To Isabel Ann, my niece:
Today, I met you, for the very first time (barely a day old, born yesterday, around 2:30 in the afternoon, all 8 lbs 4 oz of you!) and I wasn’t quite ready or expecting to fall in love with you instantaneously, but I did, and my heart swelled, and the tears almost came. You are more beautiful than I could ever have imagined, pictures don’t do you justice. You look so much like your namesake – my Nonna – as well as my beautiful sister Jen – with the softest baby skin, long fingers and toes, and beautiful brown hair.
I love you, and from this day forward, I’m going to do my damnest to be the best auntie there ever was, to love you unconditionally, to play with you, watch you grow, and spoil the hell out of you. I can’t wait to hold you again (you were, after all, the very first baby I’ve ever held in my life!) and kiss your cheeks, and watch you grow.
I’ll take you for your first manicure – because isn’t that what “cool” aunties do?
I’ll invite you for sleepovers at my house, complete with a game of “Cooties” (a la my own aunt when I was growing up) and watch movies and let you stay up late.
I’ll revel in buying you clothes and toys and whatever your heart desires – because isn’t that what aunties do?
I’ll look forward to every holiday spent together, watching as you – without even knowing it – bring this family together closer than ever before. You unite us, already, and for that, you are one amazing blessing.
And beyond that, I will spend as much time as I can with you, especially now, as you experience the world for the very first time.
I love you, Isabel Ann, more than I ever thought possible.
~~~
As yesterday began a new life, so another ends…I was so sad to hear of the passing of DepotDad, and can only hope that the birth of my niece is a little slice of happiness amid grief and sadness. To you and your family – you are in my thoughts and prayers.
September 19, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Awwww you’re making my cry!!! I remember meeting my niece for the first time too. Even though I’m not super comfortable with babies, I was smitten the moment I saw her. It’s something I will never forget. I’m so happy for you and please send congrats to your sister. Cannot wait to see more pictures.
September 20, 2010 at 8:39 am
Aww! I cried writing this, to be honest. I just can’t believe how much I fell in love with her so quickly. I’m so happy for my sister and brother in law and can’t wait to see her grow!
September 19, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Beautiful post! I love it! You’ll be the best Auntie ever!
One life ends… another begins… Perhaps Jim sprinkled angel dust upon her as they passed each other. π
Sweet picture.
September 20, 2010 at 8:40 am
thanks T – and I love the idea of Jim sprinkling angel dust on Isabel as they passed each other, that’s so comforting, isn’t it? I love this picture too. Totally captures it.
September 19, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Awesome, had goose bumps reading this!! And so true what T has said above. Enjoy her and congrats to all π x
September 20, 2010 at 8:40 am
aww, thank you so much. She’s such a little munchkin, love her to pieces!
September 19, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Fighting back the tears, friend. Very touching.
September 20, 2010 at 8:41 am
Aww…well, I definitely cried writing this…glad the feeling came through. XO.
September 19, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Of course, I am all teary now too, especially because I just wrote a short post on Isabel too. She is incredible – and I’m quite honestly amazed at how much that unconditional love hit me hard as soon as I saw her. I love her so much already. Words cannot describe. And not for nothing – but we have the most beautiful niece ever!! So proud.
September 20, 2010 at 8:41 am
She is incredible. I love her so much. I am so proud too sis! We are going to be show her all the love in the world
September 19, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Congratulations on your new neice Jolene, and to your sister and family as well. What a little miracle π
And, this is the first I’ve heard of the passing of DepotDad, very sad story even though I never followed him personally.
September 20, 2010 at 8:42 am
It is a little miracle, I love her. Sad about DepotDad, but it comforts me to know life was born the same day of his passing.
September 19, 2010 at 8:34 pm
That’s beautiful.
September 20, 2010 at 8:42 am
thank you!
September 20, 2010 at 6:47 am
You will be the best auntie ever. I have no doubt. So happy for your family. Babies do have a way of uniting people.
Welcome to the world, Isabel! You are blessed.
September 20, 2010 at 8:42 am
thank you so much Nicki. I feel so blessed, and I know Isabel is going to be loved and cared for very very much!
September 20, 2010 at 8:30 am
What a lucky little girl to be so loved already! Congrats to you and your sister on becoming aunts, and to your other sis on mommyhood! π
September 20, 2010 at 8:43 am
thank you so much! I will pass your kind words along, everyone’s!
September 20, 2010 at 11:17 am
what a precious baby! congratulations all around.
September 20, 2010 at 1:07 pm
thank you so much!
September 20, 2010 at 11:51 am
How incredibly sweet! Something so special and reflective about babies being born. Congrats to your sister!
September 20, 2010 at 1:07 pm
thanks Tina, she’s an angel. I love her.
September 20, 2010 at 11:59 am
Congratulations, Auntie Jo! As others have said, this is a beautiful essay. And that’s coming from a mostly absentee uncle.
First baby you ever held? Wow! As someone told me when I first held my niece: hold her like a football. π
My niece just turned 16, and I can’t believe she’s the same person I held as a baby. She’s so grown-up now… it will go by fast!
September 20, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Thanks Snark! Glad you liked it as well. I felt inspired to capture the moment, because it was a moment I will always remember. I know it will fly by and it feels like such an exciting time!
September 20, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Ok waterworks over here! That was beautiful Jo, as is little Isabel! That unconditional love just gets stronger and stronger the more time goes on. π
September 20, 2010 at 3:00 pm
aw! No tears, just happy ones π I’m sure it hit home since it was probably reminiscent of when you met your son for the first time, but even more strongly. She’s a cutie pie, isn’t she?
September 20, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I got all teared up. Congrats to your whole family on the wonderful addition! How very special and beautiful she is!
September 20, 2010 at 7:19 pm
aww! I tear up every time I read this too…and this picture is my background on my phone and I smile so big every time I see it!! She is beautiful isn’t she? (says proudest auntie on the planet!)
September 22, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I can just feel your love for little Isabel in this post! Congratulations, Auntie! It is SUCH a special, amazing kind of love. I have NO doubt in my mind you and Jess will be the best aunts to little Isabel. Kind of like we say with my nieces/nephews, they don’t have just one mommy – they have 3. π
September 22, 2010 at 3:32 pm
awww!! I love that – they don’t have just one mommy, they have 3 – so sweet and so cool, because we are so going to love her *almost* as much as Jen does π
October 16, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Congrats to you and your family on Isabel Ann’s arrival! This post made me tear up, and I have a feeling that years from now, it will touch your niece more than you know. xoxo
October 16, 2010 at 2:31 pm
thank you so much! I think you are right on that…xo!
December 15, 2010 at 5:22 pm
[…] An Open Letter to my Niece Isabel Ann: This post is probably one of my top 3 favorite posts this year. I love her so much and the instantaneously love I felt for her will never, ever wane. […]