It doesn't feel like this photo was taken 6 months and 1 day ago. This was the first time I ever held my baby boo niece. We [my sister, her husband, her friend lucy and a midwife] spent two days anticipating little boo's arrival. But for all that time she thought she would sit tight in the warmth of her mum rather than be born into the coldness of Lithgow. Yes a two day labor! After many hours of uncertainty and many events which were unexpected, little boo was safely delivered in hospital…. On my birthday. I truly believe the reason why she decided to not show for so long was so that she could share that special day with me and my twin brother.
It was the most surreal thing being there for most of the birth (until my sister was rushed to hospital). And oddly enough it didn't turn me off children at all. It was such a beautiful thing.

Well initially I thought I wouldn't be seeing much of little boo because I lived in Nowra, my sister lives in Lithgow and well I was flat out with a full time job. But as God does sometimes, he allowed certain events to take place which resulted in me 'living' at my sisters for a while. 

 My sister opened her home to me when I finally hit rock bottom. She was caring for a 2 month old baby, a sick husband, and me… who struggled to get out of bed everyday to face the world. Somehow with the added responsibility of looking after boo I was able to get out of bed and look after her, play with her and just be there for her. She always wanted hugs so it made me feel needed or important again. Boo will never remember this stage in her life but I will never forget it!

 A couple of months later I ended up at my sisters house again. I finally accepted that I could never go back to work where I did, and my mum and twin brother didn't know what to do with me so my sister rang me and called me to come stay at her house again. (yeah you can say my sister is amazing!) My mum drove me up to Lithgow from Sydney and when I got there Zizi and little boo were waiting for me! Boo had grown so much! She had her own little personality and she could tell the differences between different adults. Yet she still loved to be with me. This time though she had taken my room and I was moved to the study! (I actually didn't mind) But at 2 am in the morning, you could hear through the wall little boo talking to her self so much so that she would talk herself to sleep. This still makes me smile!

 Each morning I would wake up to my sister putting little boo on me after her fist feed of the day. By chance one morning as little boo was laying on my stomach she threw up… into my mouth. Yup. another special bond between us. I will have my revenge one day when she is not so fragile and irresistibly cute!

 Little boo started going to play groups where she thought my thumb was the most entertaining and delicious thing in the world! I never knew how strong baby's could suck! I swear she gave my thumb a hickey!

 As she has grown her personality has shone so much brighter. She is a little quiet one most of the time who has sudden outbursts of loudness. She always loved to close her fists (a trait I poses). She is quite inquisitive yet very sensible and cautious like her mum. She is not likely to do something is there is any risk. She loves to be held by her mum and me and she always loved cuddles. She is quite serious most of the time, yet sometimes she surprises you with her cheeky little grin.

Just the other day my sister told me that boo had started sitting up for herself and even started reading through catalogues. She definitely takes after her mum in that regard. Another trate she surprisingly has attained is that she is rather good and looking at the camera. She knows what a camera looks like and so she stares at it whenever she is near it. It makes it perfect for sneaking photo's because she is always attentive and ready! 

Now I know if you are reading this you are probably thing Oh my goodness she is a baby lover and is obsessed with little creatures. Surprisingly Sophie was the first baby I ever fell in love with. She kind of stumped my preconceptions about babies. She also helped save my life at a time when everything seemed hopeless. When times get tough and I really struggle I remind myself that I have to watch her grow up. I have to be there for her, just as she was some what there for me. I want to watch her eat dirt and learn to draw and write. I want to see her play soccer or dance and complete schooling. I want to meet her first boyfriend who I will of course threaten! and then I want to see her get married and then have little ones of her own. I want to see who she turns out to be… my little boo...