Zoie Michele Zurawski

 Garry and Jacqui, 

I love you so much and am so grateful for the moments I had with Zoie last summer at our BBQ. I only got to hold her and kiss her for a brief moment because she wanted her daddy back. Seeing her in Garry's arms, and the way she just lit both of you up filled my heart, and the whole party with Joy. Zoie clearly stole the show, doing tummy time on the floor and hanging with little Joshy on the couch. Thank you for bringing her and letting us get to know her even just a little. 

Both of you and your family are in my every thought and prayer. 

Love, 

Gina (Doug and Dougie)

My favorite memory of you Zoie was when I came to meet you for the first time on March 6, 2010. I got to your Grandma Nette's and Grandpa Ed's house and I was in the hunt for you. Not only could I not find you, but your Grandma Nette was missing as well. I found your mommy, though and she had a very mischievious grin on her face and claimed to not know where you were. I knew then that your Grandma Nette was hogging and hidding you somewhere in the house and did not want share you.

That, my dearest Zoie, was the first and only time I can remember your Grandma Nette doing something selfish. I found the two of you; Grandma Nette was hiding with you in her bedroom bathroom. She came out giggling a little with that same mischievious grin on her face that your mommy had and she said to me, (in her cutest voice, of course) you can't have her, I'm not sharing her, she's all mine. So, me and the countless other Zoie visitors in your grandmothers living room waited patiently until she would give us each a chance to hold you.

It was difficult waiting for my turn because once you were in someone's arms, they would not want to let you go. That was doubley true for me as I knew I would not see you very often because I live out of state. Thank goodness your father got a great shot of the happiness I felt just holding you. I will never forget how you felt and that sweet baby smell that filled the air.

I will hold onto that memory until I can hold you once again.

A recent moment I will hold very close to my heart and never let go...

I was at Jacqui's 30th birthday party, talking in the kitchen. Zoie came in site of the doorway from the back room. I immediately croutched down with my arms opened wide and said, "ZOIE!" I could not believe my eyes, when Zoie then smiled wide, and ran arms open into my arms. I picked her up and kissed her and held her tight for a moment, before she was off to something else.

Zoie, our last visit was at my son Ed's party. You were just so sweet and fun!  You made me feel so happy because you really seemed to love the outfit I bought for you in Paris and tried to put on the dress by applying it to your chest.  We put on the shrug and you modeled it!  Later in the day you let me hold you and you put your yummy cheek over my face and I kissed you and gave you raspberries for a really long time, I couldn't believe how loving you were!  I am so glad I have that memory.  I am sure your uncle Matt and grandfather Eddie are with you now, and I know they know how to give raspberries!  Love you Zoie, you will be greatly missed.

Anytime you were blessed to be with Zoie your heart was warmed.  She has the most angelic smile and she put it out there with abundance.

My most favorite time with her was when we babysat recently, she only wanted to be in my arms, which I gladly accepted.  Frankie was a little upset, because she wanted to be her 'mommy' for the night.  During the evening I put out blackberries which she gobbled up double fisted and after they disappeared she looked at me "like are you going to get me more?  C'mon, I am so cute, you need to go and get me some more".   We woke up the next morning to her tapping on the playpen.  I opened my eyes and was greeted with her smile. 

Autumns favorite memory was when we watched her around Christmas.  That night (about 10 months old) she only wanted to be in her arms.  So Sheldon and I finished putting up Christmas decorations.  We even bundled her up and brought her outside (again, in Autumn's lap) to put up some lights outside.  She just watched all the twinkling lights in such contentment.

Thank you for honoring us with those memories.  I feel truly blessed to have shared those moments with her.  Our time with her was way too short.  We love her dearly.

(photo is from when we were watching her, and that smile, that most perfect smile)

Our best memory of Miss Zoie was at her birthday party this past spring.

Zoie seemed to love her "boppy lion" so much. We were so happy we picked a good gift since we are not yet parents and spent an hour at the toy store trying to figure out what a one-year old would like. :)

After we left the party we started refering to Zoie as "bad birth control" because when you hang out with Zoie you want to have kids. She was such a happy baby and so much fun to be around.

We will miss you Zoie... so much.

My most vivid Zoie memory was from just a few weeks ago. On a visit home I had the opportunity to spend a wonderfuly simple evening with Jacqui and Zoie at their home in Wheaton. We ate cheese tortolini and caught up and basked in Zoie's enchanting smile.

Toward the end of the evening (with a little prodding from her mom) Zoie ran across the room and gave me a hug that I will never forget. Later she sat in my lap with her head cradled in my chest and her feet bobbing up and down above my knees. It was all at once a magical and simple evening and it is a memory I will hold on to forever.

Zoie you will be greatly missed by your "unofficial" Auntie in Colorado. Love you SO much!