RCW

In keeping with my promise, Ryan is the next subject of my Valentines Day posting. Truthfully, I don't know why I am writing about him so early in the week. It's hard to actually put into words how I feel about this child, but I'm going to try. They say a mother's love is endless. I'm no one's mother yet, but the love I have for my nephew is about as close to that kind of love I'm ever going to get- until I have children of my own. He's just so... perfect. Honestly, the word perfect sounds sort of generic when I think about trying to describe how I feel about him- my feelings for him are that big and run deep.

I can remember the day he came into the world, and the first time I saw him. My entire family rushed back to see this new bundle of joy. Maybe thats a better word to use when describing my love for him. Sheer, utter joy. The kind of happiness that makes you cry and smile at the same time. Where was I? Oh, right. The day he was born. My mom was crying and someone else in the room said he was beautiful (and really, he was). I heard the nurse tell Holly and Wayne congratulations. Me? I was speechless. So speechless in fact, that I didn't say anything until I asked to hold him. And then I said "Welcome to the world, sweet baby. I'm your  Aunt Heather, and I am going to love you like there's no tomorrow."

When they came home from the hospital, I was there. Not like living there. Well, maybe a little. Holly needed a lot of help, and well, I needed a lot of time with Ryan. That kid changed me, I think. He changed how I felt about having kids from "God that's a scary thought" to "Maybe I could do this". It was him. A lot of the reason for that is probably the amount of time I spent with him. One of the funniest things I remember about him being that little is he was always pooping. And whenever I had to change him, it was always poop. If someone else had him and he started pooping, someone would inevitibly say, hand him to Heather, she's a pro at it.  I didn't care though. I loved him enough that I laughed when he peed on me- more than once.

So, to my sweet nephew Ryan I say, I love that you have pawpaw's eyes, I love the way you say Bruisie, I love that when you take a bottle, you like to pat my hand, I love that you are really starting to make sense when you talk, I love to see you run, I love your smile and your sweet face, I love that you changed not just me, but all of the people in our family, I love that I helped name you, I love that you are mischievious, and love that you are so smart. In essence, I love all the things about you that make you- YOU. Happy Valentines, baby boy. And thanks for coming into the world- you make it a much better place.

Love,
Aunt Hedda