...a letter to my sister's children....

Introducing....my 3 favorite littles who happen to be my sister's children. As these three have been on my mind much lately, I've decided to write this post for them. As I take a bazillion pictures of everything, I have precisely 1/2 million of each of these guys. So..there will be lots of pictures and love included.


To my Bubs, my Calamanders, and my niecey Reesey,

I'm not quite sure if I will ever be able to verbalize the way I feel about each of you, but I will sure try. Let me clarify that I know I'm not your parent and that I really had no part in your creation or entering into this world. But it should be known, I love you more than I can tell you or show you. That being said, I won't ever stop trying to make sure you know that. The day each of you were born is stamped on my heart. I've been known to be a baby-lover and that just will never change. But the love I felt for you on your first day in the world was new to me. I have no children of my own and I'm the youngest sibling. Before you, I never got to watch a baby grow month after month under the heart of a sister I love so much. I never watched an infant meet each milestone in the first year, never watched a small child learn step after step how to walk, and never watched a toddler form a personality all their own. You were new to the world and the love for you was and continues to be so new to me.

Weston Dean
July 5, 2006

    

               
                        



                                            Callan Mack
                                   February 24, 2009

Reese Rebecca
January 17, 2012





 Unless others have nephews or nieces of their own, it is hard for them to explain why or how I love you as much as I do. You each will know what I mean someday when your siblings have babies of their own. I've always loved my sister, your beautiful momma.

So when you were born, I was not even surprised by why I loved you so. You were a part of her...another piece of her for me to love. I spend a lot of my time with you three amigos. And I love it! But since I am 25...not everyone gets why I spend Friday nights snuggled up watching movies with you or why I spend my Saturday afternoons hanging out at your house. But I do...and I imagine I will continue to spend any extra time I get with you. You are family and the relationships I form with each of you are important to me. I hope as you grow you will continue to have happy thoughts of our day dates and movie nights and walks in the park.

 








I won't always have as much free time because someday I will have a family of my own and as you have taught me--children and families take up boatloads of time (and give endless love back in return). The 3 of you will always have a front row seat in my heart and my life though.And I'm beyond confident you already know that.

 
By default....I loved you the minute I first snuggled you. It was impossible not to with your chubby cheeks and baby grunts and itty bitty fingers.

 But what I loved most was that you each were a blank slate, a fresh start, a new life with such a future ahead of you I had a hard time grasping what it meant. You had a personality at day 1. 







And I continue to be pleasantly surprised at how your personalities as babies have carried over into toddlerhood and even more so into your childhood. 

Weston (aka- Bubs, BubbaSparks)- the silly, sensitive blondie with a knack for making everyone laugh

Cal (aka-Dinobaby, CalMack, Calamanders)- the thoughtful sweetheart with the Boston-accent and dimples that will make you melt

 

And the baby...Reese(aka Reesey, Reeseala, niecey Reesey, Beasty Reesey)- the determined and fiesty little girl with the big bows, blue eyes, and best giggle in town

 

Being an aunt to you has become one of my greatest joys. And it's not a job I take lightly. I hope to be of as much guidance to you as I can from my perch over here in aunt-ville. I cannot wait to see the adults you become and the things you do with your life. You are just 3 people in the world, but I hope you know you can make a difference. Our family will be sure to remind you of that along the way. Growing up is pretty tough and you are sure to forget that every now and again, but I know you will come back to it. You have brought a light to our family...a happiness...a much-needed focus. It's not easy raising kids...but your mom and dad have done a pretty great job so far. So be sure to thank them someday:) They've let a village help raise you....grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, great-aunts/uncles, great-cousins. I'm just one member of that big village, but I'm forever grateful to be in your lives.

 
Thank you for always being you. You've taught me more about love. You...with your little quirks and your big sloppy kisses and your belly laughs. You sneaky little ones...you make me love you more every time I see you. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, there is everything right with it.

 
I know I didn't bring you into this world. I didn't endure months of pregnancy, I didn't born you (as you would say), and I didn't give you your name. I'm not your mom or your dad. But I do love you. I'm your aunt and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love you the moon and back..and more and more and more,
Auntie Jenna


P.S. I think you are the cutest things that have ever walked this earth.

Oh, and my apologies Reesey for always dressing you in "I love my aunt" clothes. I just simply couldn't help myself. Plus...I knew you loved me so it wasn't false advertising..I promise!

The view from here...

Since forever I have written in a journal....the pen and paper kind. But since the world is a changing place (and it's much easier to type than write and I'm just plain that lazy) I've decided to jump on the blog world. I'm not convinced that I have anything super meaningful or inspirational to say for others, however I think I will be glad to have a running history of my own current thoughts on the world and the way I see it when I'm older.

There are many bloggers who have come before me and I'm inspired daily by many of those bloggers. If I end up inspiring someone along the way, it will be what they call collateral damage of the positive type:) I don't aspire to out-do anyone or to convince anyone to adopt my views on politics or religion. I don't think I will blog my every life event, however I've been know to include far too many details at times.

So maybe I should start off with a little explanation to myself about myself. Isn't that a funny thought? Regardless....I spent some time running today and I couldn't help but let my mind wander. How else to get through treadmill running...gross. During this particular mind wander, I was trying to wrap my head around how different our self-image is versus how others view us. I still can't quite figure out why that is...why there is a such a difference in these views?  I'm positive I am not the only person in this boat. And I'm even more positive we all fall victim to a society with self-image issues. I will work on this self-image discrepancy and report back. It's always good to feel accountable for something..plus that's where change happens. Ok...I am on a huge tangent and if you are still reading, you must like to read:)

I'm currently in my final year of school (FINALLY!). I'm finishing up my graduate degree in Physical Therapy...a forever dream almost come true. And by forever...I mean since high school, which feels like forever ago. I'm in clinical rotations in different settings and I'm a bit surprised at how much I really love it. I haven't come across a setting in this field that I haven't liked yet. So I'm happy to know I will always love my job, however some days more than others. T-minus 3 months until I start my final rotation in the sunshine state:) Florida here I come. More about that in the future. I'm in a bit of transition phase....leaning more towards real adulthood than ever before. Both exciting and terrifying as it is, I'm looking forward to closing the school-days chapter of my story and moving onto a new stage. I fully intend to share all my hiccups and roadbumps and fall flat-on-my-face moments along the way...cause that's my style.

Okkkk...This seems like enough for post numero uno. I've had much on my mind lately so expect some continued posts real soon. The future tangents I shall get on will be my view of the world and my thoughts/feelings on my own world. I'll be sure to share some funny stories and some sappy stories. I have a close family and a tiny cat and much of my stories/pictures will include them. I like adventures and traveling...there might be some of that too. And I can get nostalgic and emotional and serious sometimes...expect that to show up here and everywhere. I just plan to explain the world from my view, through my lens, from my perch over here in Wisconsin. Hold on folks...it's bound to get interesting sooner or later. :)

Have a wonderful end of the week!
<3 JennaB


<----There's the kitty I talked about. Elsie the great :) 

And I'll introduce my lovely niece. Reese the cutest:) Don't worry...there will be about a million and five more pics and stories about her.
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