hence the name

I'm feeling like I should first address the naming of this blog...

I am an aunt. This title was first hoisted upon me 4 years ago with the birth of my sister's little girl, Kaelyn, which also happened to be one of the most incredible moments of my life, being present for the birth. What had been just an idea wrapped in the bubble of my sister's bulging belly was now a tiny, squirming, miniature person...an extension of my sister, and somehow it seemed, also of me. In her, I could already see the Townsend trait of big, expressive eyes and the beginnings of a smile destined to steal hearts.

Now, there is another jewel in the auntie crown, as my sister just brought a second beautiful girl into the world, Sienna Marie. Kaelyn has taken on the ever-important role of big sister (for which I have offered to train her, although this offer met with a skeptical response from my sister!)

Being with these children is truly a joy, and nothing matches the warmth I feel in my heart when Kaelyn catches sight of me and runs to me with her arms outstretched, yelling "T.T.!" I can't think of a more noble thing in life than to play an important role in the life of a child, and I feel honored to be a part of the adventures of my nieces.

Thus, there are musings from Aunt TT, which will not always deal with the subject of aunt-hood, but are merely meant to be observations on life...which I may someday share with my two favorite representatives of the next generation.

and so it is

I feel like this moment needs a "tah-dah!" Here it is--the birth of my blog. No fanfare, no little blue or pink bubblegum cigars stamped with "Congratulations!"--just a tiny little blip appearing in the infinitely large web of life we know as the internet. It seems a little odd to just throw my thoughts out there into the world, but here goes nothing--and maybe, just maybe, it will become something...