South Park had it all wrong...

Dear Sonia,

There's a show called South Park, which is a cartoon and a little offensive. On that show, years ago, there was a character called Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo. (Yeah, it was gross, and silly, but people loved it!)

Anyway, this year, we had the Christmas Pee! On Christmas morning, I went in to your room to take you from your mom and dad and give them a moment's peace. You and I went back into the other room and I laid down on the bed with you sitting on my belly. We were playing all nice and then you shivered. (This is usually the sign that you've peed!) And then, you felt warm! And I said "Sonia, did you pee? You feel all warm!" and then I felt something different, so I lifted you up and what did I see? The Christmas Pee, all over me! On my pajama bottoms, on my t-shirt, everywhere! All wet and warm!

So I got up and carried you into your parents holding you out from me and gave you back to your mom. I had to go borrow pajama bottoms from your Papa and a t-shirt too. (Your Nana is too short for me to borrow things from, usually.) I put your footie pajamas and my pajamas in the laundry right away.

And that is the story of the Christmas Pee that you and I shared on your very first Christmas morning. Let's NOT make it a tradition, okay?

Love,

Auntie K

Forcing people to look at photos of you!

Dear Sonia,

When you grow up and are reading this, you will get a kick out of how much we force people to look at pictures of you. And I'm not even your mother. Sometimes I feel dorky saying, "Look at this photo of my niece!" but then I get over it because I want to show people!

I called my entire staff into my computer the day your mom sent the photos of you with pigtails. I scrolled through the slideshow and said, "LOOK!" and "Isn't she cute!" at the top of my lungs. They work for me, so they humor me. And you are cute, so it's not like they have to lie to say it!

Apparently, your Nana has spent way too much money for Christmas for you, and although I've stayed in a reasonable amount of money, I keep finding other things to buy you and then I do! You already have everything a little baby would ever need, but you are the only one right now, so you get EVERYTHING! Wait till your Auntie K and Uncle S start having babies. Then you'll just be the oldest and nobody'll care any more about you than any other kid. (Course, you aren't the oldest on the other side, so there you go...I was the oldest on both sides, which was weird. You'll get to play two roles, which is nice!)

You arrive next Tuesday, and as promised, there'll be snow waiting for you. We are getting 8-12 inches today and tomorrow and another 6 on Sunday. It should be nice and clear for your arrival on Tuesday morning and then it might rain on Wednesday, which could wash it all away. So I'm glad you'll get here in time to see it all!

I love you, girly. See you soon!

Auntie K

17 degrees

Dear Sonia,

Today in Houston, it is 75 degrees. Here in Boston, where you are not, it is 17 degrees. Aren't you glad you live in Houston today?

Love,

Auntie K.

Happy First Holiday Season, Baby Girl!

Dear Sonia,

Welcome to the craziness that is the American holiday season. It begins with Thanksgiving and runs right through New Year's. Six full weeks of family, travel, food, gifts, marketing madness, turkey, pie and trees.

You began your season in Dallas with your Daddy's family, to celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday celebrates the happiness of the pilgrims making it through their first winter here on this land. There's various versions of the story, varying in truthfulness versus legend, but it comes down to us being thankful for harvest, food, and continued good will in the world. It was designated as the fourth Thursday in November. This wasn't established permanently until 1941! Personally, I think it's too close to Christmas, and would be better placed in the spring, so families could travel to see each other at two times during the year not so close together, but I digress.

Apparently, you were a little overwhelmed there in Dallas with the fam. You kept crying when someone went to hold you until you'd settled in and gotten more used to the busyness. And that wasn't until it was time to head home! You're at that age, though, so it's normal.

Just before Christmas, you'll come to Boston and stay through New Year's. So your first Christmas morning will be at Nana and Papa's house. I'm excited to wake up with you that day. I don't really think you'll know what's going on, but I'm pretty sure you'll dig playing with the wrapping paper and a box someone gives you. And I bet you'll get some pretty sweet gifts! I got you two that I know you'll like.

So have a good few weeks before I see you again. Enjoy the pretty twinkly lights that you'll see everywhere in Houston. Don't cry too much if Mom takes to sit you on Santa's lap for a photo. And give good advice when you and Mommy go shopping! And get ready, because I'm going to personally arrange for there to be snow here in Boston for when you arrive. White Christmases are the prettiest, and I figure the prettiest new girl should have the prettiest Christmas possible.

Love you,

Auntie K

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy

Dear Sonia,

I pretended to give you beer this past weekend to freak your mom out. Look how much you want it! Hands on the giant mug, mouth on the glass and all. You're gonna take after your Auntie K, Papa and Uncle Stephen and love beer! Thanks for a great weekend, chickie! You were so well behaved and smiley. It was awesome. Can't wait to see you again for Christmas!

Love, Auntie K

This might end up tedious, but...

Dear Sonia,

How much can one family talk about one little baby's hair? A lot, apparently.

Now you need three barrettes to keep your hair under control. Evidenced here:



And everyone says you look a lot like me. I'm hoping that's a good thing!

Love,
Auntie K

Your hair

Dear Sonia,

You have amazing hair. You are 6 months old and you have more hair than many 18-month-olds. It's pretty cute.

Here's some evidence:

Your mom twisted it up and pinned it to the back of your head this week and you had an up-do!

You suffer from some pretty bad bedhead. Which of course is adorable.


We all had a great visit with you in Houston, for your first Hindu ceremony, when you had your first bite of solid food. You looked so good and you acted like a champ until the end when you'd just had enough. You ended up asleep on the floor while we all ate yummy lunch in the next room.

And we get to see you again in only 3 more weeks (we're getting spoiled) at another wedding. Maybe I can live with this many weddings every year if it means I get to see you all the time!

Love,
Auntie K