Spend more time with my niece.

My brother now has full custody of Tia which is fantastic! They live in Williamstown though so I hardly see them!

So today was first day of watching niece. It went swimmingly.

We watched her favorite shows right when I got there, as she was still in jammies and waking. Bro and Lysa changed her and then left for work, so we just chilled in the LR talking and watching tv. Programming included Sesame Street, which was a nice trip for me. She got a bit restless of the tv (and so was I—a good sign for the future) so we colored a bit and read a few of her books, many times over.

After a small snack, we went outside and threw the soccerball at one another, then attempted a walk with all four legs of ours, but the two little legs gave way after half a block and wanted to be carried. So, we went back inside for lunch. About 11:30 we feasted on pbj and a coupla teddy grahams. Then we suited up for a long stroller walk.

Anna waited so patiently (pictured) while I figured out how to work the damn stroller. Figured it out, finally. Walked around the short block and then just kept going for about forty-five minutes. It was a gorgeous early autumn day. The neighborhood is pretty hilly for Baltimore, made of of mostly brick duplexes. I passed quite a few mowers of lawns and a jogger or two. Also, a guy just sitting in front the driver’s seat of his red pickup on the roadside. Some odd lawn ornaments. It was great to point out all I saw to Anna, who just sat and listened. Quaint and quiet neighborhood, long and tiring (in a fantastic way) stroll. Anna fell asleep once I switched from the bumpy sidewalk to the smoother roadside. Once home, she barely woke as I unhitched her, got her vest and shoes off, and carried her inside and over to the couch where she continued zonking while I brought the stroller up to the porch. Then, I carried her upstairs to her crib, gave her Giraffe and and her binky and let her nap away. I read on the couch, feeling as if I could nap myself. Lysa came home about 1:30 and Anna woke up with a cry when she heard the front door. But as soon as her mum and I appeared in the doorway, all was well.

All told, I didn’t stain anything or burn the house down and Anna is getting very good at saying a word that resembles my name. (Closer than most people get, really…) Can’t wait for next time!

So this week, my brother called me and asked if I would be available to watch my niece on my weekday off of work. It would only be from about 8-1ish, so it leaves a good long day open for me. I’m very excited by the prospect and it makes everyone happy. Sister-in-Law gets to work an extra day, niece doesn’t have to spend an extra day in church nursery care, and I get to spend more time with her. It’s all very exciting. She’s just at that perfect becoming a person stage. Yippee!

we talked a lot. and hung out. she’s getting to be such a little lady.

we spent a few hours together playing while my bro and his wife did some home projects. we had so so much fun!

it was fun. she ate the flour and made faces. she blew kisses.

a little lady, now. almost.

waaaay past her bedtime. but that was ok. she wore apple pajamas, we played peek-a-boo. she climbed and stood and crawled and walked. it ruled.

impromptu hang-out with niecey-niece today. we talked in the living room and had a little car ride.

Look how cute! My SIL sent me a myspace comment thanking me for all the baby clothes I give my niece and inviting me to stop by and hang out with them the next day off I have… whenever that is. I haven’t crafted a good response yet. I over-think these things.

My niece’s christian dedication was Sunday. I didn’t go to the dedication but my family had a little gathering afterwards. I got to see her take her first (sort-of) swim! it was just the feet, but she LOVED it…

:)