she's not his mama, but she's the closest thing to it that he will ever know.

the last time he ate outside at a sidewalk cafe, he was far too young to comprehend his surroundings. but this time, he understood where he was, what he was doing, and most importantly, who he was with. lots of little boys have aunts. but not every little boy has an aunt as special as his. you see, she's the closest thing to me in all the world... and i don't just mean close as in connected or friendly or knows-me-well. i mean literally. there is no other person on earth whose d.n.a. matches mine more closely {practically identically} than hers... not even my own son. that person is my twin sister... isaac's dear aunt.

no... she is not his mama. but she is the closest thing to it he will ever know. she may never love him the way i can and will. but she loves him so. and she has done so much for him... given him so much already in his short little life so far.

and just like the last time we all got to spend a while together, i could not pick a favorite photo. so i didn't... i included them all.

it's no secret that kids sometimes like grandparents, uncles and aunts more than their parents... they get away with so much more... they are spoiled by them far more than by their parents. so i am sure there will be days when isaac likes the carbon copy of his mom more than the real deal. after all, she's got a cool iPhone that has fun apps like wheel of fortune and one that turns her phone into a drawing pad. and she'll never make him go to bed or eat his peas. *wink*

instead, she'll just always be there to play with and giggle with. it's like mom... but the cool, way-more-fun version! they love to play together. she gets him to laugh and smile like no one else can. i kind of knew it would be that way.

it's pretty cool, too... yesterday morning i looked at isaac and saw my dad in him more than ever before. he gazed up at me from where he was playing on the floor and right then, looked the most like my father that i have ever noticed. it took my breath away. so later on that evening, as we spent time with my sister, i couldn't help but think that my son could see in her what my late father saw, too. my dad loved her witty sense of humor {because he had one too}. isaac may not yet know what wit is. but he's definitely drawn to my sister's humorous side. and i like to think that my dad is still looking at my sister and appreciating that part of her that she so clearly got from him... all through isaac's eyes.

i realize that none of these photos are technically perfect by any means. but every single one is perfect to me. and as with any photos taken of isaac with family, i treasure these. deeply.

if you ask me, the photo below holds such a tenderness... so much so, that she looks like a mom already... like his mom. she may not be isaac's mom. but anyone can see how much she loves him in this last photo. and even if it's not evident there... i can attest... she loves him that much. and i am lucky honored to witness it.

happy mother's day, to you, sister of mine. thank you for sharing in my motherhood with me, even when it is not easy for you. i know you love him like he's your own, and you have generously showered him with good things. we think you are going to make a great mama some day... and we are so glad to have you get in as much practice with us as you want. thank you for making our day special.


happy mother's day to everyone... even sisters and friends who love sisters and friends and their children!

"a mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."  ~tenneva jordan