Another little bud on the family tree

Meet baby Rebeka Ann Kovaleski, the newest little twig on our tree. She's lucky to have Rita for her grandma, and though it may be a long time before I meet her, I'm her great-auntie.

That's her mama, Regi, with her. Regi is married to my oldest nephew Don, and they live in Tennessee. Gee, I can remember when Don was born. I was so excited to become an aunt in the sixth grade, and now he's a daddy to three girls.

Rita is just about the best grandma in the whole wide world, and she'll get to hold this little chubby-cheeked bundle at Thanksgiving. That's a lot to be thankful for, isn't it?

Nicky, Thomas and Rebeka: three little second cousins, separated by many, many miles, just like the first cousins are. Yep, we've scattered our seeds far and wide in this family, for better or for worse.

Welcome to the big family, little girl.