I got to spend a little time with my oldest brother’s two kids last evening. I had gone out to dinner with one of my oldest friends, and then had plans to swim with my sister-in-law. Since I had some free time between dinner and swimming, I headed over to my brother and sister-in-law’s house to hang out.

When I got there, my brother and his two kids were playing cards, and my sister-in-law was teaching their puppy a new trick. I always have a good feeling being at their house. It reminds me of our house growing up… lots of fun, lots of laugther, lots of love.

It also reminds me, whenever I spend time with any of my nieces and nephews, just how fast time flies.

When my brother and sister-in-law had their daughter, I became an Auntie for the first time. That was over 8 years ago now, and it still sometimes feels like yesterday that I was in the delivery with them, witnessing her birth.

I’ll never, ever forget the moment she entered the world. It was just me, my brother, my sister-in-law, the doctor and a few nurses… and this beautiful girl came into the world to our sheer delight, amazement and wonder. I was there to video and take pictures of the experience.

Watching her last night, rehearsing her lines for an upcoming play she’s in, singing a song she learned for the play, asking me if I’m going to be at her swim meet this weekend (I am), hearing her re-cap the Father-Daughter Dance she and my brother went to last week with such excitement… I just sit back in awe sometimes about how time can turn a tiny human being I not-so-long-ago held in my arms into a beautiful, delightful, incredible 8-year-old little woman.

I just feel so lucky to be her Aunt. To watch her grow, watch her discover, watch her shine.