At least we'll have a place to stay if we want to head to the Southwest

I don't write about my family on here much - there's nothing to complain about and bragging on how awesome my parents and siblings are would get tiresome for those reading, I'm sure. However, on top of all the big things I have going on personally - the new baby, only a few weeks of maternity leave left and the mixed feelings about that, and so much more - I also have to deal with the fact that my baby sister, who has never lived more than 90 minutes away from me, is moving all the way across the country in just a couple of weeks.

I also have to deal with the fact that my baby sister is in fact not a baby, but a big shot accountant who is moving in with her long-term boyfriend who is working on his Ph.D. She is definitely NOT a baby. I can't handle the fact that she's so grown up (or that my baby brother, the middle child, is now in his late 20s; how did we all get so old?), or that she'll live a 30 hour car ride away instead of a quick hour and a half.

I'm happy for her, I really am, but I am going to miss her like absolute crazy. Not only is she my sister, she's also one of my very best friends and one of the coolest people I know. She's also one of Gabbie's absolute favorite people. We're all excited for her new adventure but also prone to tears at the drop of the hat when we think about how infrequently we'll get to see her. We already get teary every time we think about how infrequently we get to see my brother, who lives on the East coast, and he's only 9 hours away.

It's time, though, for her to move on to the next phase of her life. She'll be able to come home at least a few times a year, although her first trip back isn't scheduled until September. In the meantime, thank goodness for Skype!