Dear Baby,

I never really understood how powerful a family's love was until recently. I met your dad only 17 days ago and yet, he cares about me (but not enough to tell me your gender !!). Despite the short amount of time we've known each other, your father has lost an embarrassing amount of games, given sweet advice, and encouraged me in my endeavors and passions. In the same way, I care about you, though you aren't even born yet.

This world is a harsh place, at times. As you grow older, you will see people hurt others. People will hurt you. You will hurt people. You will do things you aren't proud of, and I hope you grow up to be the kind of person who learns from their mistakes, not the kind to run from them. I hope you stop to see the beauty in the people around you, and I hope you find the importance of appreciating those that you love. You are blessed with smart, loving, and hardworking parents. Make sure they know how grateful you are for them, and make sure you know how lucky you are to have them.

I wish I could be located closer to you and your family, so I may watch you grow and learn about the world around you. You might not meet me until after you read this, but that's partially why I'm writing this: so you'll know me, even if you haven't gotten to see me yet. And I write this so, after we do meet, after you've grown accustomed to the sound of my voice, you may hear it while you're reading. I might not be close enough to witness all your big moments, but thanks to how easy communication is, I hope for us to be close enough that I will hear about them anyways.

You are important to me because you are family. Family means giving each other chances we wouldn't normally give others. It means giving each other tough love. It means spam-heavy WhatsApp groups (at least, it does in this family). I get the pleasure of being your youngest foi- aka the best aunt to come to when you need somebody to both understand and guide you. Please remember that in the future. Even if we've never talked to each other before, know you should call me whenever you need me.

Your happiness and your growth as a person are the most important things to all of us. I hope you never feel alone in this life, because you have so many shoulders to lean on already. As you experience joy and pride and disappointment, I want to hear about it. No matter what you're going through, you have your parents, my cousins, my brother, myself, and all of our immediate families, too.

Why?

Because we're family.