Meeting Her Again for the First Time

I fell in love with my best friend's baby before she was even born and bonded with her the instant I laid eyes on that precious girl because I loved her mother. I had no idea it could ever get any better than that moment. I was wrong.

My niece came to visit for Thanksgiving. The last time I saw her she wasn't even a year old. She celebrated her 2nd birthday a couple months ago...and I never knew just how much I loved her until yesterday. Seeing this little girl for the first time all over again made my heart melt. She has the eyes of my brother, his nose, his facial expressions--and yet the delicate features of her mother. She is MY niece, MY family.

When my big brother (my very first friend, my mentor, my father figure, my confidant, my childhood hero) introduced me to his little girl--I wanted to wrap her up in a cute little bow and keep her forever because she was so much a part of me...I just never knew it until this weekend. Now I understand.

I saw her for the first time all over again, and I fell in love with her more than I ever thought possible.