Whetting the appetite for life

Shortly after getting married, my sister Tina and her husband announced she was pregnant.

We had the promise of the first addition to the family. We were thrilled.·

A call came to my dorm room at 1 a.m. on Sept. 16, 1996. Anticipating this moment, I only needed to hear my mother's voice and I knew IT WAS TIME.

My friends and I hopped into the car, did 90 miles per hour on the Schuykill, and arrived at my home in 21 minutes, half the usual time.

My family and I went to the hospital immediately. Tina was having three minute contractions. This was it.

At 7:36 a.m., my niece came into this world. We raced into the room and I saw my niece in the first two minutes of her life. So new, so innocent, so breath-taking. That day was the first day of the rest of her life. She was a beautiful and healthy 7 lbs. 12 ounces baby. Our wishes came true.

Devon Kristina completed the cycle in our lives. First, a maid-ofhonor and a sister-in-law. Now I was an aunt and a future godmother.

It is hard to believe that .Tma, 25, has started her own family. It seems like yesterday we were playing house under the dining· room table while our brother Denny, now 26, was attacking our "fort" with army soldiers and Star Wars figurines.

Everyone has spoiled the baby. No matter what the occasion, she has been the attraction at every family party since her birth. We practically time how long each person gets to hold her (I know I do).

My mom, the new grandmother, has held our family together through the worst of times with her strength, courage, and wicked sense of humor. She has everyone in stitches with her jokes, cusses often and wildly cracks her Wrigley spearmint gum while sipping her hot tea But lately, her new habit is hogging the baby.

It is very rare that I can pry Devon from my morn, so I jumped

Two Cents

byHollle Havens copy editor

at the chance I get to change her diaper and I rushed her to the nursery.

She lie on her back giggling as I talked to her and began the chore. I no sooner had the old diaper sealed in the Diaper Genie machine when I heard ,a small trinkling of water. She peed all over herself and the layette. Everything was soaked! I did not want my mom to know, as she was folding wash down the hallway.

I quickly undressed, cleaned, and redressed Devon in another outfit. My mom heard the ruckus and came snooping. The job was finished with no evidence left behind. No one will ever know. It was a secret between Devon and me.

I quickly left the room relieved and I looked back to see my mom kiss Devon's feet. She shrieked.

"Why is there f#@*ing @#@#88* piss all over her socks?!!!," my mom said as she wiped her lips with a look of disgust.

Welcome to the family, Devon.