“There she was, 8.2 pounds and 21 inches long.” by Hira Shah

There she was, 8.2 pounds and 21 inches long. I stared at her from a distance. The sweet smell of baby lotion lingered through the air. She lay in my mother’s lap wrapped in a warm, pink blanket, her body wrapped so tightly that she couldn’t move, but still she managed to get one arm out, which she rested calmly on her cheek. I came closer and reached for her. As I picked her up the warmth of her breath lingered around my neck. I leaned in my lap to kiss her. I felt my lips touch her cheek. Her soft whimpers caused me to think she was uncomfortable, but her loving gaze reassured me that she was fine.

It was late at night in mid-November. I was sleeping over at my friend’s house when I got the phone call. After nine very long months, my sister was finally ready to give birth. My life was about to change as a result of this night. The night that my niece was born, changed my life dramatically. I never knew I was going to grow to love this child as if she was my own. I remember seeing her wrapped in her blanket. She was so gentle and delicate, and now as she is growing, I look back and remember those days where she would just lie there with nothing to say and now we can barely keep up with her. She is the official queen of our household, and our lives revolve around her.

Hira Shah is a junior at San Jose State University. Her two main hobbies are writing and eating. She loves writing about her life and the people in her life. She loves eating anything home-cooked especially Pakistani food. She loves talking and getting to know new people. She has learned to be grateful for all that she has. Alhamdulillah (grateful to God)