Dear Ellie,
You turned just 11 weeks old yesterday, but I already know we are going to have a special relationship. I'm not your mama. You have a very special mama, though, and sometimes when I look at you, I know you are the spitting image of her. She has gorgeous red hair and a very genuine and infectious smile. Though I'm not your daddy, I'm your daddy's sister. You have a very special daddy, too. He was the best big brother a girl like me could ever have hoped for. He took care of me, and we were best buds. Sometimes when I look at you, I can't see anyone else but him in you. But I'm not your mama or your daddy. I'm your aunt.
Your mama asked me what I want you to call me. That's kind of a confusing topic as I am also going to be your nanny, starting on the day you turn 12 weeks old. I hope you'll eventually learn to call me Aunt Laura. Your mama came up with a baby sign for you to call me as soon as you can learn it. I don't really care what you call me when you first learn to talk. I'm sure whatever it is will melt my heart. I've never had a close relationship with any of my aunts (I've only met one of the three). Uncle Nate has two fantastic aunts who I really look up to, so maybe I can go to them for advice on how to be a good aunt. For now, I'm just going to be the best aunt I can be.
I'm not sure how long I will be your nanny. I'm not sure how long it will be until you have a baby brother or sister or a baby cousin to share my time with you. But I will always be your aunt. Always. I know I'm not your only aunt. You have some fabulous aunts on your mama's side. I hope you cherish the time you get to spend with them since for now they live so very far away. Aunt Becka, on your daddy's side, is pretty great, too, though you haven't met her yet. (She and Uncle Jonathan are getting married this summer, and you get to go meet them!) But I hope that you and I have a special relationship based on the foundation we'll have from me being your nanny as well. I am so looking forward to the times we'll spend together, much more than you can possibly imagine right now. I hope I'm able to teach you lots of new things and instill in you some lasting qualities. I don't feel qualified to teach you anything, but I believe with all my heart that God called me to move to Texas to be your nanny. I know that he doesn't call the qualified but qualifies the called. I know that concept is way over your 11-week-old head, but I pray that someday when you get to read this that you'll get it. I don't have to be "able" to be your nanny. God will give me the knowledge and skills I need. I just have to be available and faithful to be used by him.
There's one more thing I want to tell you. Among all of the important things your parents and I want to teach you, I want to be an example of beauty to you. That doesn't mean that I want to look pretty and wear fancy dresses and put on makeup every day and teach you to do the same. God made us all different on the outside, and I want you to learn to embrace your own beauty as you grow. Believe me, that is easier said than done! We're pretty sure you are going to have gorgeous red hair, just like your mama, aunts, and grammy. But whether you do or not doesn't really matter. We know you are going to be beautiful because you already are. But the part of your beauty that matters the most is your inner beauty. It's the part that is important to God. Your beauty inside shines through and makes you beautiful on the outside. When you play nice with your friends or siblings, it increases your beauty. When you obey your parents, it increases your beauty. When you talk to God, it increases your beauty. When you worship Him, it increases your beauty. I know you are too young to understand right now, but before you know it, or before I know it, rather, you will understand it all too well. I am so excited to see the beautiful baby, girl, young woman, and woman you become.
I love you, Ellie Bean.
Always,
Aunt Laura
Wow! Laura, this is beautiful! I am so glad you will have a share in Ellie'e life! I so wish I could be there, too! Take lots of pictures!
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