Dear Niece,

I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday, all squishy and cute in your blankets and hospital beanie. My thought at the time was “I have a new friend,” and I made it my life goal to play with you and share all kinds of cool things with you every chance I got. As a baby, you were my makeshift doll at times. I begged to help change you, feed you, burp you, and when the “new” wore off and you started crying, I handed you off to someone else.

As you grew, I decided that you were pretty fly for a small fry. You became your own little person with your own interests and personality. You no longer had the same favorite color as me or liked having me dress you up. You even developed a sassy attitude. Sometimes that felt great, and sometimes I got frustrated, but I always loved you just as much as the day you were born.

I watch you grow and I feel like time is going too fast. Soon you’ll be an adult, and not my small fry anymore. In a lot of ways, you’ll always be that little girl I play peek-a-boo with, though, even when you have a home of your own.

I want you to know how much I love you, and how proud of you I am, past, present, and future. You’ve grown into an amazing young lady that I am so proud to call my niece. You are my little buddy, my live baby doll, the silly straw in my milkshake, and, above all else, my best friend.

So, to my beautiful niece, never lose yourself, be purely amazing and purely you, and I’ll support you every step of the way.

Love,

Your Aunt