One very lucky uncle

This package is somewhere in the air between Australia and Finland right now. I sent it a couple of days ago for my niece, the indomitable @smallsteps, and it contains some dinosaur books and a little bit of clothing. I'm excited about her getting the books because a little while ago I actually videoed myself reading one out loud and sent her that video which, I have heard, she loved. Now she will be able to read along with me holding the actual book. I'm secretly hoping to imprint an Aussie accent on her but to be honest I think I'm fighting a losing battle there. Still, she has a cute mix of Finnish and English when she talks (which is a lot!) as it is so maybe I can add a few Australianisms in there over time. She says a pretty good "G'day mate" already thanks to me and my visit to Finland last year. Seriously, she's very good at it.

My niece doesn't need more books or clothing as @tarazkp and my sister in-law @momone do a great job ensuring she has everything she needs, quite often at their own expense, meaning they go without to provide for my niece. I guess they have no choice and looking back to my own childhood I can recall my parents doing the same. We didn't have much growing up, although we were safe, had manners and were polite little lads, plus what we did have we respected and cared for and @smallsteps is the same. She loves books and treats them with care. She tore a page (accidentally) once and was devastated. I like that about her. Well, I love everything about her to be completely honest, but she is such a smart little girl and has great respect for things, and other people as well...Such a beautiful little girl. I'm a lucky uncle.

My wife and I get great pleasure in shopping for her...We don't spend huge amounts but that's not really the point is it? We enjoy searching out bargains and finding cute little items for her and as a childless couple it kind of means a lot. When our packages arrive in Finland tarazkp does an unboxing video and she is so adorable. She wait's patiently for each item and then when it's passed to her she holds it up and says her name in a questioning tone, "is this really mine" it implies? When given a yes she holds it to herself and runs off to the mirror for a look. She does the same for books, respectfully looking at it, making the connection that it's hers and then flicking through it. I can hardly wait for her to get this latest package as she loves dinosaurs and inside is the three pictured books including the one I read aloud for her recently.

It's very difficult being so far away from family and especially from my niece as she doesn't really understand the difference. It was very difficult for both of us when we left to come home last year, I still get a tear in my eye thinking about it, and video-chatting just isn't the same as getting one of her cuddles, or playing cars or dinosaurs with her sitting in my lap. She gives pretty good kisses too. I'm looking forward to seeing this latest video in the coming weeks and to our video chat taking place tonight; It's always the highlight of our weekend.