I woke up last Friday with two nephews and one niece. The oldest nephew was born when I was just seven years old. Since I was the youngest in the family it was almost like everyone forgot about me. I could tell after the first year that I was no longer the favorite. The youngest in the family is always the favorite. He was cute when he cried and he was cute doing anything because he was just a baby. Well that little boy is now almost 13, he is no longer cute and loves fishing more than most fisherman. I realized that since he was so close to me in age it was hard for me to be a really good uncle since it was almost like he was my younger brother, but then my niece came along.

Still wasn't that old, just a teenager, but a little girl was welcomed into this world and this time it felt like she was actually my niece and not my little sister. I remember holding her while she was sleeping and thinking that one day she will be grown up and going to school and be annoying as her older brother. I couldn't wait to watch her grow up and become a beautiful little lady. Well that little baby is five years old going on six and starts kindergarten this month. And yes she is just as annoying and cute as her older brother was.

The next little nephew to come into this world was a tiny little guy. He was born on a base in Japan and he means so much to my family that my dad flew all the way to Japan just to see him. This little guy is cute as a button, but he had a lot of health problems. He eventually came back to the US with his mom and dad. We got to see just how cute he really is. I really learned the meaning of being a good uncle as I was now almost a legal adult. He is now three years old and has more energy and any little kid I know.

One reason I love my niece and nephews so much is because last year I became a father. At a young age becoming a parent is a hard task. You have to learn so much and you haven't had too much life experience. Luckily with my niece and nephews I have learned so much about being an uncle I could use that experience in become the best dad possible. I was not a great uncle and honestly I still have a lot of improvement. Luckily I have learned a lot becoming a dad and I think I know what I need to do the next time I become and uncle again.

That same friday I woke up with two nephews and one niece, that night at 9:01pm I gained a beautiful little niece. I came to the hospital at the last minute and heard the screams down the hall. She was born at 36 weeks and she is just a beautiful as all my other niece and nephews were. As I look at a picture of her, I can't help but think that she will grow up next to all her cousins and she will be a one year old that is just starting to walk, a three year old with too much energy, a five year old going to school, and a thirteen year old that starts high school. I love them so much because watching them grow up breaks my heart. Stay Young Lakyn. <3