i have a confession to make
i never thought of myself as a baby person.
not that i dislike them, just that i don't need to see or cuddle or visit them even if they are around. i have seven siblings and when i was growing up, if i had a choice between baby and chores, i always picked chores; my sister amy picked the baby. if i care about you, i care about your baby because it is something you care about, not necessarily for its own sake.
so, while it is true that i thought it would be great fun to be an aunt, and i did want to visit my sister and see my niece, i really thought the fun of being an aunt would begin once the baby was older.
imagine my surprise to discover that when the baby is baby savannah, i adore babies! oh my goodness. i love that little girl so much i can hardly stand it. i sniffled most of the way home because i was so sad that i had to leave her. (i spent the time when i wasn't sniffling thinking of ways that i can visit. often.)
even more surprising (to me), i am exceptionally good with babies. i am rather like a baby whisperer. at least i am with baby savannah.
also, i am a fount of fantastical stories, though this was not a surprise. among a million other stories, savannah heard the story of the invention of organization (a woman named betty organization who took everything in her house and put it in boxes and labeled them and then her friend myrtle saw it and asked her to do the same thing in her house and then other people saw it and asked for it and then myrtle told her she should name this thing she did and so she used her own name and named it organization) and the story of her ancestor queen savannah (queen savannah rode her pony named mustard around the island of molasses every morning and decreed that all the little girls on the island would be princesses and people came from all over the world to see the herd of princesses on ponies following queen savannah and mustard around the island and they even ended up as a feature article in national geographic next to an article about the mologai tribe who wore bracelets around their neck to make them longer). i am going to record stories for her so she can listen to them even when i am not there in person.
so yes, i am home, and i am really missing my little savannah. being her auntie is just about the best thing ever.
How sweet. <3
I remember when Jimmy was born. There is no joy like that first neice or nephew. I hope you get to see this sweet girl frequently. She’s lucky to have such a loving aunt!
you’re sunk, elizabeth.
it is different when it’s a specific baby, not just a ‘general’ baby. I’m the same way.
She is so cute and I’m sure she’ll love those stories!
Aww. Wasn’t that just a great surprise for you then, discovering a new love? Enjoy her!
Oh, how sweet…*sigh*… Savannah is a doll–look at those blue eyes!! It is a special thing to be an aunt, so I know how you feel. My sister’s child is the youngest of our crew of nieces and nephews. And especially as I live far away from my sister and her 3 yr old daughter, I miss them tremendously. After she had her girl, it just changed everything–for my family, for me. I hope you will get to see Savannah a lot, Auntie Elizabeth! :o) ((HUGS))
So happy that you and Savannah bonded
I have been blessed to be an aunt to two amazing little girls (Kate who is now 3 1/2 and Jessica who is now 20 – YIKES!) who filled me with that kind of love! Such a gift!
Enjoy it, Auntie !
@kim: that sounds like a blessing indeed. i will enjoy auntie-hood indeed!
@brooke: babies make the perfect captive audience. 😉 but hopefully she does enjoy them!
@julie: me too.
@tracy: i feel exactly like that – like this changes things and i might actually have to move someday no matter how much i love the pacnw. time will tell.
@nora: it was the best surprise! i definitely didn’t think i would love her like i love atlas! and yet i do.
@leanne: i hope to see her frequently, for sure. plotting away ..
@brita: so sweet.
@helen: lol. i made it up. well, the name anyway. i knew i read a story about a tribe that wore rings around their necks to stretch them.
sounds like fantastic stories! what a lucky niece.
oh hello again!
been to see my own little boy nephews. the best question in the world is “where are you going to sit? i want to sit by you!”
and i love savannah’s name. how beautiful!
and your being anybody’s auntie would be the luckiest little person in the world!!!
isn’t love powerful?
hugs to all us aunties!
tammy j
When you wrote, “So yes, I am home”, I read those words in a way that told me holding your niece made you feel like you were home. I love that you are the baby whisperer and that you are whispering stories in her ears and that she knows your voice and touch as one of comfort and TRUST. There is much trust and curiosity in her eyes in this photograph. I love this post! Much love to you xoxo
Oh, I so so so so so so get this!
I became an aunt 2 years ago… and then again this year, and the love you feel is INSTANT.. and so incredibly strong.
I love that you make stories for her! I am going to go back to your recent post now, and listen in!
Oh, I’ve missed you.