Whew. I hardly know what to say.
I knew I'd be happy. I even suspected a few rolling tears. But I was completely unprepared for the roaring hugeness of it all. I brim and burst on a fairly regular basis, yet I've never felt anything quite like this particular brand of joy. Early this morning, courtesy of Eli's brother and sister-in-law, a new life joined us on the planet!
It is a first for us all: first child, first grandchild, first nephew.
Last night, this life did not exist. And today it does. I am blown away.
The call came in at breakfast, and sent us dancing around the living room in our pajamas. If only we could wake up every morning to news like this, to new life, screaming its way out into the world!
On Thursday, we're off to New Jersey to meet the teeny love, and to celebrate with our newly expanded family. For now, we are rejoicing from afar, pressing our faces up close to the computer screen to see the tiny nose, the sweet lips, and perfect ears.
When I went to bed last night, I was a lot of things: a daughter, a wife, a niece, a grandchild, to name a few. Today, I am an aunt. Just like that. This new little person has bumped us all up a notch. From child to parent, from parent to grandparent. It takes my breath away.
With my hands all a tremble and my heart thumping from Boston to New Jersey and back every few seconds, I wasn't good for much this morning besides rolling a mountain of cookie dough into eighty sugar-coated balls. The last time I saw Talya, our long-laboring new Mama, she had a hankering for gingerbread. There was no molasses to be found at the local store, and so her baking plans were sadly foiled. Talya, I don't know if you ever did get your fix. If not, I'm hoping that these molasses cookies (of Super Bowl party fame) will do the trick. They are on their way, and come Thursday, we will be too!
Welcome, welcome little nephew. We are your Aunt Jess and Uncle Eli and we can't wait to know you.
Hooooo boy! Literally.
What a day.
[This post is dedicated, with love, to the new parents, Yitz and Talya. Thanks to Dad - and to Donovan - for the title.]