She's Turned 21, what does that make me???

Today was a long day, and I was looking forward to bed. so. very. much.

Finally in bed and ready to pass out. Suddenly I realize I need to make sure my alarm is on.... and instead I see a snapchat and realize it's past midnight which means IT IS MY NIECE'S twenty-FIRST BIRTHDAY!

She's inviting me to come have her first drink with her and despite having already washed all my makeup off, being tired, and in my PJs I know I have to be there.

And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Was it a wild night? Not at all. Was Whiskey and June's off the charts? Actually probably slow for a Friday night. Was it a night I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life. Hands. Down.

I'm not a selfie person, by normal standards. But thank goodness I took a photo of the two of us. It's not even a distant memory yet and I already cherish that photo so very much.

I recall so much about this little girl. Before I ever met her I went to her baby shower. Kalonie. I said the name 100 times to myself, but still every 5 minutes I had to ask my sister, "What's her name again?" K-A-L-O-N-I-E. Over and over. Until again, "Wait... what is it?" I could have given Dory a run for her money. I remember the straw-handle drinking cup filled with m&ms that either me or my sister won at the baby shower (probably for the game where you're not allowed to cross your legs).

I first met her in the hospital. But it was probably at about 5 or 6 months old that I really got to know her.

I showed up at the Atascadero Carpet store where her mother was dressing her. Her mother, being an awesome mom, was dressing her quickly and efficiently. My seven year old self? Having never been around babies before I watched this TINY human have it's limbs moved around (completely appropriately, let me be frank) and I was HORRIFIED. This mother is crazy, and is going to hurt this baby. That's what I thought. Clearly, I was just a little confused about how squirmy and hard to dress six-month-old babies are, and she was more than alright.

This little girl was my dream come true. She was something between my little sister, and my play doll to dress up. I adored every time I got to take care of her, which luckily for me was often, as her mom needed summer daycare and we were more than willing.

I remember the day she first learned the word 'no', and I remember the wicked awful nose bleeds she used to get. I remember the way she'd get fussy or cry at close to two when her mom worked late and she'd start to miss and wonder where she was. I remember the way her mom would paint all our nails (I swore her mother was godsend, I'd never seen anyone paint nails so well in my life and I adored when she would paint mine).

I (unfortunately) tortured this little girl in the pool, and would do what my brother's did to me -- promise to hold you, and then let go so you had to swim on your own. She loved the water. Me -- probably not so much at that time.

It was almost a game to me -- to be her favorite. And it would break my heart when she wanted anyone else more than she wanted to be held by me. (But really... who can compete with grandma?? What was I thinking?).

I got to be the one who introduced this girl to caramel frappuccinos (this may seem little, but hey, this a big deal). I also got to be there when this amazing woman gave birth to her daughter -- the first birth I'd ever been present for (yes... I passed out twice, I think we can just skip over that little detail).

And now, to get to be there for the first hours of her 21st birthday, but even more -- to be someone that she would even think to invite -- that is one of the most precious things to me.

This girl gave me Aunt-hood. She is forever my KK and my Baby-cakes and probably a million other nicknames. This girl was my favorite toy. This girl gave me kisses I didn't want to take because she was still a slobby little baby. This girl may have given me my few grey hairs. This girl gave snuggles like no other child I've ever known. This girl may have been my first ever photoshoot model, back when I found an AE-1 and a roll of film. This girl gave me my first great-niece. She's the reason I learned to spell the word niece. This girl gave me a ride home from the fair two years ago so I didn't have to walk. She went with me on a road trip up to chico to witness the birth of my sister's first child, and she and her daughter were my practice for launching my photography. And now, she's given me the amazing privilege at being there on the first hours of her twenty-first birthday.

Have I mentioned lately that I'm blessed? <3 <3 <3