It's a Girl Thing.

My baby nieces deserve their very own blog entry. My oldest sister, Leigh, had her third child on June 17th, 2012. Her name is Kayleigh Jane Tewinkle and she is absolutely perfect. Her two big brothers, Jonathan and Nicolas, adore her. I went to visit her shortly after her birth and stayed with my sister and her family for a few days. Baby Kayleigh woke up once the first night she was home and that was it. She sleeps 12 hours a night, is full of smiles, and is the epitome of perfection. I am pretty sure she will be modeling very soon. I share a very special bond with this little creature. Maybe it is because she is also the third child. Or maybe because we look very alike as babies (see picture). Or maybe it is because I planned her baby shower. Or maybe it is because she is in training to become a heart breaker, just like her aunt. Either way, she is destined to be on a jet to Hawaii for Spring Breaks, New York City for prom dresses, or maybe even Colombia for Spanish lessons....

Me (small inset) and Kayleigh

   

Kayleigh Jane

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, my sister, Kelly, welcomed her first child, Cadance Jean Howell, on October 12th, 2012. I must say, there is a sisterly bond that no one can describe. Besides Kelly and Leigh being pregnant at the same time, which is so beautiful, they also ended up naming their kids similarly without planning it at all. Kelly is not the type to find out the sex of the baby until deliver. As she got closer and closer to her due date, more and more people thought it was a boy. I did not budge. Kelly and I are only 22 months apart and did almost everything together growing up. I told her from the moment I found out she was pregnant that I thought it was a girl. I just felt it. Kelly went into labor while visiting Leigh at her home and I happened to be emailing them that afternoon. I felt something was up. We were able to Skype from the parking lot of the hospital, as Kelly would not enter without her loving fiance, Greg. I was very sad that I was not with her and a bit anxious. Luckily, I had Leigh, who Skyped me from the hospital room and gave me a play by play of the delivery. I had difficulty sleeping that evening, as I knew Kelly was delivering her baby. I was so glad that Leigh could be there for the both of us. I picked up my phone at about 1 AM Bogota, Colombia time, and 2 minutes later I received a text from Leigh that stated, "It is a girl". She too shared the same proud feeling and we all were together at that instance.

Cadance Jean

The strangest part of our sisterly bond is that I kept telling Leigh that I thought Kayleigh's nickname would be  "KK" even thought her initials are KJT. Once baby Cadance was born, I realized it all made sense: Kay and Cay!!!! My beautiful nieces will grow up to be best friends. They already held hands in the hospital room! I hope they share the same bond that me and my sisters do. I love them so much and feel blessed to have their love and support, as well as their babies/families. I was eager to come to Bogota but very hesitant at first because I knew the dates of my trip would overlap one or both of the babies' deliveries. At no point in time did Kelly or Leigh hesitate to support my trip and this opportunity I was given. They told me, reassured me, and even escorted me to my flight. I feel so blessed for their support.

Kayleigh (left) and Cadance (right). Twinning.

Until the day I have a family of my own, I am not ashamed at all to say, I will continue to live vicariously through these amazing families they have made for themselves. They have set such a strong example of what I should strive for when that chapter of my life comes. They chose amazing men who love and adore them, their children together, and the Steelers. I don't know what I would do without my strong, beautiful, loving, hilarious, and supportive sisters. I am the proudest sister and aunt that ever lived.

Kelly, Leigh and I.

PS - Happy anniversary Leigh and Jeremy! I hope you have a big steak at dinner tonight! And something that contains chocolate and peanut butter combined!