Meet the family: the Hadley Moynihans

Dear Scooter Baby,

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to the Hadley Moynihans: your Uncle PJ, Aunt Stephanie and your cousins, Alexandria, Aurora and Amo. Uncle PJ is Mom's older brother and he lives with Auntie Stef in a comfortable, New England home in Hadley, Massachusetts with their two (and soon to be three) children. Like your mom, Uncle PJ and Auntie Stef are both from Holyoke but didn't meet until after they were both out of college. When they met, Auntie Stef already had your oldest cousin, Alexandria. All three of them decided they made a good team so your uncle and aunt eventually got married and then came your second oldest cousin, Aurora. Your third oldest cousin, Amo (who will only be a few months older than you) will literally be born any minute as I'm writing this. They make up one big, happy family and live in our home away from home whenever we are in Western Massachusetts. 

In case you didn't notice the pattern, your aunt and uncle like names that begin with "A". As further proof, they have a lovable dog named Annie so you'll be able to struggle with the names Auntie, Alexandria, Aurora, Amo and Annie when you first learn to talk. For that reason, I suspect Uncle PJ will be your favorite solely based on how easy it will be for you to pronounce his name (he will also frequently give you baseball cards).  

Annie during her days fighting in the French Resistance

 Uncle PJ owns his own business, Digital Eyes Film, which is a film and television production company. In addition to being his calling, Uncle PJ's business has allowed your mom and I to participate in some fun projects and events; I'm sure there will be more to come that you and Amo will get to enjoy. Auntie Stef works at Trader Joe's (a grocery store that's fun even for adults) and takes care of your cousins when they aren't in school. Your aunt is a voracious fantasy reader and fantasy film buff so expect to be whisked away to Hogwart's or Middle Earth with her on a regular basis.  

We're not models, we just play them on TV

 Alexandria is 14 years old going on 15 and she loves horseback riding and this boy band called One Direction. I suspect they will have dissolved into nothingness by the time you are listening to music but she did tell Grandpa that they were like the Beatles so maybe they'll still be around. She will be one of your biggest fans and a regular babysitter when your aunt, uncle, mom and I need a night out. Aurora is 5 years old and is one sweet and funny kid. She will undoubtedly dress you and Amo up like princesses one moment and be playing soccer with you the next. She was everyone's baby for the last five years so scientific studies that I just made up show that she will either be relieved to pass the torch and move onto adolescence or torture you and Amo. I am totally kidding, she is sooooo (note the extra o's) excited to be a big sister and a cousin. 

You can tell that they're sweet girls because look how excited they are to get t-shirts for Christmas!

 And, finally, Amo is negative two weeks old and, like you, is resting inside his mother's belly but, unlike you, will be out in the real world any minute. As you and Amo will be only a couple months apart, you are lucky to have a cousin close enough in age that a family member can also be a friend. We look forward to the adventures of our two little boys. WARNING: your mother and aunt will occasionally dress you alike. This is not your uncle's fault nor is it mine. Remember that when you are both obnoxious teenagers and taking out your angst on loved ones. 

"It doesn't matter if you're black and white." -Michael Jackson

 As you can see, there are quite a few people waiting to meet you including one who isn't even born yet! We hope that you and Amo will have the same kind of relationship as Uncle PJ, Auntie Stef, Mom and I have and that you will both look up to your beautiful female cousins as role models (except where musical tastes are concerned). One thing is for sure, you'll always have a home base in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Love,

Dad