Ramona Moon(shine) Chatham:

Oh boy, kid, where do I even begin?  I liked you from the start, Moon; from the day I found out you were coming.  I knew you were great as soon as your mom told me she was pregnant with you.  You know why? Because she looked kind of scared when she broke the news to me.  Not in the typical sense of the word, but it was like she knew everything was about to change (in the best possible way, I mean,  you rocked everyone’s world) and I kind of liked that you stirred up that intense of an emotion in her.  Not everyone can do that, you know? So, I knew then that you were really something.

And although I swore up and down for weeks that you were a boy, and insisted on calling you Harris (your name, your parents said, had you been a boy) in conversation–you know, we’d be riding in the car and I’d ask you, “Harris, dude, are you hungry?”–it made sense when I finally heard the news that you were a girl because, naturally, you like to surprise people and you were going to be whatever the hell you wanted to be (never lose that trait, bean).

So we hung out while you baked in there. Me, you, and your mom.  Tackling a really strange wedding season full of disarray and people that didn’t feed your poor mother.  And despite the chaotic nature of the summer, I secretly loved coming to work with your mom because it meant I got to be close to you..and that felt like an honor somehow.  Being around you was just important, and I knew that.

Then, on January 24th, the day I had hoped you would decide to make an appearance, since it’s my day of birth, too, your dad called me to say “get ready.”  I was supposed to come to the hospital to take your first pictures, and I was so excited.  The hours passed though, and I didn’t hear any news.  I remember not sleeping very well because in this instance, the whole “no news is good news” thing didn’t really apply.  January 24th, quietly slipped away and I realized that things had not gone according to plan (there you went again, with the whole surprising everyone business).  And despite a struggle, you fought like a little champion, and January 25th ushered in a new day and a healthy little Ramona Moon Chatham.

The rest is history, Moon.  You walked right in and shook everything up for everyone around you.  You are literally a reflection of the sun, as your name states. You just bring a light that was unseen, prior to you.  You are unlimited potential, a force to be reckoned with (I mean, your name says it all–Ramona Moon?– You may as well be Oprah Winfrey). I am proud to know you, kid. I feel really lucky to have been a witness to what falling in love really looks like; the way your parents looked at you when you finally came around. I’ve never seen love in a more pure form.

As you grow older, and “reality” encourages you to think less of the greatness of the world and those you are in it with, be brave and hold onto this:  you are loved, little one, and that love gives you irrefutable power to be and do anything your heart desires.

Love you a millions times over,

Auntie Caitlin