Reunions of all sorts.

Today we attended our first family reunion with our twins.  It was a bit chilly so they wore bear coats and fleece blankets and passed from one relative to another around the bonfire at Weldon Spring State Park.  They were great sports and I can't recall either of them crying at any point.  

I have noticed this before, but no change is ever so noticeable as it is when in the comfort of your family: Having children changes everything.
Conversations revolve around children. They all start the same. I can honestly say no one, outside of my doctor, ever asked how many hours I sleep, nor have I ever been asked any other question with such regularity. These conversations are comfortable in their repetition and thus, they offer an opening that heals the small rifts between family and friends and cures the normal waning of relationships over time and distance ( In other words, all that work to get rid of people goes by the wayside once you're a parent (just kidding)(mostly)).
And for what reason are people drawn to babies?  To squeeze a small, cute creature and do anything, no matter how demeaning, to make them smile?  Or are we afraid if we don't jump into their lives asap, their social card will fill up and we'll be left out?  Maybe we think if we insert ourselves in the life of our less-than-responsible friend's child we'll be able to better monitor their welfare... or more accurately, Mommy and Daddy's mistakes?  I think it's a little of all of this--to cuddle someone who can't escape, to make someone laugh wholeheartedly, to make ourselves familiar to them so they will like us before their better judgement forms, to help keep them safe... and of course, to collect data to better gossip about their parent's failings once we get in the car.