I LOVE AND MISS YOU BABY GIRL  / Aunt Kristie
Hey baby girl. I haven't been here in a while, but always know that I am thinking of you. I long every day to see you and hold you. My heart aches because you are not here with us. You would be 3 now. I can only imagine what your beautiful face would look like. You would be beautiful. Savannah and Alyssa ask me why you had to go. I tell them that God needed you to help him in heaven. We know you are watching over us and keeping us safe. Well, I will go for now. I will hold you in Heaven my baby angel. I love and miss you badly. XOXOXOXO Close

Three Years Without You  / Aunt Randi

I hear your little voice,though youre far away. It's almost like you're here, so I dont have to relive that day. A million tears ago, another million whys. You were in your mommys arms, we werent saying goodbye. Butterflies and daisies, remind me so much of you. You were so very perfect, little tiny you. Your crooked politician toes, on those itsy bitsy feet. That precious head of dark hair, that lay next to mommy & daddy to sleep. Sleep safe next to Jesus angel, know that in our hearts. You have a special place, and we will soon be where you are.

 

It has been three years without you, and not a day has gone by baby girl that I havent cried for you. I will soon get to know what it would have felt like to hold you. When my time comes to join you in heaven, I hope the cloud I am on will land next to you. I miss you baby girl. And I love you even more. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

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HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN!!!  / Gina Nix (Great-Aunt)

HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY, DAKOTA!  We know that the Lord is celebrating your BIRTHday with you in Heaven today.  We wish you were here with us, but angels only stay for a little while.  We Love You!  Aunt Gina, Uncle Duane, Heather, Michael, Stephanie and Marshall

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My 3rd Mother's Day Without You  / Mommy (Mommy)
It's Mother's Day, and I know it will not be near complete because I can't hold you in my arms. I want so much for you to know how very much I love you, and how blessed I am to be your Mommy. My heart and soul will always have a void in it because you're not here. As I fall asleep at night, I find myself talking to you, asking you to please come see me in my dreams so I can hold you again. I remember how soft your skin was, how you smelled right after your bath, and how it felt to just sit in the rocking chair with you in my arms and stare at you while you slept. I remember those tiny little hands, and little bitty feet. I remember everything about you. Your smile, your sweet baby sounds. You are so very precious to me Dakota. Mommy couldn't imagine what life would be like had I not gotten to hold you, and spend those 29 days with you. I even remember how you loved to kick your sock off. You'd always kick off your right sock for some reason. Also, the time you peed on the couch, and before I could get it cleaned up, Daddy came in and sat in it, in his nice white Navy uniform. He and I both just laughed. It was so funny. Daddy misses you so much, and he loves you more than anything. We will always count you in our blessings, and say a special prayer for you each night before we go to sleep. You are our angel baby girl. We love and miss you so very much!!!! Close

In my own way  / Aunt Randi
Hello angel. The days here have been so very warm and sunny. I have been planting flowers. I just looked at pictures your mommy sent me of your garden and it is beautiful. So I decided to plant some flowers in memory of you. I got daisies and some called butterfly weeds. They are beautiful red flowers that attract butterflies. I thought it fitting since your mommy and daddy released them for you. You know I miss you so very much little one. I have your picture in my room and I say good night to you every night. I know you are safe now so please look after your daddy while he is away and keep him safe. And take care of our mommy big sister and litle brother. I love you baby girl. Close

heyy baby gurl!  / Josie Hankins (cousion)

heyy baby url i miss u sooo much i cant wait to c u once again i wiss i could of seen u but i didnt get to im glad when i get up there im going to give u a big hug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!when ur mommy is in i c pics of u and i tlk bout u but now i got to go and do dish well ill tlk to u later i LUV U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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hey kotabear  / Savannah Sanders (cousin)
hey kotabear how are you i really miss you and i wish you were here with us so i want you to do me a favor my doggy rocky just died on january 27 and i want you to keep him safe and tell him i love him.now you have somebody to play with up there in heaven.even though you don't know me i really love and miss you very much just please take care of my doggy and i hope you are okay to i love you both.hope you have fun love your cousin savannah.

                            I LOVE YOU KOTABEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










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I am so sorry  / Lori Mommy To Angel Aidan Grems (passerby)
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful little princess. I know the pain of lossing a child to Sids. My son Aidan passed away in October 2005. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Close

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year  / Jerri Long (Mommy)
Hi there beautiful! Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year. We miss you terribly. I wish you were here to celebrate the holidays. Starting a new year has been very difficult since you've been gone. It always makes me wonder how big you'd be, and how you'd be playing with your sister and brother. I know spending Jesus' Birthday with Him must have been something wonderful, and beyond my imagination. I know that you are well taken care of and loved up there, and that our family members up there are giving you tons of hugs and kisses. That keeps my heart at peace until we can be together again. I love you baby girl, and miss you so very much!!!!  Close

It is almost Christmas  / Aunt Randi
Well it  is almost Christmas baby girl. It will be Sophies first one. She is getting so big. Every time I look at her I am filled with a sense of peace. I have such a feeling of joy and awe when I look in her eyes because I know there is something so very special about her. I truly believe there is a part of you in her. She is perfect in every way. After God called you, I prayed for something to take my pain away, I had such a hard time because I didnt get to see you, and because I heard your cry the night before you past away. I wanted so bad something to help me deal with my sadness, and there she was. Just like a little miracle. A perfect little miracle. I know that things happen for a reason and I believe that she was given to me to help me through this. And every time I look at her I am reminded of how precious life is. I know that without a doubt I wish you were still here. I wish I could have held you in my arms just one time, I wish I could have told you I loved you. I miss you still so very much. And I even feel guilty because I have Sophie and you arent here for your mommy to hold. Even though you are in her heart. I want you to know that you are always with me Kota bear. Every day I think of you. I love you . Close

My heart is still breaking  / Mommy (Mommy)
My precious little one, how I miss you so. I read what Uncle Bubby had left here for you, and I cried. I would give anything to bring you home. How I wish more than anything that my family could've met you and held you. You were so very tiny, and so very fragile. Yet, every time I looked at you I saw, and felt, something so special that words can't touch. I often wonder if there are any words to describe how it feels to hold an angel.....A real angel sent from above. I held one in my arms every time I held you. I remember how I worried so because you were so very small. My fairy princess. Although you were tiny, I saw a strength in you that I've never seen before. I wish I could somehow let all of my family feel what it was like to hold you...........What a blessing it was. I could never receive a greater gift. I'm thankful for every moment I was able to sing to you, talk to you, look into your eyes, and tell you how very much I love you. Every second of those memories will forever stay close to my heart. After you went to Heaven, I was so scared of everything. When your baby brother was born, I was terrified to fall asleep for fear I'd wake up and find him as I found you that September morning. No one will ever understand what that did to me........How it broke my heart and soul. One night I walked by my bedroom door and heard you cry. Without thinking, I turned to go in there, and stopped at the door realizing that you weren't there anymore. Your crib was empty, but still your little pink baby blanket was right were you and I had left it. When I would go to bed at night, I'd snuggle with it because it smelled like you. It made me feel so close to you. Promise me one thing, my love.....Promise me that you'll always stay right here with me, even if it's only in spirit. I still have the clothes you wore, your binky's, your toys........ I have the pajamas you were wearing when you went to Heaven in a shadow box, with the bib, and the one tiny pink and white sock that was on your foot. No matter how I tried to keep socks on you, you always managed to scoot one off. The bib you were wearing said "Little Miracle, Tiny Little Hands". Now I know just how true that is. Good night my sweet baby girl. Mommy loves and misses you so very much. Close

The tear that never dries, my heart will mourn for you  / Uncle Buggy (Uncle)
Sweet Dakota. Many times have I found myself driving down the road thinking of you. I'll hear that song...and indeed I wonder, who you'd be today. Would you have your daddy's laugh, or your mommy's eyes? Would you like Dora like your sissy did? Would you say your abc's to me when I call? 
Every time I think of you I feel this incredible sorrow fill my soul that no toughness can hide. I never got to see you but still my heart is filled with an unconditional love that shines for you alone. It is your memory that I look to when I need strength. I think of your mommy and daddy and the courage they showed after you left. You would be proud of them. They love you so very much, as do we all. 
As many tears as we have cried for you, there is one in all of us that will never dry. It is one that cannot be wiped away. We need it to forever remind us of the life that you never had a chance to live. We need it to remind us that we should always say "I love you" to each other and never take for granted that there will be a tomorrow. 
We love you and we miss you so very much Kota Bear.   Close

Happy Birthday To My Baby Girl  / Mommy (Mommy)
Hi there my princess. Mommy misses you so very much. I wish you could be here for your birthday. Wow, you're 2 years old. You were so very tiny, but you were such a big girl to me. I remember the last evening we spent together. We went to see Mommy's doctor that delivered you, and then went to Mimi & PawPaw's house. While at their house, we went out into their back yard, just you and me. It was such a beautiful, sunny day. I held you close to me while you slept with your head on my chest. I swayed back and forth really slow with you, like we were dancing, and sang "You Are My Sunshine" to you. Never, by any stretch of the imagination, did I know that would be our last dance. Had I known, it would've never ended. There are a lot of things I would've done differently had I known you were only going to be here for, what seemed like, only a second. For example, the day Daddy and I took you and Shelby to the Zoo in Dallas. I went on the carousel with Shelby while you stayed with Daddy to take pictures. I would've brought you on it too. You were so, so tiny, I was afraid you'd somehow get hurt. I would've held you every minute, never letting you go. Most of all, I wish I had never gone back to sleep the morning you died. I ask myself every day if I had stayed awake, and just held you, would you still be here with me. I wonder what went wrong, and why. You were such a happy little baby girl. You loved to cuddle, which was so amazing to me. That was the greatest feeling in the world. To hold you close, and stare into your eyes. I always saw a special something in your eyes when we looked at each other. I can't put it into words. It's only a feeling that you and I know of. That bond we share is with me each and every second, and I'll cherish it always. Happy 2nd Birthday my love. I love you Princess XOXOXOXO!!! Close

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL NIECE  / Aunt Kristie

I just wanted to tell you Happy Birthday!!!!!! It has been two years since you were born and no matter how much time goes by there is only one thing I long to do and that is to hold you just one time. I want you to know that I will always remember your little voice even though I only heard it over the phone. It is the most beautiful thing ever. There are no words that can describe the way I feel because I didn't get to do the things I wanted to with you. I hold dear the day that I will finally get to hold you close to my heart where you are now and always will be. I love you Dakota and I will hold you in Heaven my angel. 

I love you,
Aunt Kristie

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HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, DAKOTA!  / Gina Nix (Aunt)

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, DAKOTA!  I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE YOU CAME INTO OUR LIVES!  EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE HERE ONLY A LITLE WHILE YOU BLESSED US AS A GIFT FROM GOD!  I'M SURE YOU AND PAWPAW LONG ARE SHARING SPECIAL TIME TOGETHER AND WATCHING EACH OF US AS WE GO THROUGHOUT OUT LIVES HERE ON EARTH.  XOXOXOXOXOXO GIVE ONE OF THESE KISSES AND HUGS TO PAWPAW LONG AND KEEP THE REST FOR YOURSELF!  BOTH OF YOU ARE MISSED AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN ONE DAY!

LOVE,

AUNT GINA

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Almost 2  / Mommy (Mommy)
It's almost your 2nd birthday. I'd give anything to have you here to watch you grow, and play. There are so many people in this world that take for granted that they can hold their baby's hand, and give them hugs, and tuck them in at night. I did those things, but for only 4 short weeks. I wanted a lifetime with you, but was only given 29 days. The dreams I had for you were incredible. I had so much of this world I wanted to show you, and teach you about. Most of all, I just want to hold you in my arms and tell you how much I love you, and how precious you are to me. I got up with your baby brother around 2am this morning to feed him, and the only light on was the dim light coming from the light above the cooktop in the kitchen. He was asleep in my arms, and I looked down at him. I almost started to cry because he looked just like you did when you slept in my arms. My heart sank, and I realized that even though I kissed your tiny little fingers and toes, and brushed your check with my finger as you slept, and had your itty bitty hand clutching my finger every time I held you, I wish I had done something more to let you know that there's nothing in this world more important to me than you being right where you were meant to be.................In mommy's arms, smiling while you were sleeping. I'm so very thankful that you were here for 29 days. Some mommy's don't even get a minute. So, now I consider our time together a gift from God. Of all the people in the world He could've given such a precious, perfect baby girl to, He chose me. I wouldn't trade a second of our time together for anything, except to get you back forever. Close

Missing you  / Aunt Randi

Tiny white wings on a little flutterby, I know who you are you've flown from the sky. Riding around on the winds gentle breeze, as I set here watching I am filled with peace. "She is perfect", I whisper as you fly back home. My tears begin to fall, I still can't believe you're gone.

The title "I'm Here"   I write poetry everyday, and a lot of my poetry is about the beautiful little girl I never met. I don't know how to explain it to anyone who has never experienced it, but my heart has such a tremendous hole in it because I never got the chance to see her. I can remember talking to my sister, Kotas mommy, on the phone and hearing her cry. I think about that cry almost everyday. Especially now that I have had my newest baby. Kotas cousin Sophie. She will soon be 4 months old and sometimes I feel almost guilty because I have her. I look at her and I know without a doubt that she is a gift from above. I don't know why Dakotas passing has affected me so, but it has truly broken my heart in a way that right now I can't seem to find a way to mend it. I have tried and failed. So for now I will keep writing and remembering things I only saw in pictures. And I would love to tell her mommy how much I love her. And what strength I believe she has. For those of you who visit this website, you have no idea what an amazing mother and friend she really is. I love you Jerri. 

Love and miss you much Kota Bear XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

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Good Night My Sweet Baby Girl  / Mommy (Mommy)
Hi there Sweetness. Mommy miss you and loves you so very much. I haven't been coming to your website much lately because I'm having a really difficult time dealing with losing you. I thought that I had overcome the worst of my grieving, only to find out that I hadn't even started. I had a dream the other night that I had a little girl younger than Shelby, but older than Travis. In my dream, the little girl was about 2, and she kept calling me Mommy. When I woke up, I felt your presence here with me. It was like you were really here. I then realized that the little girl in my dream was you. You looked so precious and beautiful. It reminded me of a dream I had about a month after I lost you. I don't remember the dream in detail, but, I remember waking up it. When I woke up, I had this overwhelming feeling of peace. It was like you had been there, because when I woke up, the image of your precious little face was so vivid in my mind like I was looking right at you. It was like you came to me while I was sleeping to let me know you are ok. Your baby brother makes me think of what you would've been like with each passing month as he gets older. There's a picture of you hanging up by the special cabinet we made for you, and he can see your picture when he's in his high chair while I'm feeding him. He turns almost sideways trying to look at your picture. It makes me want to cry because he looks at you as though he knows exactly who you are. I talk to him about you a lot. When he sees your picture, I ask him if he met you before God sent him to us. I would build a million bridges across the deepest ocean if I knew I'd get to hold you when I finished. As Travis gets bigger, I want so much for him to stay little just a minute longer so I can hold him, and see him smile just because I looked at him. It's because, as I found out with you, we're never promised tomorrow, or even five minutes from now. I want so much to be able to hold you, and sing to you again, and watch as you fall asleep in my arms, smiling like you used to. I remember so well, how you'd smile in your sleep. My heart melted every time you did that. No matter how many memories I have of us together, there will always be a void in my life that can't be filled by none other than you. I miss you baby girl. Mommy has to go get some sleep now. I'll be back here soon. You're always on my mind, and forever in my heart. XOXOXOXOXO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good night Princess!  Close

You Big Sister and Baby Brother  / Mommy (Mommy)
Hi there Beautiful! How are you today? I'm kinda tired. Mommy had 3 wisdom teeth cut out this afternoon, so my mouth hurts a lot. I want to tell you about your big sister, Shelby, and your baby brother, Travis. They are doing well. Shelby miss you so much, and talks about you all the time. When Travis sees your picture, he smiles so big, and coos up a storm. It's like he knows who you are. I know he met you before God sent him here to us. That's why  he smiles and coos when he sees your pictures. When he did that yesterday, I said "Is that your Sissy". He got excited and started kicking his legs. Baby girl, we love you and miss you so very much. Mommy is very sleepy, so I'll be on here again soon. Good night my little angel. I love you XOXOXOXOXO!!!!!! Sweet Dreams :o* Close

Merry Christmas  / Mandie Setser (Savannah's friend )
Hey Dakota.. I am Savannah Sanders friend. I hope you have a merry Christmas and have fun. I've heard so much about you I think your so pretty. Close