A month and a half ago, I became an aunt for the very first time. I already knew I was going to be obsessed with my new niece, but the love that’s formed has been even greater than I could have imagined! In the past 1.5 months I have learned a lot about what it’s like to be first-time aunt. I’m sharing my experience on the blog so I can forever cherish this time.

Meeting my niece

My sweet niece was born on a Thursday night. It was a late night (okay it was like 10pm), and I was lying in bed with my parents (less weird than it sounds) as we all stared blearily at our phones impatiently waiting for the “She’s here!” text. I had barely slept for the past few nights because IO was so keyed up anticipation. Once I heard that my niece had entered the world safely, and that mama and papa were doing well, I immediately fell into a long and peaceful slumber. I probably got more sleep that night than her parents have gotten since she’s been born 😉

The next day, I worked from my parent’s house and counted down the seconds until it was time to visit my niece in the hospital. When we went to the hospital I left my work computer on and didn’t even tell anyone I had stepped away and wasn’t working. Whoops – I was just a little distracted.

During the pregnancy I frequently imagined what it would be like to meet my niece, but actually seeing her for the first time is a memory that will be etched on my heart forever. Not to be cliche, but I loved her from the moment I met her. She was so tiny! Her hair was so soft! She made such cute little noises!

The second I left the hospital I already wanted to see her again. And it’s pretty much been that way ever since.

How it feels to be a first-time aunt

As soon as I met my niece, I felt so naturally comfortable around her. She was immediately part of the family, and I felt instantly connected to her. I’ve had no fear or trepidation about how to hold her or interact with her. (Other than my klutzy fear of dropping her, which results in me walking around with her like I am holding the Mona Lisa. Which I pretty much am – except my niece is way cuter). Since her birth it has just felt so natural to scoop her up in my arms, have her sleep on my chest, burp her, and smother her with kisses! She’s family!

To be honest, before my niece was born, I was selfishly a little worried that my parents would be more obsessed with her than they are with me. (I know, that’s bad. But I have long been the first daughter in the family and this comes with certain privileges and favoritism!) Now that my niece is here, though, I don’t even care if I make it onto the family Christmas card – I just want her face plastered across the whole thing. I’m no longer worried about how she might change the previous family dynamic, I’m only looking forward to how she will enhance it.

I like to think that she’s already made me a more selfless person. For example, if my boyfriend needs his water glass refilled, I’m likely to just hand him my own water glass to also fill on his own way to the sink. If my niece needs her bottle filled, I’m up and sprinting to the fridge. She just makes me want to put in effort to take care of her!

Life as an aunt

I’m super lucky that my brother and sister in law live only a half hour away from me (and just a few houses down the road from my parents). This close proximity has made it so easy to see my little niece whenever I want! (Which is always). I feel so blessed to live nearby and to get to be a constant part of her life.

I find myself out in the suburbs every weekend to see her – and I even took a few random weekdays off to do so as well. My niece can’t even talk yet and to be honest, she’s pretty boring to play with at this stage, but I still want to be around her all.the.time. What is this baby magic??

I want daily updates on how she’s doing each day and pictures of how much cuter she has gotten in the past 24 hours….24 minutes….24 seconds…etc. I don’t know how I’m ever going to be a stay a working mom because as a working aunt I just spend half of my work day thinking about how I could be hanging out with her instead!

Being an aunt has been so, so sweet. Babies really are such a blessing! Aunt life has also increased my baby fever tenfold, but some overnights with her might help fix that 🙂

To sum it up so far, what it’s like to be a first time aunt is: awesome.

I can’t wait to watch her grow and get to spend time with her in more interactive ways. (Although I’m sure I’ll miss these days when our time together mostly consists of her farting on me).

Are you a first-time aunt? Or a many-time aunt? I would love to know how your aunt journey has been! Welcoming any advice on what it’s like to be a first-time aunt, and how to be a great one.

xo, Liz