Meeting my niece

FINALLY. I got to meet my beautiful niece, Miss Peyton Gabriann.

Tell me she is not the cutest thing you have ever seen?! Oh man, I could eat her up.

The weekend went by way too fast, as these weekends always do. But luckily, it was full of family time, laughter, babies, and lots of cuddles.

Gaga was all too happy to cuddle her two newest grand-babies in their matching "first Easter" jammies she bought for them. Who doesn't love a bunny cotton tail on the bum of a baby?

It was fun watching the cousins get to know each other. Well, at least Wesley was trying to get to know Peyton...ya know, eating her hands, grabbing her face...the usual ways to get acquainted.

We spent most if Friday and Saturday laying around, enjoying the time together. Julie and I took turns cuddling Miss Peyton in between feedings, and we all all loved watching Susan be a mommy.

Saturday night, Peyton got to go to her first hockey game and meet all of Daddy's team mates. She did so well at the game, and it was super cute watching Brent come out so quickly after the game to get his daughter and go show her off to the locker room. Can't say I blame him. Look at this face!

The game was a lot of fun, and I liked getting to see what their life looks like in the hockey world and put faces to the names I hear all the time.

Sunday came way too fast, and Julie had to leave. It's never easy to leave, but its even harder when there is a new baby involved!

After we took her to the airport, we went to Olive Garden for dinner. And I must mention, how much my son "grew" on this trip.

Truthfully, he is really small for his age. But seeing him next to tiny Peyton was just a big 'ole reminder that time has flown. My son is still a baby yes, but he is not a newborn anymore. He is getting bigger. And its not going to slow down any time soon.

I can only imagine how big Ryleigh would have seemed next to two babies. I think I totally would have lost it.

Sunday night I soaked up as many cuddles as I could cram. And once again, Monday came too soon. We spent some time in the morning playing dress up with the babies.

And making Uncle Brent get in on the posing action.

The weekend was a lot of fun.

I must admit. I was a little nervous about going. Nervous about how I would feel. Selfish, I know. I said I was admitting here. Admission is normally not good or pretty. Bear with me.

I was worried that my feelings might not be as strong as I thought they should be. Worried that my kids would no longer hold a space in the spotlight. Worried that I would no longer be considered a good mom.

Man, I was retarded.

My niece is gorgeous. The rush of emotions I felt when I held her are indescribable in words. The love was instantaneous. There were no feelings of competition. I just loved her. Wow, how I love her.

And my sister? She was glowing. We always knew that Susan would be an amazing Mom, which is why it was so strange when I had a hard time picturing her as Mom during her pregnancy. The second I saw her with Peyton in her arms, everything made sense. It was perfect. Beautiful. Genuine love. My sister is an amazing mom. She is calm, nurturing, and it all seems to come natural to her.

Am I jealous?

ABSOLUTELY! After all, she gets to nestle those kissable cheeks everyday and snuggle with her little cuddle bug.

Am I happy?

No. Happy does not begin to describe it. I'm ecstatic. I love my niece and I love the fact that my sister is a mom. I love that I now have an understanding of what my own sisters have felt towards my babies. I love that Susan will now have an understanding of some of my feelings/actions in the past. I love that my kids have a cousin, and frankly, sharing the spotlight is GOOD. Keeps you humble. And takes a little pressure off too, if I'm being honest.

Meeting my niece was an experience unlike any other, and I'm so very excited for the birth of precious Peyton.