that face!

I mean, for example, I had to “travel” to get to her, right? I flew from Seattle to San Francisco, and I even tried a different airline this time that I had never flown before. And then I stayed in different accommodations, other than my own home, albeit my mother’s and my sister’s homes, so that is considered traveling, too, right?

And when one travels, they visit different places. Which is what I did on my most recent trip there, a couple of weeks ago. With my now 8-month old niece, and her parents, we went to a park in San Francisco that I had never been to before. Not only was it a place for Annika to enjoy the fresh outdoors, but it was also a place of people-watching, another aspect of travel.

dress from auntie debby!

Doing different activities is another facet of travel. I have never before participated in seeing Annika on a swing, or taking her to her swimming lessons. While her parents did the pushing, and the pool-time, I was busy taking pictures. Ahhh – taking pictures – yet another travel related activity!

swinging!

apres swim

Experiencing different foods is another thing one does when not at home. Well, while I didn’t personally try her mashed peas, I watched (and took pictures) as Annika was fed with a spoon, and the result was food all over her cute little face.

reading about ABC’s

Different languages is another piece of travel. Babbling, cooing, short consonants, crying, laughing, and other “baby talk” was done by Annika, and I imitated and conversed with her as best as I could.

baby-kisses

And finally, when one travels, one experiences different people and cultures. This time, for me, it was the “baby culture.” Changing diapers, reading about ABC’s, playing on the floor, feedings at 2am in the morning, bath time, seeing Annika “eat” books and toys, and giving and receiving baby-kisses are just some of the examples of the baby culture I experienced while traveling.

So now, wouldn’t you say that visiting my beautiful, adorable, precious baby niece is considered a travel experience?

Sweet Travels!

she knows of all the places that babies get kissed by their mommies – hands and fingers; tummy and toes; cheeks and ears and nose. she hears about love, and life, and the day she was born. that day is an especially important day – all over the earth, the sun and moon and animals all celebrate: they all are glad that she has arrived.

it’s storytime. it is my niece’s favorite time of the day. (well, ok except maybe for her milk feedings.)

baby annika with auntie debby

i just traveled again to san francisco to visit my sister, her husband, and their now-five-month old, now-14-pound, big-blue-eyed beautiful baby girl. the last time i saw her, annika was really tiny (but mighty), having been born at only 4 pounds, 7 ounces. but now she is a chunky, healthy, happy, and i must say, a truly adorable creature.

her mommy reads to her every day. and annika really pays attention. she is fascinated with the pictures, the sounds, and the rhythm of her mother’s voice. she looks intriguingly at the books. all while she wiggles, and giggles, and smiles.

it was certainly a delight for me to watch this in action. and, i even got my turn at reading to my niece.

after storytime, annika is swaddled, and kissed, and put down in her bed. as she is sleeping, i wonder if she dreams of giraffes and kangaroos; of kisses on her tummy and toes; and of the divine day that she was born.

sweet travels!

I’m an auntie!! Yup, my sister and her husband’s travels into pregnancy resulted in a beautiful, lovely, cute, adorable, precious, amazing baby girl!! (Of course this list of adjectives could go on.) And, I recently had the opportunity to spend a week’s worth of my vacation time with my new niece.

mommy love

Annika was born the day before Valentine’s Day, about 3 weeks premature, at a small 4 pounds, 7 ounces. But from her first moments, my sister described her as “tiny but mighty.” Being very healthy, and having an ample set of lungs proven by her crying, Annika was little, but definitely a strong and grand being.

My week was spent as Annika turned two months “old,” and by this time, 6 pounds 9 ounces. To me, she was still tiny but mighty. Having no kids of my own, I got to see this tiny person, with a tiny body, with all ten teeny fingers and all ten teeny toes. A head that could fit in the palm of her daddy’s hand. And a body filled with a miniature heart, miniature lungs, other miniature organs, and a miniature tummy, which kept getting filled with milk.

daddy love

It was amazing to me. A miracle. The miracle of life. I know that people all over this world have this experience, but this was my first real close and personal encounter with this phenomenon. And I thought it was absolutely wonderful!

auntie love

As I watched my sister breast-feed her daughter. As I smiled when my brother-in-law played with his daughter. As I observed baths being taken ever so carefully. As I witnessed the swaddle technique of wrapping baby Annika. As I laughed when diapers got filled with poopies. As I listened to my sister sing gentle songs to my niece. As I even helped my sister by doing dishes and laundry. And as we took walks together as Annika slept in the stroller…I thought to myself – now this is the best vacation that I have ever had!

divinely adorable

But it was more than all that. It was the caring, and the support, and the deep love that occurred that made me the happiest of all. Not only between the parents and child, but also between my sister and her husband. They totally cooperated on taking care of their creation, while also being able to take care of themselves. It was all so beautiful to me – to experience all this divine love.

divine love

I know that many more of my future vacations will be spent visiting my niece. And I look forward to watching her grow, and seeing how her life unfolds, especially knowing that she has the most loving parents.

Oh, by the way, baby Annika has two middle names…Catherine Divine…

“People need a parental divine love which will attend to them above all else, no matter what happens.” – Masahisa Goi

Sweet (and Divine) Travels!