Robert

Last year, at this time, I was waiting with bated breath for my phone to ring. I was waiting to hear that my sister was progressing in labor of her son. Of course, I waited all day to no avail as babies seem to have their own timeline. Later that evening, my youngest sister called to tell me it was happening soon and that since she was in the room (and I obviously wasn't), that she would hold the phone up and let me hear his birth. Now, as I write this, my nose tickles....this is my sign that this memory is going to make me cry a little bit. It was super simple for Debbie to hold up that phone, it cost her nothing. But, to me....being so far away as my first nephew was born....it was worth millions. I GOT TO HEAR his first breath in this world, his first cry. His cries joined with mine as a welcomed Robert Joseph came into the world. Thanks to technology, I received a text message with his picture within minutes of his birth and short of smelling him, I really felt I was there. Oh, how he was longed for! Oh, how he'd been prayed for! Oh, how loved he is!
I didn't get to actually hold R.J. until he was about 4 months old. My body wrought with sobs, I held him close. He so closely resembled my father that I thought for sure that the twinkling eyes WERE that of my dad and that now I had to choose a religion that believed in reincarnation. This little man, so sweet and soft, MY NEPHEW. He turns 1 today and again, I can't be there to celebrate his birth. But webcams, pictures and phone calls will help me be there in absentia and that will be okay.

Happy Birthday Robert Joseph. Your Tia loves you very much!