Tia Sabrina

And yet another beloved sister comes to visit us here in saint louis to meet our little girl and her new niece. I always dreamed of these moments when I was young, raising children alongside my sisters and going to their birthday parties on the weekend. Life is not always exactly as I dreamed but that's ok. My family is far and I may only get to see them once or twice a year, but it makes our reunions sweeter and phone calls (or Skype calls) that more important.

But once again, Cora loved meeting a new auntie. auntie Sabrina, or "Tia" as we call her. It's amazing to see Cora really learn to recognize new people and family members. In the beginning, she examined Sabrina carefully and seemed a little confused at times but then as the days came and went, she began to smile suddenly when Sabrina would approach her and talk to her. And of course, her aunts always come bearing gifts. So Cora received many new books and outfits and even cute little wooden animal friends.

auntie also brought another gift from a sweet friend, her second vinyl album (Dylan's highway 61 revisited) and we've already listened to it all the way through. She likes it I think, and we can't wait to see her dance to all her great music.

Some people think that infants can be boring, that all they do is sleep and want milk. And at times, I thought perhaps they were right? I can remember feeling that infants weren't whole people yet, that they needed time for this to occur. Becoming a mother for the first time has completely changed the way I feel about this. Cora is truly a whole person already, developing YES but whole. She has many colorful desires already and she has only been in this world 2+months. One being BOOKS. She loves being read to and we love reading to her. She is already learning to communicate with us with her coos and sing song voices. When I talk to her, her eyes get big and her lashes seem extra long, and she kicks and kicks her legs against my chest in excitement, eager to listen and eager to learn to speak one day herself.

While Sabrina was here, we walked to the gelateria on South Grand near our home. We order coffee and find a comfy spot out on the back patio to feel the humid breeze and smell the fresh air after the rain. Cora sleeps gently in the bjorn carrier until she wakes and then auntie holds her close. Last night, we had a power outage and so the iPads and tv shows were put away and we picnicked on the porch where the sun was still present. Other wandering neighbors joined us later and it turned out to be a lovely evening, made more enjoyable by the lack of electricity. 

We miss Tia already and look forward to the next time she meets all her aunties.