My Newest Niecey

I got to Sac and couldn't wait to feast my eyes on my new little niece Gretel Emeline. Chels had her on October 12th. And for any of you moms out there who wouldn't dream of going through childbirth without an epidural, my brave little sister did!!!! She wasn't sure if she was "in actual labor", and arrived at the hospital at an "8", and from there, gave birth less than two hours after that! Criminy...that will never be me, but that's ok. I prefer to flip through magazines serenely and reapply my gloss routinely throughout the process. So Gretel weighed 6 lb. 10 oz., and was 18" long. Tiny little thing! I had so much fun snuggling with her and kissing her to death. I miss her already!
Of course I couldn't let my talent go to waste down there! I dragged my hair stuff there and colored and cut my mom's and Chels' hair, and even put a bow in Gretel's sweet little 9 day old hair!
Chels, me, Gretel and Mom

Okay so this picture is so fun and making my taste buds tingle just looking at it. Back in March when we were in Sac Town visiting for Spring Break, my sweet hubby brought me a deliciously soft, buttery, salty pretzel for my enjoyment so I wouldn't have to break stride in my marathon shopping. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I couldn't stop thinking about it days, weeks, and even months after. Chels even tried to mail me one as a surprise, and the lady at the post office wouldn't let her. What a kill joy! So for Gretel's first official outing, we drove about 25 minutes to the nearest Wetzel's Pretzels location in Roseville at the mall. There were so many flavors to choose from...I had to get the original since that's what I had been salivating about for so long, though Mom got a Jalepeno Cheese one and thought it was divine. Oh, sweet mannah from heaven!