So.. I know, this isn’t a baby blog. I’m sorry. But look at these adorable feet:

One of my favorite parts today was photographing big sister Esther holding sweet precious Naomi. I hope to get some shots with Jared being a big brother, too.

So.. everyone knows I love babies. I love to hold them, to smell their little heads and kiss their cheeks. I love fat babies. The ones with the roly legs and arms and fat cheeks. You just want to eat them up and squeeze them tight. And as of this morning, there is a new little baby for me to do just that. Little baby Naomi, my sister Ruth’s newest daughter, was born this morning at 12:15am. 7lb, 11oz. 20 inches long. And pudgy cheeks.

So.. it’s weird. Cadi just turned 11. Eleven! Esther’s last day of 1st grade is today. Next fall Jared (and I believe Rori, too) starts Kindergarten. It seems like time has flown by. I can’t imagine how it would be if they were my own.

At least there is a new little one to start the cycle, due in just a month. A month! And knowing Ruth, little Naomi will make her appearance early so I give her 2 weeks, maybe 3. I can’t wait to meet her. To hold her and smell her and kiss her tiny little head and fingers. (Side note: I still have undeveloped photos from when I first met Esther, 7 years ago. Thank goodness for digital cameras. But, I really should develop those and see if anything has survived the last 7 years of being stored in a trunk!)

Can you tell I just love babies? Other people’s babies.

Not that I wouldn’t want my own. But one would be enough, and I hope it’s a boy. That’s in the “someday” file.

In the mean time, the past week I have been knitting like crazy (photos to come, don’t want to spoil it before I give them to Ruth) and I have completed my 3 little projects for Naomi. I have a few projects to work on over the next few months; I may have something to give her when she’s born, but if not, there’s Christmas. I’m working on one last thing for the gift, I have 3 days to work on it and I hope I can do it. If not, it’s ok. But it’d be nice. (And I haven’t forgotten Andrew’s Birthday Christmas scarf. Or my bag.)

Friday is going to be busy. I am throwing Ruth’s baby shower and have a menu planned that luckily most can be done ahead of time. I’m taking the day off work so I can cook and bake and prep. Saturday morning is the baby shower – strawberry themed. Did you know it’s hard to find strawberry decorations and things? I would have thought it’d be so easy, being summer. But, no. Apparently it’s butterflies that are in right now.

And people have forgotten their manners (re: RSVP). I have gotten two calls so far. My mom and sisters are coming, that’s a given. But everyone else..? I may end up with too much food. Although I’m sure any leftover cupcakes or pretzel salad will find somewhere to go!

So.. the baby booties I’m knitting for Naomi will be finished by the end of this weekend. No if’s and’s or but’s. No butts either. That would just be gross.

But really, I started them last night, got the main piece done for one foot. I chose a very simple pattern because I think part of my problem is choosing to do things a little more difficult and then it takes too long.

After the booties, I want to knit a bib and a hat.

But for now, an easy goal: booties by the end of the weekend. If I knit the main piece of the second foot tonight, then do the toe pieces tomorrow and the strap peices Friday, I should be done way ahead of my deadline.

So.. one of my favorite jokes is about the basketball player who, when he found out his sister was having a baby, asked “Am I going to be an aunt or an uncle?” as if the sex of the child determined that. Aw.. no one ever said athletes were smart.

Anyway, I am going to be an aunt again, no matter how you look at it. Ruth found out yesterday the new little one is going to be a girl! I had guessed, as did most everyone, and either way we’d be happy and excited, but now comes the fun part – PINK stuff!!

I had already started planning the baby shower, and now I can get into it even more. And, I plan to make a little gift for Naomi with my new-found skill, knitting!