Home Sweet Home

We're back, safe and sound, but a little sad. It's always wonderful being with all my sisters, but it's always a terrible wrench to have to part ways again when it's all over. There are always sniffles and the wiping away of tears.

This time was no different, only it seems to get a bit harder with each new person that comes into the family. I used to just miss my sister when we said goodbye; then my brother-in-law came into the picture and there were two people to miss; then Bitsy came along and it became even harder; and now there are four of them and we have to allow scads of extra time to run around to everyone stealing just one more last kiss or squeeze.

My niece is a vision of loveliness. She has lots of dark hair, the sweetest little rosebud mouth, huge, dark eyes and a swarthy complexion any pirate would envy. She is so soft and cuddly and smells oh so good. We got to meet her when she was only hours old and she had already changed so much by the time we left!

Bitsy, the new big sister, seems rather ambivalent about her. She seems to regard her as some kind of newfangled toy she hasn't figured out how to play with yet. She's not overly excited, but doesn't seem to be very resentful, so that's a good thing.

Just before we left for our final meal together, we piled all the cousins on the sofa for a photo op. It was so exciting to see all our children squashed together like that! We've been waiting for years for a sight like that one! I remember very well being mushed into a shapeless mass of arms and legs for photos with the cousins and I just cannot believe we're doing that with our own children now. We had a blast passing babies around and taking turns changing diapers, wiping mouths and kissing boo-boos. It's the best, being an Auntie. No wonder my sisters have always been so good at it; it's the easiest job in the world!

So, we're back, the suitcases have been emptied, (most of) the laundry has been washed, dried and folded, and life resumes as before. I wish I had photos to share, but I'm still working on that one. Hopefully tomorrow I can astound you all with cute baby photos. We'll see.

For now, I must be off to finish getting dinner on the table. I made our family favorite homemade chicken noodle soup and the noodles are just about perfect!