Meeting the Sister-Cousin

"I'm his sister when we are together and his cousin when we aren't."  This is Sadie's take on her relationship with Wyatt.  She is four and a half.

Last week, I had an adventure and flew with Wyatt to San Francisco.  We spent four mostly sunny and fun days hanging out with Jill and Sadie during Sadie's spring break (and did our best to keep them company while Mark was away on business).  Sadie was eager to meet Wyatt and to help with as many diaper changes as possible.  Jill needed in-person confirmation that we actually had a baby and that she hadn't just dreamed the whole thing.  Aside from the diaper containment issue we had on the way down, the flights went well both ways. We had a great time.

We got to visit Happy Hollow Park and Zoo with Jill, Sadie, and her friend Jackson and his family. We ate Mexican and Vietnamese -- again and again.  Our favorites.  We took walks in the neighborhood.  We visited an amazing nursery in Half Moon Bay.  And Wyatt and I looked on in envy as Sadie and Jill planted their brand new raised garden beds in tomatoes, beans, herbs and swiss chard.

Thanks to Sadie, Wyatt was also introduced to Barbies and chapter books, and always had company in the back seat.

Considering Wyatt has come along later in our lives, it's likely he won't have a sister or a brother.  We're glad Sadie is up for filling that role.  But the fact she and Wyatt live in different cities is problematic.  I've been thinking a lot about what it will take to help Sadie and Wyatt not only know each other but grow to love each other -- if not like siblings, then definitely as close cousins.

Even before Sadie and Wyatt, we had already developed a habit of trying to get together with Jill and Mark every few months.  We had been doing well -- averaging every third month/several times a year, I think -- until the last year when we got super busy with the house and having a baby.  Thankfully, Jill and Mark and Sadie have come to visit us when we couldn't get away or weren't able to travel.  Now, we hope we can head down to see them more regularly again.  And of course, there are travel plans.  We love traveling and vacationing with them -- and if we all have our way, that will continue indefinitely.  I'm already working on a Europe trip idea for fall 2012.  Wyatt would still fly free and Sadie would be old enough to really enjoy it.  We'll see.

Of course, we'll see them many times before then . . .