Charlotte Rose's First Easter

Meet My New Travel Buddy, Charlotte

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The day my sister told me she was pregnant, I had a feeling. She hadn’t given me any indication that she was, but she also asked if she could drop by in the middle of the day, which she never does.

“She’s pregnant,” I told SVV. “I just know it.”

“Nah,” he said. “No way.”

“Mark my words,” I said. “Sister’s intuition.”

I was right (words I’ll never tire of saying), and my fur niece Charlee came galloping into the room wearing a “Big Sister” tee. I cried.

Kari and Charlotte

Those coming weeks when we couldn’t tell my parents or any friends—and she was nearly bed-ridden with morning sickness—were pure torture. That day finally came at the end of July when my brother-in-law Josh blessed the food at our family dinner and also threw in “and take care of the little baby that’s growing inside of Kari.” I love seeing my mom surprised as it’s so rare, and that moment did not disappoint. It took my dad a bit longer to catch on, but his reaction was priceless, too.

I’d been waiting for them to start having babies since they first got married three years ago, but I didn’t think I was also lucky enough to get another niece (I have two nieces, Kiva and Lucy, through SVV’s siblings out in California). Say what you will about boys, but I love me a baby girl: I can play Disney princesses and dress-up all day long.

Charlotte Rose's First Easter

So when we found out at the end of September, it was a girl, I was more than overjoyed. And a bit in disbelief. We always just knew Kari would have a gaggle of boys, so the thought that she could have a mini-me running around never had, in fact, crossed my mind.

Charlotte Rose was born at 3:07pm on March 5, 8 pounds and 7 ounces of cheeks with a full head of hair; Charlotte because that’s the one girl name they loved (and because they met in Charlotte, North Carolina while working at EY!) and Rose for Josh’s sweet grandmother.

Newborn baby photo

She’s already like her aunt in that she was already having all the FOMO and decided to come out a week early (while I was in California—how rude!). And she’s already like her mom in that she’s perfectly content sleeping all day long. Seriously, that kid knows how to snooze. I’ve never been a great sleeper, so I’m hoping she’ll teach me a thing or two!

Charlotte with her cousin

I met Charlotte when she was 48 hours new to this world, and we were insta-BFFs.

Charlotte with her cousins

The next day, however, we got an alarming call—Charlotte was back in the hospital with a viral infection that could potentially be spinal meningitis. Not the words any new parents (or any parents in general) want to hear ever.

Charlotte Rose in the Hospital

So, Kari and Josh took her to Tri-Centennial in Nashville for the next three days where they monitored her vitals and pumped antibiotics into her little body. If you ever want your heart to shatter into a million shards, go into the pediatric unit of a hospital when they’re sticking a newborn’s foot with a needle. Poor Charlotte was a pincushion that weekend (though she slept through a lot of it, to be honest).

Charlotte Rose's newborn photos

Photo taken just 12 hours after she got home from the hospital. You’d never know she had such a traumatic week!

But she came home, and her other aunts Christin and Rosa flew out from Charleston along with her other grandmother, Sweetie—who has been to see her three times already in her first month—so baby girl’s first weekend in the comfort of her own house was, well, not quiet.

Newborn photos with stuffed flamingo

I feel for this kid. She’s definitely not loved and definitely won’t be spoiled.

Charlotte's newborn photos

And what a lucky baby, living a mile from these two doting grandparents. For those of you who have asked, Dad is still making improvements 26 months after his stroke, but I don’t think his speech will ever be fully back. It’s adorable, however, to see how much he adores Charlotte, and ditto to her own father, Josh.

Charlotte Rose with her Grandparents

Her big sister Charlee is slowly coming to terms with no longer being the favorite. She doesn’t like it one bit and more or less ignores the elephant baby in the room.

Golden doodle and baby

Golden doodle and baby
Golden doodle and baby
Golden doodle and baby

We’ve already had so many firsts in the past month: Charlotte’s first St. Patrick’s Day, Charlotte’s first epic blowout (luckily I was not present for that one), Charlotte’s first Easter, Charlotte’s first month birthday, Charlotte’s first meeting of her cousins (on both sides).

Charlotte's First St. Patrick's Day
Charlotte's First St. Patrick's Day
Charlotte meets her cousins
Charlotte meets her cousins
Charlotte meets her cousins

One thing’s certain: Her life will be well-documented.

Baby's First Easter

Baby's First Easter
Baby's First Easter

Baby's First Easter

(And for those of you who have asked, no, this has not made me change my own stance on having kids. Having a niece nearby that I can swoop in on and love at any point is all I need.)

Baby's first photo shoot

I can’t wait for so many adventures with you, little one. We’re going to travel the world together, just you wait.

Baby's first Easter

Charlotte and Kristin

COMMENTS
  • April 10, 2018
    Mister Sister

    What a CUTE baby… I may be a little biased

    • April 10, 2018
      Briel K.

      Kari, she’s so precious! Congrats to you and Josh!

      Kristin, isn’t being an auntie awesome? I love it too! 🙂

    • April 15, 2018

      I mean, I’m totally unbiased over here and agree with you 😉

  • April 10, 2018
    Marisa

    Gahhh she’s so cute. All that hair! I don’t want kids myself but gosh I love living vicariously through everyone else’s.

    • April 15, 2018

      I’m with you, Marisa. Others can have the babies, and I’ll just fawn over and babysit them 😉

  • April 10, 2018
    Jeje

    She’s the cutest! (No bias here😏)

  • April 10, 2018

    Congrats dear friend!

    • April 15, 2018

      Thank you, Andi! It’s pretty great having a new baby around the house (and a future travel buddy to take to Disney World, ha!).

  • April 10, 2018
    Sarah M Cunningham

    Ain’t nothing better than being the coolest auntie to a sister’s kids. (Both my sisters have kids, and they are a blast.)

    Congratulations!

    • April 15, 2018

      I’m all about being that cool aunt! I’ve already started a list of places I want to take her before her 16th birthday 😉

  • April 10, 2018

    Congrats, Auntie! Charlotte is a doll!

    All nieces and nephews are special, but there is just something EXTRA special about when your sister has her first baby. (It’s that sister connection, I think.) I got to experience that last year and thought my heart might explode. 🙂

    • April 15, 2018

      Thank you, Sarah! And I so agree re: that sister connection!

  • April 10, 2018

    Love the little pout 🙂 What a cutie!!

    • April 15, 2018

      She is SO pouty. Definitely got her mom’s ‘tude 😉

  • April 11, 2018

    I’m becoming a granny for the first time in about three weeks time, so this post literally brought tears to my eyes. It’s such a wonderful thing when a new baby joins your family.

    I can’t imagine the anguish when poor Charlotte got the infection and had to go to hospital, and what a tremendous relief when she could go home healthy!

    • April 15, 2018

      Oh Katrin, how exciting! I could not be happier for you. Congratulations, granny!

      • April 22, 2018

        Thank you Kristin! Actually my little grandson, as it turned out to be, arrived already last Wednesday 🙂 <3 just seven days after I wrote he was due in three weeks time! Both he and his mom are doing great, but he sure keeps her on her toes, she hardly slept at all the first three days and finally had a breakdown poor thing. Eivind (the baby's name) was bottle fed by his dad (my son) for the day so his mom could sleep and regain some strength.

        They will find a routine soon enough, and I've volunteered to be emergency-granny and take him out for looong walks when mom needs to sleep!

        • April 23, 2018

          Wow, how exciting! A big congrats to all of you!! Lucky for them, they have a granny on call 😉

  • April 11, 2018

    So happy for the Lunas! I’m surprised Jeanie stood for not being the first to know, ha ha.

    And omg I know I know, but my favorite part of this post was Charlee 😂 So dang cute and miffed by this attention diversion!

    • April 15, 2018

      I mean, she kind of didn’t have a choice 😉

      And Charlee is getting even more attention than ever now that one parent and a grandparent are home seven days a week with her—don’t let her fool you!

  • April 12, 2018

    What a perfect mix of dogs and babies! 🙂 Congratulations with the little ‘un!

  • April 15, 2018

    What a beauty! Congrats, auntie!

  • April 16, 2018

    Hi Kristin, I am your new follower here in your blog! Your niece is super cuteee! Hope she develops an interest in travelling too just like you.

    • April 23, 2018

      Thank you, Jess! And thrilled to have you here =)

  • April 16, 2018

    You can’t say your niece will follow your dreams however they will be there as your companion.
    What a beauty! Congrats, auntie!
    Hope she will be your traveler companion in future.

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