Puzzles (SOL19 #23)

I sat on the leather couch and watched the little boy spin in circles singing and dancing. I thought, if only I had half of that energy. The smile stretched across his face when he stopped and darted toward me. 

“Auntie?”

He climbed up and sat down next to me resting his head on my arm. His big, beautiful eyes peeked out from under the White Sox baseball hat. 

“Blake?” 

Giggle ensue. “Auntie, will you do puzzles with me? Yes?” 

His little head tilted as he gazed up at my face.

“Oh geez,” I replied. My face must have made a “oh my goodness how could I say no to that face?” look. 

“Don’t cry. Come with me.” 

I definitely wasn’t crying, and I was definitely wasn't turning down an invite for some puzzles with my 2 1/2 year old nephew. 

Facetime Session (SOL19 #13)

I took out my phone and hit the FaceTime button to call my mom knowing full well she was not the person I was intending on talking to.

“So, where is he, Granny!?” 

Giggles erupt from the other side of the room. He runs full speed toward the screen. 

“Hello, handsome boy!” The smile exploded across his little face. 

“Where Uncle Bill?” (He can’t quite say the Phil yet.) 

Phil motioned to me on the other couch and mouthed I’m not here. He has no idea how lucky he is that this two year old WANTS to talk with him over FaceTime. 

“I don’t know? Where is he?” 

“He playing.” 

Huh, didn’t see that response coming. “Blake, what is he playing?” 

“Numbers.” (He answered so matter of factly that it made it seem like it was a ridiculous question.) 

“Where Maiden?” He loves our dog. I secretly wished that he wanted to see me on FaceTime as much as he wanted to see his uncle and my dog. 

“She’s right here.” I turned the camera to face my dog who was making groaning noises on the ground. “Maiiiiiiiiden!” 

Immediately the dog started to bark and lunged for her large stuffed hotdog. (She recently stopped pulling all the stuffing out of her MANY toys. We are elated.) 

“What that?” 

“It’s her hot dog, buddy!” 

“She need a fork.”

I love our FaceTime sessions. 

Honored (SOL19 #9)

Honored.

I watched my nephew sing and dance his little heart out on stage last night. This same kiddo who refused to walk down the aisle with our rings on my wedding day. He needed his mom to hold his hand. Now he’s a little older, wiser, and much more confident. Last night, all he needed was to have his people in the audience. 

I’m honored to be one of them. 

Honored that I got a personal invite. 

Honored that I was able to watch him practice in his living room. 

Honored that his face lit up when he saw he saw us in the crowd. 

I am so honored to be his aunt. 

I’m also pretty stoked that I got his autograph. 

New Soundtrack for Fortnite (SOL19 #4)

My husband has recently started playing Fortnite on the PS4 with my brother-in-law and 11 year old nephew. They have marathon gaming sessions together complete with headsets (microphone included), strategy planning, and lots of laughing. On this particular night the other players took a dinner break but Phil continued playing. He was doing pretty well, better than usual and was one of the last 12 people left in the battle. Since his teammates were on a dinner break, Phil took his headphones off until he saw or heard that they returned. 

All of a sudden we hear it. Singing coming through the speakers of the tv. It was pretty loud, but we couldn’t quite tell what he was being sung. I grabbed my phone and recorded the exchange and sent it to my sister in law on Snapchat with the caption “New soundtrack for Fortnite!”  My nephew continued to sing completely unaware that he was putting on a show for his amused aunt and uncle. 

In the background we heard his mom call for him and then uncontrollable laughter. 

“YOU COULD HEAR ME?!” The giggles continued and included more laughing from his little sister. 

“Yep. I was doing pretty well in the battle while listening to your beautiful singing voice.” 

I’m so glad I captured this and will always have the video evidence! 

20 Seconds (SOL19 #2)

20...19...18...17...16

She counted aloud as her little arms wrapped tightly around me. She giggled as the countdown continued.

15...14...13...12...11...10

"Tell her! Tell Aunt Katie why." 

"Yes, please. Tell Aunt Katie why." 

9...8...7...6...

She still hugged me tightly. I was starting to catch on to the counting and decided to finish the countdown with her. 

5...4...3...2...1...

0

As soon as she hit zero, she released her sweet little grip and moved on to Uncle Phil.

"What was all of that about?" 

"Well Aunt Katie, I read on the internet that people seek hugs at least 13 times a day. But short hugs don't make people feel good. I read that a hug that lasts 20 seconds sets off endorphins or things that make you feel good. Do you feel good?

"You know... you're right! I'm feeling great. Thanks, Leah!" 

"Good. I read it on the internet, so it must be true." 

She winked at me and moved on to the next person. 

Now I haven't fact checked this and I don't usually recommend people to believe everything that they have read on the internet, but this was pretty sweet.

 20 second hugs. Try one! 

Facetime Session! (SOL18 #5)

The familiar sound of a FaceTime call rings. Maybe he'll be awake...

 I hope he will be.

 Finally she picks up, and the picture focuses on the adorable little toddler in the background. "Blaaaaaaaake! It's your Auntie Katie!" He smiles and giggles while charging toward the phone. Immediately he starts babbling incoherently telling me the stories from his day. Then it happens. His little hand reaches toward the camera. 

"Bummmm!" 

I lift own hand, make a fist, and give him what he wants. A fist bump from Aunt Katie, complete with sound effects. The sound of an explosion come out of my mouth and gets him, then he breaks out into uncontrollable baby giggles. My heart swells as I remember when I taught him how to fist bump, and almost explodes at the fact that he remembers too.

Love FaceTime sessions with this little guy and being his Auntie.