Eva is born

I went to see my baby cousin be born. She was born at 5:00 in the morning. I love her so much. She is the best. She drinks four bottles a day.P

Sara learns math

Sara is learning math. She is having fun. Sara likes math. Sara likes + and -.

The Eva Story

Eva is so cute. Eva loves her family. Eva loves to play. Eva has lots of toys. Eva likes to read. Eva likes to jump. Eva has 5 pets, 3 dogs and 2 cats. Eva is playing with her toys. She is having fun. She loves her toys. By Sara Thank you for reading

10 Things I Want My Niecelet to Know

I wrote 25 things for Eva, and I thought it might be fun to write them for you, too. You get 10, since you're the big cousin. Some of them are kind-of the same as what I wrote for Eva, but some of them are different because you are older and because of who you are. I hope you like them!

1. You are a treasure. Please, please always regard yourself as such, and carry yourself like you are a queen. Never let anyone make you feel like you are less than. You are like the most valuable diamond in the world, and I hope you always carry yourself like the precious cargo that you are.
2. Please be kind to people who are different from you. There are all kinds of reasons why people might be different. When someone stands out as different from the other kids in your class, try to show that person the kind of love that Jesus would. People behave badly, almost always, because they are hurting. Try to have compassion for people who hurt.
3. Be true to yourself. At your age now, it is very important to you to fit in with your friends and family, and that is a good thing. It's how you learn who you are and where you belong. But, please don't let your desire to fit in cause you to compromise your core beliefs. You are a gentle, sweet girl with a kind, loving heart. Let that kind heart shine, even when it will make you different from the people around you.
4. Your Mama loves you so, so much. I don't know how you'll ever know how much your Mama wanted you and how hard she prayed and worked to get you here. You are a miracle for her, and that makes you very special. You're a great gift to our family, not just because it was hard for you to come into the world, but because of the special little girl you've grown up to be.
5. Women are just as good as men. We're different from men in a lot of ways, but that doesn't make us less strong, less powerful, or less capable. Never let anyone make you feel like you can't do anything because you are a girl. Girls are powerful! We can make babies out of our own bodies!
6. A friend of mine just wrote this on her own blog, and it made me think of what I'm writing over here for you:

   I'm reading a book. It's called Quiet.. I'm just passing the author's note. This my favorite part so far:
   
   "Poets and philosophers have been thinking about introverts and extroverts since the dawn of recorded time. Both personality types appear in the Bible and in the writings of Greek and Roman physicians, and some evolutionary psychologists say that the history of these types reaches back even farther than that: the animal kingdom also boasts "introverts" and "extroverts," as we'll see, from fruit flies to pumpkinseed fish to rhesus monkeys. As with other complementary pairings-masculinity and femininity, East and West, liberal and conservative-humanity would be unrecognizable, and vastly diminished, without both personality styles.
   
   Take the partnership of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.: a formidable orator refusing to give up his seat on a segregated bus wouldn't have had the same effect as a modest woman who'd clearly prefer to keep silent but for the exigencies of the situation. And Parks didn't have the stuff to thrill a crowd if she'd tried to stand up and announce that she had a dream. But with King's help, she didn't have to."
   
   Be you. You're you for a reason, and you'll only get to live that truth if you believe it. Just sayin...

7. You are beautiful. Inside and out..and what is inside is more important than what is outside. But you are beautiful on the outside, too. Never doubt it, and carry yourself in that grace. You're going to grow up to be a beautiful woman...tall and lean like your Mama with bright blue eyes. You're going to be a heartbreaker!
   
8. Your Mama is one of the kindest, bravest, most loyal and loving women I know. I hope you always treat her with respect and remember the ways she's loved you throughout your life.
9. You are a role model to my little girl! Little Eva is going to think that you are a very big deal, and it's a big responsibility. I trust you to show her the kind of woman we want her to be when she grows up, and I hope you will always do your best to be the most positive role model you can!
   
10. I'm here for you, always. When I was growing up, your Mama was always there for me. I could tell her things I couldn't quite tell my own Mama because I was nervous or afraid she'd get mad at me. It was such a blessing to have a grown-up woman I could talk to who would counsel me with the wisdom I was too young to have, and who would hold my questions and fears in confidence. I hope I can be that person for you, sweet girl, and I'm honored that you already trust me with your secrets. I love you very much!
    

To My Sweet Niecelet

I told you I'd make you a website, so here it is!

I wanted also to tell you that you are such a treasure to our family and to me. I was thinking last night about the first moment I knew you were going to be joining us. Your mama called me, and I was taking a break from teaching a class. She told me she was pregnant, and I felt a happy, warm feeling in my stomach. I was so excited to have a new member of our family!

Then, when we found out you were going to be a little girl, it was even more exciting. I was the last baby who was born in our immediate family, so your arrival was the first in a long, long time. I was so glad to have a sweet little girl to hold and love.

I remember driving as fast as I could without getting into trouble when your mama told me you were on the way. I wanted so badly to be there when you were born, but I got there as soon as I could after. It was a very happy day to meet you.

Your little face was all scrunched up and funny looking, but still, you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I loved you right away.

I hope you like your website. I'll show you how to add stuff when I see you next time.

Love,

Auntie Joy