We stood in the room, and my heart swelled. I fought back tears, and love blossomed. Instant love. “Congratulations on being a first-time Aunty,” my older sister Sarah cheered.
“Same to you!” I cheered back, stopping for a moment to realise that she was already an Aunt and I was the only one of my siblings left to be given such a title.
I didn’t know much about becoming an Aunt. I presumed it would be fun, you know… load the kids up on sugar, show-them-a-good-time-and-then-drop-them-back-to-the-parents kinda fun. People told me being an Aunt was ‘the best’ or ‘wonderful’ but I wasn’t really prepared. It just hit me, picked me up and took me for a ride, a cyclone of awesomeness.
I knew my little sister was going to be kinda sneaky about being in labour. She’d champion on and not tell a soul that she was smack-bang in it until she was about to meet the baby. And the message came on Sunday night at 6pm, “Baby is almost here. Can’t talk. Will call with news shortly.”
I don’t know how anyone can form a text in those late stages of labour, but she did. I texted back a ‘WOHOOOOO’ and a few words that were spelt incorrectly due to excitement, booked our flights for 12 hours later and waited. I didn’t sleep that night. Well, I did manage just two 40 minutes stints. I was excited. I imagined where she was at, and those first moments meeting the baby. Those are the very best.
The text came through that baby had arrived, a little girl. A little girl named T’el {pronounced Tea-el}.
Further excitement kicked in. I couldn’t wait to be there with them, but I knew we had a heck of a flight and road trip ahead of us. I couldn’t wait for Lacey to wake and for me to tell her the exciting news. She’d been waiting for that moment forever.
Our plane was an excruciating 2 hours late. We sat in the plane, on the tarmac for 2 whole hours waiting for take-off. I nearly died. I wanted to be there already. I may have used the F-word a few times, under my breath. “Settle gretel,” the man next to me said. Thankfully that man was my husband.
Eventually we made it. Well, we made it only to not be in the visiting hours. Seriously… I was dying. Dramatic? Oh yes.
And then I met her, and she was the most beautiful little being. Perfect as perfect could be. So sweet with her full little cheeks, her pursed lips and her dainty little fingers and toes. Watching my sister and her husband as parents was just magic. They’d changed, and in their place was a softer version of them. They were parents.
Back to the Aunty bit. I’m searching for the words to describe that overwhelming feeling of being so in love so instantly, but I can’t find them. I knew with Lacey that I’d love her because she was mine, but to love someone so immensely that isn’t my own little being just surprised me so much. I felt emotional and close to tears, and still do, once I met her. Or even once I knew she was in the world. I feel protective and proud, and in love. I just want to spoil her, and smother her in hugs and kisses.
I’m home now though, 16 whole hours away from them… and that kills me too. I don’t want to miss a thing. {Thank goodness for phones, photos and computers, they make being away that little bit easier}.
And now it’s my turn. We’ve been waiting all these months for little T’el to arrive, knowing that after that it would be our turn… so now we play the waiting game. I still have a while to go, but as my Obstetrician said yesterday, “You’re at the pointy end of the pregnancy now.”
Once my little bubba is here, he/she will have a little cousin to grow up with. That’s pretty exciting, to be so close in age.
Are you an aunt or uncle? Tell me what I’ve got to look forward to {and distract me from the HUGE to-do list I have to tackle before my baby makes it’s entrance!}.
The best!!! Congratulations! And for your bubba in waiting to have a little cousin the same age is just such an added gift! Enjoy this precious role. ps. I just got clucky !! xx
It’s amazing. I’m an aunt to 5 beautiful kiddos and now I’m pregnant with my first while my sister in law is pregnant with her fourth, and they’ll only be (approx) 6 weeks apart. I’m also so pleased that our babes will be such close in age. Cousins are the best!
Oh yes I’m an Aunty. I’m am SO all over that. I have 2 on the way and 8 nieces and nephews ranging in age from 13 to 1 month.
It’s a strange thing to love someone so desperately and have no real claim over them. To want so much for them and have no real say. To care so much. It’s fun too. You can be a little bit naughty with them and lead them astray just enough that you make sure they get that life is FUN too. It’s wonderful. Enjoy.
And a big congratulations to all involved. Do your list lady!! Haha. xox
I’m Auntie Pita to 7 and I was at the birth of 4 of them. 2 were born within 4 months of one another. Being an Aunt is the best and I will say that Facetime, Skype and simple videos have been huge in our life, especially with the last one. Watching my little brother dance and sing the Hokey Pokey for his daughter is one of the best things to see! These days I get requests for cookies/cakes months in advance and even the 2 year old asks for cookies when I see her on Facetime! Enjoy being able to sugar them up, love them unconditionally and be a friend to talk to when their parents have to be their parent!
Must be great to be an aunty to your very own sister…I am only an “aunty in law” to my husbands family – my sissy is very ill and never did or could have her own – but I am guessing it feels pretty much like becoming a grandmother for the first time too, so many emotions that flood through you, and the tears of absolute joy, feelings you cannot describe when you see and hold the child of your child 🙂 Congrats to you all 🙂 Blessings to all.
I know that overwhelming wave of love. When my twin nephews were born I said to mum ‘how will I love my own kids as much as I love these boys?’
A few years later my sister and I had girls 10 days apart, having all the cousins together is the best.
I am an aunty to little miss 9 week old. I too was on the other side of the country when she decided to say hello to the world. I flew back straight away and made it to the hospital out of visiting hours I just cried to the nurse so she let me in!
Words cannot describe the love I have for this precious and beautiful bubba!
My sister was waiting all day and all night for my first to be born. I asked for her to be able to visit, it was midnight. The midwives let her come up. She was the first person to hold him apart from myself and my husband. 🙂
When I became an Aunty I think I was too into my own kids, I loved my nieces and nephews but my time was taken raising my own boys pretty much on my own, But now I have two gorgeous great nieces and with them I know just what you mean about the emotions …they have beds at my house and a room just for them and I hope it stays that way for a long time to come 🙂
I was an Aunty twice from my sister having babies before I was a Mum. Her 2nd baby, a boy named Axel was born only 2.5 months before my first, a boy named Bentley. They are great buddies and go to the same daycare. I love all my nieces and nephews equally. They are amazing and gorgeous and perfect. They call me Aunty Frissy in their cute little voices. I have a niece who is 4ish I haven’t met (long story), but I think about her often. I have 2 nieces and 2 nephews from my siblings, and 3 nieces and 1 nephew from my hubby’s siblings. I am the eldest child, and I have 3 sisters and 4 brothers. Only 3 of us have had children so far including myself , so I am guessing I am going to be an Aunty many more times. 😀 When you see them smile, laugh, crawl, walk, talk etc you are just as proud as their parents. My niece Lucy started primary school this year and I was so proud! You share their highs and lows, you get their kisses and cuddles and love. You gwt to watch them grow and it is just the best thing in the world.
I adore being an Aunt. I think children are so fantastically fun. And babies? Get the heck out of the city. They are pure magic. Congratulations. I love her name!
I was an aunty twice before being a mum (technically I wont be a mum until sometime in the next 2 weeks). It is an overwhelming emotional experience. I felt a bond with the girls instantly. I wanted to protect them and be with them all the time. I was lucky enough I got to look after my first niece a lot when she was a baby. I cant imagine how much more emotional Im going to be when I have my own.
I am Aunt for two amazing boys! They are the best things ever and absolutely so much fun. My favorite times are playing games with them or when I’m sitting on the couch and the youngest one just crawls up into my lap to snuggle. Best thing ever! I’m 6 hours away, but sometimes it feels like much more. I love the days I get to see them. Precious moments for sure!
I became an aunty when I was 18. Now I have a niece and 2 nephews who I love to bits. My favourite part is how they are SO excited to see you when you go and visit “AUNTY ERIN’S HERE!!” I love it 🙂
I’m not an aunty yet… I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime so – but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying little babies (it’s my job after all!) and I have to agree, having a cousin that is close in age is fantastic. All my cousins on my Dad’s side range from having 18 months (me and my older cousin) to three months (my brother and another cousin) to 10 years apart. It makes for fantastic Christmases and the like.
Oh big congratulations!!! I remember that overwhelming feeling of love when my sister had her – my only niece! I knew she was going to be a girl & I even knew she was going to be Lucy! But I didn’t know how much one little person can become so important and how much love you can have for another! I’m not lucky enough to be a mum so my Lucy holds the most special place in my heart! She even gave me my name – Aunty Mogg!! Monique was too much so she called me Moggalet! As she grew I became Aunty Mogg!
I had 3 children before I became an Aunt and never really knew what to expect. I was so caught up with a toddler and 10 month old twins I really wondered if I had enough love or energy for my sisters little girl. Boy was I wrong! I loved her the minute I laid eyes on her in the hospital and cherish her and her new baby sister everyday. The sweetest thing about meeting her the day she was born was that I didn’t realise it at the time but I was pregnant with bubba number 4.
I was only 19 when my oldest brother had his first child. A perfect little baby boy, Joseph. I have a little brother and sister, so was used to the love of babies. But meeting Joe was something else! I was so overcome with emotion, and just bawled my eyes out. I couldn’t get over the fact that my brother, was a parent. Like our parents. It was the strangest feeling.
They have 5 beautiful children now, the last being born on my first wedding anniversary. Each one is just as precious to me. And I would do for them the same that I would do for my own daughter.
That’s a beautiful story I was an aunt before I was a mum to my sister in law and it was good practise for me as I had my son under 2 years later and for cousins to grow up together is awesome ,my kids loved it and still do when we all hang out together now I am a great aunt to 2 boys and a girl.
Such a lovely story Telle! I am an Aunty to twin girls who are 7 weeks old. They are totally gorgeous. I am an “Aunty” to all our friends kids but nothing beats being a real Aunty! Congrats to you and your sister! xxxx
Congrats on being an Aunty! I am one a few times over and it’s awesome. I am called ‘Aunty Nell’ too and that’s way cool. How wonderful you got down to met her straight away, such precious moments.
Oh what a lovely time for you! Congratulations! I an extremely proud aunty of the most beautiful little niece.
I wrote about it recently actually.
http://www.smaggle.com/2013/04/24/greatest-love-open-letter-aunties/
xxx
I actually don’t have siblings, but my best friend and I are amazingly close. I flew out to TX from CT on Thanksgiving weekend of 2000 to hopefully meet my new niece…she had other plans. Once I returned to CT, I got the call that my sis from another mother was in labor. My God-Daughter, Sierra, was born a few hours later. I instantly loved her as if she was my own and knew I would do anything to protect her from harm. I love her so much and though she lives in another state, she talks to me via the computer and it breaks my heart that she has Type 1 diabetes. Being an aunt is awesome – you can totally do things with them and teach them things that you wouldn’t dare do with your own kids.
Wow! Congratulations! I am an Auntie and not a Mum (yet!) and I love my little niece and two nephews so much it is incredible, I find it staggering to think that if I ever am blessed enough to have my own that I will love them even more, I can’t even imagine how that is possible!
I am an aunt and great aunt so I get that feeling. More than you know. I am not a mom ( by choice) and think being an aunt is the best job, even though they are far away. Best job ever! Congrats and enjoy!
I am the aunt of a gorgeous 23 month old girl named Rosa. When she was born, I was the first of the family to visit, because it was 6am and I was the only one who lived in the same city. She was tiny and sleeping and this feeling of unconditional love arose in me. We got to spend a lot of time together until about her first birthday, I would babysit and we got to spend some time just the two of us. Then I moved 3 hours south. Now I only get to see her every three weeks or so, and it breaks my heart that I miss all the little things. Evertime I see her, she has lots of new words and lots of new things to tell, which is awesome. We sometimes skype, and my sister often sends photos and recordings and videos. I really had a shitty day yesterday and then my sister send me a recording of Rosa, where they sind a song together (she loves to sing), and my day was instantly better (and I teared up, as I am doing now, just thinking about her awesomeness). She is the loveliest little girl, and I love seeing her grown and learn and discover.
I have so many nieces & nephews (& step-nieces & nephews!) I’ve lost count 🙂
I am, of course, the ‘cool’ Aunty 🙂
No really!
Wonderful news for you and your sister! Maybe having your own sister makes it so grand. I know my experience of being an aunty isn’t what I thought it would be 🙁 but we have close friends who I’m more of an aunty to so that (sorta) makes it up! Not sure hat will happen if and when my little brother has a child (god help us!) 🙂
Lauren
I’m not yet a parent I am however Aunty Rach to 16 wonderful nephews and nieces and Uncle Rach to one nephew who doesn’t grasp the concept of aunty. It is the most incredible kind of love. It’s like ice cream without the calories, love without the responsibilities of discipline. I love watching them develop into people from children knowing that they are the best version of my siblings and also secretly laughing because my sister will know soon what it was like to live with a teenage version of herself. Laughing because my nephew looks so much like my brother when he talks like that. Hubby is one of 2 kids – his sister has a child but we are yet to make her an aunty I cannot wait for her to get to experience all the wonder of it.
Aw congratulations!!!! So beautiful! And so nice to have cousins so close in age! My nephew and my oldest are within a year of each other and they are just best buddies!
Yes. Yes. Yes. You have worded exactly the way I feel about being an aunty. I simple LOVE to be! Congratulations!
Congratulations Aunty!! I became an aunty for the 1st time last year at the age of 37. I’m the oldest of 4 kids – 2 sisters, 1 brother & I made them aunties & uncles at an early age (I’m alot older than them). So when my sister had her baby girl last year I finally became an aunty & I can totally relate about loving someone so much that isn’t yours. I simply adore her & we have a beautiful bond. Enjoy!
when my niece was born her Mumma gave me an uncomparable gift,
….. she let me be right there with them.
Standing on one side of her, looking across at my brother as he became a father for the first time, seeing my beautiful niece emerge …. to this day I get teary thinking about it and she will be 10 in a couple of weeks!!
I already had 2 of my own heart-hijacking little humans when ‘S’ was born, but for years I would be speechless and limpid eyed when I looked at her (and those who know me would tell you I am rarely speechless !). I have gained some composure (not too much) and S has a brother, my incredible nephew, who I am also completely in love with !!
My brother was then, and is now, my best friend, and I am grateful beyond words to have been a part of, this life changing, dramatic, magical, (messy) event in his life and the first moments in the spectacular life of ‘S’ !
Nice to share this and relive all the warm fuzzy feelings xxxx
I understand that feeling of indescribable love for this new little person. When my sister had her first little boy 12 weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be there to witness his birth. The love I have for this little cherub is amazing, so different to the love I have for my own children (12&16 years).
Enjoy spoiling your new niece-it is the best!!!!
Thank you all for your beautiful comments. xxxxx
How exciting! I can’t wait to be an Aunty and I’m fairly sure I’ll be one before I am a mum but hey, who knows! T’el is precious.
I just became an Auntie a month ago and I echo everything you’ve said here! It was hard for me being older, having wanted kids for a while but always put it off until we were financially more stable, and then for her to get pregnant really affected me. But her little man is adorable and I’m loving getting the practice in!
I have my first niece or nephew arriving in the next 3 weeks or so. To say I am excited is an understatement!