Best Parts of Being an Aunt

July 11, 2006

1st Birthday

This week my little niece turns 5 years old. I literally feel like only days ago we were rushing to the hospital. In the delivery room, three sisters gathered together to witness the birth of Kristen. Well at the time she was little no name because my sister didn’t want to give her a name until she saw her. I was pushing for the name Capri- like the island not the pant, but my dad came up with Kristen to pair with the middle name Louise. Being one of the first to see my baby niece, I was automatically attached to her. Our time together was cut short due to the fact I was leaving for my freshman year of college at the University of Kansas. I worried that my niece would forget me when I was away. My freshmen year I visited home more than any other year partially because I wanted to see my baby niece. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough and by time summer break rolled around, I was still a stranger in her eyes. It broke my heart that she could not reciprocate the love I had for her, but I understood. Throughout the summer I slowly worked myself into her good graces, even though she preferred my sister to anyone else. Before I returned to college in the fall, I relentlessly worked with Kristen to take her first steps. I didn’t want to miss out on important milestones of her life. Unfortunately my efforts didn’t pay off, but I picked back up when I met my family at the lake for Labor Day. Finally, Kristen took 11 steps in a row that weekend, which was the most she had even done consecutively! I was absolutely ecstatic.

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

This moment held me over until Christmas break when my family had a surprise waiting for me. I walked into my house after hours on the road, and I was greeted by little Kristen calling me “Aunt Nessie.” It was the first time I had ever heard her say my name, and it absolutely made my day if not my year. It’s hard to explain the love a person can have for a niece. You get all the best parts of the child but rarely any of the bad stuff. They love you because you rarely have to discipline them. You buy them gifts excessively. I didn’t think I could love my niece anymore until she told me one day that she loved me too.

4th Birthday

5th Birthday

Now I have a whole posse of nieces with four total but no nephews, which I have always found a little odd. Kristen is the second oldest, and I can’t believe how fast each one has grown up. In the blink of an eye, I went from being able to cradle them in my arms to barely able to pick them up. Being an aunt is one of the best things in my life. Yes, I miss the rest of my family, but I definitely miss my nieces the most.