What's so funny Lily?

Lily learned to laugh a while back, not just giggle but LOL, laugh.  However, she only laughs at certain things.  Lily doesn't think funny faces are funny, she's not a fan of tickling, and blowing on her stomach, nope not even a grin.  She does think something about the dogs playing fetch is hilarious, and just about each night I hear her and Cayce laughing away while he dresses her for bed.  Last night our home was not a place of laughter.  This home that has been filled with an overabundance of joy since Lily's birth was suffocating under sorrow and grief.  Our cousin Kevin tragically passed away yesterday.  Our tiny family just lost a binding and balancing member.  Something strange was happening in our home last night.  During dinner Lily sat in her high chair laughing. At what we have no clue.  She just laughed and laughed and laughed.  While I took some time to find solace with Cayce Lily sat in her swing laughing her little heart out.  When it was nearing her bedtime I put her on her swaddle blanket in her room, and once again the laughing started.  Each time we delighted in her laughter, but were puzzled at the source.   After Lily was put in her crib Cayce and I reflected on our little giggle monster.  We realized at the time we were finishing dinner and Lily began her first bout of contagious laughter Kevin was leaving this world for a better one.  Whenever I started to get particularly maudlin Lily would start her laughing again.  We were never able to see anything that we could attribute her laughing, but I want to believe there was someone making her laugh.  Someone we couldn't see, but someone who knew those laughs were needed then more than ever.  I want to believe Kevin was making our baby girl laugh.  Kevin was no nonsense, a tell it like it is kind of guy, a "doer," and a man of action.  So Kevin was just continuing that "put me to work" spirit he carried in life.  He was working through Lily's silly laughs to keep us from falling too deeply.   So maybe we won't ask Lily "what's so funny?" every time.  Maybe we'll let ourselves believe Kevin is what's so funny. 

Rest in Peace, Kevin.

  Tell Grandma and Grandpa we love and miss you all!