So, I am here in Indianapolis, partying with my niece G-Dawg and her entourage (doting parents and grandparents). It is SO awesome to be the aunt, especially the childless aunt of the out of town variety. It means that if for some reason Gwen needs something, I can pass her to her entourage (usually Turtle*) because I’m just Auntie Lainey. At one point yesterday she needed a diaper change. “Wanna change her?” my SIL asked. “Oh, no thank you!” I replied, relating my “what the hell?” tale from when Gene and I babysat for his best friend’s kids and I changed the little girl’s diaper.
(And yes, if I’d been the adult in charge I would have done it, of course…but I am merely a guest star in this episode of A Baby Story so, huzzah!)
G-Dawg is completely my favorite niece. (Yes, she’s also my only niece. But I’m my Auntie Lyn’s only niece so I’m HER favorite, too!). I hope to add her to my collection of Godchildren. Yes, I know. Godchildren, in this instance, really just means that Gene and I are legally responsible for children (other than the Boy) if something happens to Gene’s best friend and his wife. And while it makes a mockery of the religious use of the word “godparent” (I could go on from there but I know at least two of you take the whole Godparent thing seriously so I will stfu out of respect), I just look at it as building my Army of Children Not My Own. Like Angelina Jolie.
* I don’t know who equates to Turtle in this math problem but the concept amused me Thursday night when I started this post and it still amuses me now so it stays.