I had nine months to wrap my mind around the fact that my sister was having a baby. Well, give or take a few weeks. But I’m not sure I really knew until the moment she arrived. I understood it, but I wasn’t prepared. I sat by my sister’s side as she endured contraction after contraction, I watched as she brought her baby girl into the world. But I was utterly taken aback by all the emotions that came my way. Sloan Rose Sobol was born on Halloween night at 6:02 pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, the exact same weight as her cousin Cora. She was 20 inches long, with big blue eyes and soft blonde hair.
As much as I am tempted to share her birth story, I really feel that is her mother’s place to share. So hopefully she’ll do just that some day, but it took me two years to write down Cora’s (Part 1 and Part 2), so I’m not going to rush her. I will tell you that it was beautiful, and wholly hers, and I cannot express how proud am I of her. I was obviously present for my own two births, but this was my first time experiencing someone else in labor. Y’all, it is EXHAUSTING. For the mother, of course, but for the family to just be sitting there, waiting, wondering what they can do to ease the pain, it is undeniably a rollercoaster of emotions. But I’m so happy that she’s here, and Kelsey is safe, and they’re doing just swimmingly in their first few weeks of newborn life.
Welcome to the world, Sloany Bologna. Yup, that’s my nickname for you. You’re probably going to hate it, but I don’t care. I was there the moment you were born, and I’ll be there for you for life. Please forgive my amateur photography skills, but your mom and I wanted to capture how little you are in this moment. You’re so gorgeous, and I love you so much!
XO,
Auntie A
