New Baby

New Baby The day my niece, Hailey, was born was probably the most exciting day of my life. Being nine years old, the youngest of four, and knowing my mom wasn’t going to have any more kids I felt as if I was gaining a sister instead of a niece. I had been continuously asking my mom for a baby sister and the answer I received was always a no. It was a Sunday afternoon when my sister decided to sit the whole family down and make her big announcement. We could all tell she was nervous to say whatever it was she was going to say.
The look on her face and the way she was twiddling with fingers let us know that whatever she had to say was going to be a huge deal. It took her a few minutes to finally muster up the courage to get out what she had to say, but when she revealed to our family that she was expecting, I, unlike my parents, was ecstatic! Everyone else just looked at her in disbelief, while I on the other hand looked at her with a giant smile on my face. Immediately, the first words that came out of my mouth was, “Is it a boy or girl?! ” hoping she said a girl of course.
She looked at me confused, as if she was expecting me to be upset that there was going to be a baby coming into our house to steal my “baby of the family” shine. That didn’t matter to me though; I just wanted someone to play with and to teach things to. I mean, I had older siblings to play with but the chances of playing dolls or kitchen with my older brothers was usually slim to none. As for my sister, well she’s ten years older than me, so there wasn’t much hope there either. I was already imagining all the stuff we could do.

We would play dolls and house together, we’d play in the tree house in the backyard, we’d make forts out of blankets in the living room, there was just so many things that I wanted to play but would end up doing alone. There wasn’t much anyone else said, beside the forced-like “Congratulations. ” My parents didn’t say much at all, they weren’t thrilled at the idea of my sister having a child at eighteen but they also didn’t yell at her because they knew it wasn’t going to change anything. Later that night my mom asked me, “So what do you think about what your sister told us earlier? “I’m so excited! ” I replied, “I can’t wait to have someone to play with and do stuff with! ” “You know you’re not going to get as much attention as you get now, right? ” She told me. “We’re not going to be able to buy you very many toys anymore, your sister is going to need all the help she can get. ” I have to admit hearing I wasn’t going to get any new toys was somewhat upsetting, but I got over it. All I wanted now was for my niece to arrive! As my sister grew bigger and bigger so did my excitement to finally see my baby niece.
Nine months flew right by, and on February 15, 2002 my beautiful niece was born. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to go to the hospital when she was born, not only because I was too young but also because it was late at night, but I couldn’t sleep regardless. I was so anxious for my sister to come home with the baby; there was just no way I was going to sleep. I waited in the living room, hoping that someone would walk in through the front door. Finally, I see my parents come in and I run right past them wanting to make sure my sister was walking in with the baby behind them. To my disappointment she wasn’t.
I turned around to ask my parents where she was but before I could say anything my mom smiled and said to me, “You’re sister is still at the hospital with the baby. She named her Hailey Hannah. ” “Hailey Hannah. ” I repeated, “I love it! ” After that, my parents sent me off to bed but I still couldn’t sleep. I kept repeating Hailey’s name in my head, I even imagined myself telling everyone at school! “Hi Coach, I have a niece now. Her name is Hailey Hannah! Hey Summer I’m an aunt now, and my niece’s name is Hailey Hannah! Good Morning Mrs. Adams, my sister had a baby and her name is Hailey Hannah! ” I loved it!
I wanted to let everyone know that I had just become an aunt! I vowed to myself that I would be the best aunt I could be. I would play with her, help her with whatever she needed, look after her, protect her, and anything else I need to do to make her safe and happy. The next day the whole family woke up bright and early to go visit my sister and Hailey at the Hospital. I couldn’t wait! The anticipation was building as we walked into the hospital and walked towards the room where they were also waiting to see us all. As soon as I walked in the door, I saw my sister lying in bed holding my newborn niece.
My heart was telling me to run towards them, jump on the bed, and lay there with them both. My mind told me different. After all I didn’t want to be the first in the family to make her cry! So I kept calm, and walked over to them with the biggest smile that has ever been on my face. As I touched her soft little head she opened her eyes, looked up at me, and slightly smiled. It made me laugh because it made me think that she was just as happy to see me as I was I to see her. Now my Hailey is about to turn ten, and she is definitely my best friend and it really feels as if she’ is my little sister.
She has grown so much and so fast that it’s hard to believe how much time has passed. I was there when she took her first bath, took her first steps, got her first haircut, and lost her first tooth. I’ve watched her dance at her dance recitals; I’ve cheered her on at her soccer games, and supported her when she sang with the choir at her elementary school. I’ve learned so much about myself from being with Hailey that I think she’s the reason why I love being around children so much and that I’ve chosen to major in Education in College. It’s safe to say that becoming an aunt is definitely the greatest event of my life.