March of Dimes - Team Claire - 5/10/2014

On Saturday, 5/10/2014, we participated in the March of Dimes walk in Indianapolis, Indiana for Claire.  It was a beautifully warm, sunshiny day.  We all had to rise early that morning to get going for the walk. Downtown Indianapolis is always a hectic cluster of craziness.  5/10/2014, was no different.  We all arrived and parked in the parking garage that was reserved for the walkers that day.  We walked down to the canal and registered our team.  People were pouring in for the walk.  It felt so wonderful to see so much support for babies there.  There was an area with a huge blue/pink baby loss ribbon that we had our picture taken in, then we were able to write Claire's name on a butterfly that will now be a part of the walk each year.  They gave all of the baby loss moms a flat of purple flowers to take home.  That was nice of them.

This year Team Claire consisted of the following participants:

Myself, Claire's mom
Brandon, Claire's dad
Matthew, Claire's brother
Katelyn, Claire's sister
Darrell, Claire's brother
Melissa, Claire's grandmother
Lacey, Claire's Aunt
Dakota, Claire's Cousin
Lindsay, Claire's Cousin
Lauren, Claire's Cousin
Ellie, Claire's Cousin
Kristin, Claire's godmother
Jacob, Claire's godfather

We all had family team shirts.  These shirts said "TEAM CLAIRE" on the backs.

TEAM CLAIRE

I am going to backtrack a little here before I put up the rest of the pictures of the walk.  The Friday before the walk, I had a really bad day.  I am not quite sure why but I think it was just thinking about how I would celebrate Mother's Day without my daughter growing inside me.  Thankfully, my best friend came over that night and stayed the night with us.  She brought me a present, which turned out to be a beautiful handmade necklace that says Claire.  Then her, myself, and Katie went to the nail salon and got our nails painted for the walk.  

Mine and Katie's baby loss nails.  Everyone loves them.

NOW TIME TO POST WALK PICTURES

                                                     Face painting for Indy Child magazine

                                                   March of Dimes shirt - Front

                                                    March of Dimes shirt - Back

                                                         The start of the walk

                                                    Darrell's web face paint.  It's pretty cool.

                                                    Walker's along the canal

After the walk, we all smashed some hot dogs, drank some gatorade and headed out to the cemetery to see Claire.  My best friend wanted to come along.  Katelyn gave Claire a March of Dimes bracelet and I brought her a balloon.  The kids really miss her.

                                                    I love this picture of them standing by her grave and holding hands.