were to become a normal 9-5 guy he could be Jerry, Jer or even Gerald.  We all decided it was the perfect name and we got to the point we just hoped Jason would find the right girl who would let him name his first son Fitzgerald Franklin.

Speaking of babies, Jason was one of the best ones a person could ask for.  Everyone told me how lucky I was.  Jason was sleeping through the night by the time he was 8 weeks old.  He was such a happy baby and toddler.  His only issue was that he was a master spitter during his first year of life.  It seemed, for awhile, that everything that went in came right back out.  If we ventured out to our friends houses, we would always have to take a large blanket to ensure no matter how strong his spit projectile was, the blanket would catch it.  Speaking of blankets, he had a favorite one, a Disney one, that he could not be without.  One of the smartest things we ever did was to buy two identical ones, so we could wash one without having to take one away from him (so, for all you having babies, make sure you do that ;) ).  The blanket had a silk trim around it and he used to just sit and rub the silk on his cheek whenever he was feeling a little stressed.  

My sister Sherri was his second mom.  She was his baby sitter and the person who was always there to help whenever we travelled or just needed a break.   He was the only grandchild on either side of the family so he never wanted for attention.   His grandparents were all with him every step of the way.  

Speaking of steps, he took his first one at 13 months old at the Pizza Parlor in Yosemite. Of course, he face planted right after that.  But he didn't cry.  He just got up and tried again (something that stayed with him all his life... every time he was knocked down or failed at something, he would get right back up and prove to everyone he could do it).

Jason was not only a happy baby, but he was funny and entertaining from the start.... another thing that stayed with him all his life.

So, in ending I just want to say congratulations to all of Jason's friends who have recently or soon will be taking the next big steps in their lives with babies and marriages including Billy, Tanner, Ryan, Frank, Andy, Drew, Reagan, Nick, Jordan, Mike, and, of course Cassius with the birth of his first son, Cassius Jason Lee Marsh, a couple of weeks ago.  I know I have probably missed some, but for those I named and everyone I missed, I wish you all wonderful lives filled with laughter and joy.....

​
Dude, I love you and always will and I will miss you dearly every day for the rest of my life.... mom

---