Adding another girl to the family!

The call came early in the morning.

I bolted out of bed, jumped into the truck and headed down the highway.

First stop, coffee to wake me up.

Second stop, my little sister’s hospital room.

My giddiness erased the sleepiness. My sister was having a baby! I would get to capture my newest niece or nephew’s very first moments. We waited for that exciting moment of arrival. We took a poll: would it be a girl or a boy?

FireCracker came by later in the morning. She and Sweet P (my sister’s daughter) provided comic relief in the curtains. Sidenote: I thought the fact that she has a cowlick going across her entire forehead we’d never have to worry about hair in her eyes or bangs. Well now the ‘bangs’ grow back and are curling down into her eyes. If only I could convince her to let me clip them back.

Shortly later my rockstar sister met her second daughter. There really is nothing that compares to being present when parents meet their child for the first time. However a family is made, that initial moment when parent sees child…time stands still. Beauty that can never be captured or described. While clicking my camera I stood humbled and awe of God to be present for such an incredible miracle.

After announcing the exciting news “It’s a Girl!” to the waiting room full of family, my brother-in-law prepared to introduce his oldest daughter to her baby sister.

This one just makes me smile.

My brother-in-law took the photo below. It is one of my favorites. It is a favorite because of the story it tells. Though I was excited to meet my niece or nephew, that day I was more in big sister mode than aunt mode. I was more concerned and protective over Lesley than I was anything else. Even in that moment where I got to hold my niece for the first time…I was focused on if Lesley was taken care of…if Lesley was okay. I’ll teach Sweet P that being a big sister is a role you play for life. And having a little sister has it’s good and bad days. And that she will always be the big sister…and it is the greatest role ever.

Since we were both in black t-shirts, I feel the need to clarify this is Eric  (my brother-in-law) holding the baby…my arms are not that manly.

Sweet P and I had some play time in the beautifully lit breezeway. I love her.

FireCracker meeting her new cousin. She is smitten.

On my side of the family it is just Lesley and I. That means my parents now have 3 grandsons (all mine) and 4 granddaughters (2 for me, 2 for Lesley). The boys have already made it clear that Lesley & Eric have to have 2 more kids…and both are required to be boys. That means the boys win in the family because right now they are losing.  And if you have little boys, you know everything in life is a competition. So Lesley & Eric, bring on the nephews!

Lesley posted more pictures on her blog, click here to see them.