Dear Jack, December 2014

Dear Jack,

I will probably say this every year until you are at least 20, so I'll just admit up front that it's totally cliche while still being totally true -- you have grown so much this year! I can't believe you are 3 already. I can understand most of what you say, even. And what you say is adorable. You have excellent manners, and you speak very sweetly, even though sometimes you can be a little devil. You say "please" and "thank you" all the time, and I do mean all the time.

The last time you and I were hanging out one-on-one, you filled every lull with a "thank you." I'm not sure what you were thanking me for, or if it was even me that you were thanking, but it's good to be appreciative! You are also very affectionate. You give superb hugs, and you tell people you love them frequently. I know that at three years old, you probably don't completely grasp what it means when someone says those words, but it always fills my heart with warmth when you say "I love you Aunt Egg," even if maybe it doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does to me. I know that as you continue to grow, you understand more and more just how much love is in your life. I think becoming a big brother has helped you with that, too.

You adore your new sister, and it's beautiful to see you with her. Even when your mama was pregnant, you would hug and kiss her belly, because you knew Sister was in there. Now that Sloane is out here in the world, you are just as sweet. You are gentle with her and give her lots of love and affection. She adores you, too. You are going to teach her so much.

While I gush about what a sweet boy you are, I can't just gloss over the fact that your nickname is Monster. You are an active and at times wild little boy, and you can test an adult's nerves like a champ. Your parents have been working on breaking your habits of biting and hitting, and it seems to be less of a problem these days. You're also so very good at apologizing, how can anyone stay angry? One time I was visiting your house and your mom and I were chatting, and you interrupted to say "Mom? Remember yesterday when I hit you? I'm sorry." Aww.

One more cute Jack story from the past year... A few months ago, you, your mom, and aunties were all hanging out together getting froyo at our usual place. When it was time to go, we were giving hugs, and I asked you if I could have a hug. You said no, and while that was a bummer, I don't believe in forcing anyone to give affection when they don't want to, so I accepted your decision and stood up to walk to my car. When you realized I really was going to go without giving you a hug, you yelled "HEY!" and came running to me with open arms. I'm so glad you wanted that hug after all, Jack. I love you.

Love,
Aunt Egg

Dear Sloane, December 2014

Dear Sloane,

Your mama said she wasn't going to have any more babies after Jack, but we're all so glad she changed her mind! And I know she was so happy to get a little girl the second time around. You are so different from your big brother, too. That is not to say you are not both wonderful. We all love you both very much! You are just a completely different kind of kid. You are chill and happy. You are big and round and full of giggles and smiles. You love to play and also to cuddle. You love everyone and everyone loves you, especially Brother. When you were growing in your mother's belly, Jack would hug her belly and say "Sister's in there!" I'm not sure he really understood that the sister in mama's belly was going to be a real live baby, but he's handled the transition well. He checks on you constantly, and he loves to give you pats and kisses. He is going to take care of you for your whole life.

You are exactly three months older than Aunt Mary's daughter Gwendolyn. Aunt Mary and Aunt Lorie met you for the first time when you were three weeks old. Mary was six-and-a-half months through her first pregnancy at the time, and while Lorie and I held you and oohed and aahed over how teensy tiny you were, Mary's reaction was "SHE'S HUGE!" Aunties and mommies have much different perspectives, you see :)

You're only four months old now, and you don't have many tricks yet, but I'm excited to see what comes next for you. I hope you stay happy and continue to find joy and wonder all around you. And I really hope you still love to cuddle, even as you get more ambulatory. It's hard to feel bad about anything when a giggly baby is giving you cuddles.

I love you.

Love,
Aunt Meg

Dear Gwen, December 2014

Dear Gwenea Pig,

You are just one month old now and I barely know you, but I already love you so much. I haven't spent a lot of time with you, but I did meet you when you were just three days old. You greeted me with a massive spit-up all over my dress. It was a little gross, but I pushed past it. Grosser things were yet to come...

You haven't really started using your voice yet, but you make lots of little squeaky noises, just like a guinea pig. So I have started calling you Gwenea Pig, because I am oh-so clever, you know. I'm sure you'll stop making those little squeaks in just a few weeks or months, but I have a feeling I'll be calling you Gwenea Pig for the rest of your life. It could be worse. My mom still calls me Piddly Poo.

Speaking of which.

The last time I visited you, I was joking with your mom about things that newborns do. Honestly, you don't have a very large repertoire, and every newborn's best skill is defecation. I don't generally like the argument that a person "was asking for it," but it could be argued that my constant joking about how babies are known for projectile pooping at that opportune moment between diapers was indeed asking for the incident that followed... Your mom had you on the changing table, just getting a fresh diaper for a trip to the midwife. I was saying my goodbyes, AND THEN!

I do take the blame for this incident. I was practically willing it to happen. So I feel particularly bad that your mom took the brunt of the spray. I did my best to help clean up, and I changed your clothes while your mother changed hers. I don't have enough hands to dress a baby. I'm not sure how your parents do it without working in tandem. You fussed at me while I wrestled a new onesie over your head, but once we got you situated, all was right with the world again.

I know things like wiping your spit-up and changing your clothes don't seem terribly exciting, but for an auntie like me, every new thing I do for you is special. You've got amazing parents and I know they don't need me to do any of their work for them, but I really love to do it anyway. I love that I'm going to be a part of your life and upbringing. I hope you'll think I'm a cool aunt. I hope you won't take too much advantage of the fact that I'm a total softie for all my nieces and nephews. I'm excited to get to know you better, but I'm in no hurry for you to grow up any faster. I can't believe it's already been a month!

Love,
Aunt Meg

Dear Nina, December 2014

Dear Neens,

It was so fun having you visit me in Portland this year! I don't get to see you much at all, but I feel like I know you anyway because your parents keep me informed. I see new pictures on Facebook all the time, and I read their stories about what you're doing. So even though I'm not there, I'm following along at home.

But you didn't really know me before you came to visit, so I'm glad we had that opportunity to bond. You are so much fun! We rode the train and ate delicious junk food, and then we played a game of MAX conductor back in your hotel room. "All aboard! The doors are closing." "Doors to my left!" I wonder if you will always be so enthusiastic about trains. I still love them as an adult. They're so cool! I wonder how different trains will be when you are my age...

At Falcon Ridge, you are the star of the camp. Everyone wants to play with that darling, smiling toddler. So I felt very special that you specifically asked for Miss Meg. Everyone in Shantytowne is following your life as much as we can on Facebook, but I'm one of the lucky ones who got to spend some in-person time with you, so that made you more comfortable with me at camp. But really, you're comfortable with everyone. You know we all love you and you're happy to be the center of attention.

Your smile is infectious, and any time I'm feeling low, I can look at pictures of you and feel happier. I do hope I'll get to spend more time with you again in 2015. I know I'll see you on the Hill, but hopefully that won't be our only chance to hang. You're an awesome kid and I adore you. (Your parents are cool, too.)

Love,
Miss Meg