Bonding with my Baby Sister--Part 1: Paris

The moment I heard my youngest sister was going to Europe after graduation, I knew I wanted to join the trip. I never expected to, and figured I would have to live it vicariously through pictures. However, my incredible dad came to my aid and surprised me with a round-trip ticket over the Atlantic for my birthday. While I probably should have been most excited to see old architecture and art and experience new foods and cultures, what I looked forward to the most was spending 11 days with my baby sister Kristina who is 8 years my junior. I left home when she was 10 and got married when she was 13, so most of the sisterly bonding happened between her and my middle sister. Phone calls, texts, and old-fashioned hand-written cards in the mail have kept Kristina and I close enough, but I wanted some time with just us two, as adults.

The time I spent with my sister in Europe from August 6-August 17, 2016 was everything that I needed and wanted. I hope these pictures can show how much this beautiful young lady has stolen my heart and how much love we shared throughout the days we spent adventuring around Paris, Salzburg, and parts of Germany. She is a sister I am eternally grateful to have.

Day 1: Arc de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower

Striking a pose as we put away groceries in our Paris apartment.

Hiking up the Arc de Triomphe spiral staircase was sure a
wake up call to us tired, jet lagged travelers!

My first crepe in front of the Eiffel Tower. Sounds fitting.

Random poses seemed to be a theme throughout the trip.

Day 2: Notre Dame Cathedral & Relaxation

Enjoying the sun along the Seine before relaxing (top right) at our apartment--picture was taken from the kitchen window, looking at us girls posing out of the dining room windows.

Waiting for our bus on our way to church.

Outside the Notre Dame Cathedral

Day 3: The Louvre

Taking one of Kristina's first selfies with the Venus de Milo, circa 101 BC.

Sometimes pictures with famous sculptures don't work as planned. Apparently, we weren't allowed to stand on one of the steps to take this picture and a museum worker came to tell us so, just as the camera snapped this priceless shot.

Touring the Louvre requires periodic rest breaks on fancy marble benches.

Day 4: Versailles

The gardens of this massive Palace of Versailles was one of my favorite places of the entire trip.

In the Hall of Mirrors

Taking a break on the mini-tram with this silly sister of mine.

Day 10: Paris at Night

She seriously is a model.
At the metro station as the sun sets.

Dinner at quite possibly the "best" fallafel restaurant I've ever been to.

Watching the Eiffel Tower glisten in the night sky was the most perfect way to end our brief trip to Europe. It was so magical, and to be spent with my loving sister made me feel so loved and so safe.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my trip with my sister, featuring Salzburg and Germany.

Hoping for a Rainbow

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Grandpa is Always Right | Gender Reveal |

I was hanging out in our rental apartment in Salzburg, Austria with my sister when my dad walked out of his bedroom and announced that I was having a girl. I was only 11 weeks along at that point and while I was wishfully hoping for a girl, I was preparing myself for a boy. His strong conviction of the gender of our child without any hints from an ultrasound surprised me. My dad seems to always be right about things, so I secretly hoped he was right this time too. Today during my scan, my favorite sonographer announced that we were having a girl. Grandpa is always right. I never imagined our family starting with a baby boy. I don't know why, but a baby girl seems to fit just perfectly. Now I just have to keep calm and stay healthy for 19 more weeks.

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Tender Mercies

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