In less than a month, a beautiful baby girl will be born. She will be born to my brother and SIL- a couple who celebrated their 1 year anniversary in September. Last September when they got married, after dating for a few years while in school, I knew life was going to change for them. Marriage would be an exciting adventure- some days great, some days not so great. But an adventure they could weather together. However, I did not anticipate how EXCITING their adventure would be- until the weekend after Mother’s Day when they invited the parents and me to their house for lunch. I remember before we went over there saying “I wonder if there is something more to this lunch- perhaps a B-A-B-Y?” After lunch was served, everyone got the answer to what lunch was about. It was all about BABY. Close to 12 weeks along- they wanted to tell the family. Hugs, tears, and excitement happened. And then life went on- as it does.

I had to keep it a secret for a few more days because they wanted to wait another week before telling everyone. I don’t know how I kept it a secret- but I did. And then I posted this:

So… I’ve been keeping something secret since Saturday- and Lord knows I’m terrible at keeping secrets (especially the good secrets!) Someone better point me in the direction of where to get “If You Think I’m Cute, You Should See My Aunt” bibs- b/c I’m going to be an AUNT! Baby Welch is due Dec 2013!

 

Weeks go by and the excitement grows- will it be a boy or a girl? The gender reveal party revealed this:

Let it be known to all: I’ll be an aunt to a baby girl 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

 

The gender reveal party was great. My parents were happy to find out about a baby girl (but would have been happy to find out about a boy, as well). Visions of crowns, playing Barbies, and taking my niece shopping danced in my head. Other things, though, were also present: Taking her to ballgames, to the bookstore, and other fun things were also things I thought of.

Getting closer to the due date has left me to ponder this question:

What Does Being An Aunt Mean?

Is it going to be all sugar and spice and fun things? Will it mean more just Skpeing with my niece and driving in for special occasions? Will being an aunt change my life?

Which led me to thinking of my four aunts- 2 are my mom’s sisters, and 2 are women who marred into the family. Each aunt, in her own way, impacted my life. Some were there for me over the years, some were there not as often- but could be counted on in dire times. One always took us on Spring Break day trips- a little history learning, a lot of laughs.

As I’ve gotten older, my relationship with my aunts have changed, evolved. I’m still close to my mom’s sisters- although, the one that lives in another state is now the 1 I probably have more in common with (we both love Broadway shows, going to the Braves ballgames, and concerts).  My mom’s sisters love to laugh about my childhood life- from me dancing on top of a picnic table to my love of Barbies, to playing ball, and being a beauty pageant girl. There is also the story of me running after (and catching a cat that had gotten away from me), of being a roller skating lover, and a love of oldies music.

What each relationship has shown me is this: When Little Baby Owl arrives in just a few weeks- I want us to have a relationship that will be good, that will impact her life for years. Yes, her parents will raise her, feed her, love her- and be in charge of shaping her future. I want to be a part of Baby Owl’s life- taking her for fun things, bringing over gifts, and watching her grow from a beautiful baby to a girl- then a woman who is ready to take on the world. I want her to have everything her heart desires- and more. I want her to one day think back on life- and say to herself “I’m so glad she’s my aunt.”