Big Big Sister Lexi

My Big Little Lexi,

You are going to be a big sister, again. This time you’re getting a little sister!

First of all, let’s talk about the notion of sisters. They are truly the best! As you grow up and develop friendships, I’m hoping that none will truly ever compare to the one with your sister. I pray you two will share a special bond that I believe is indescribable. Speaking from experience, there is something so comforting about talking to your sister when something terrible has happened, you’re scared, need advice or you’re thrilled beyond words. She is one of the few (perhaps only) person that can even come close to understanding how you feel. Growing up, you’ll have experienced the same memories, have inside jokes, understand the weird family quirks we have or truly how much trouble you’re really going to be in when mom and dad find out what you did. I pray that you two are close and share the same set of values and will always be there for each other in ways that I can’t be. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are going to be moments growing up where you are so angry at each other you spit in each other’s face (when you get older, I’ll share that fun little story in mine and Auntie Sheila’s relationship) but, I also pray that I’ll be able to teach you forgiveness so you’re able to carry on the next day as if nothing happened. Given that you will be 4 1/2 years apart, I’m so excited to watch how your relationship grows and evolves throughout your lifetime.

Second, let’s talk about how different becoming a big sister will be as a 4 1/2 year old than as a 2 year old. This time around, I think you are going to be really helpful verses disruptive (you’ll leave that task to William). I can see you regularly requesting to hold her, sing songs and read books to her and help get bottles or diapers for me. I also have a feeling you’re going to love bossing your brother around and telling him what he can and can’t do with her.

Upon sharing the news with you that I had a baby growing in my belly, you were pretty indifferent and didn’t really react, just went about your regular business of playing with Squinkies. However, as we have talked more, you have shown much more interest in the baby and are pretty protective of the baby and of your mommy.

If William is climbing on me or tackling me, you’re quick to tell him, be careful, there is a baby in mommy’s tummy and you’ll hurt it. The other day, I was putting your ice skates and you kept telling me to be careful so I wouldn’t cut the baby with the blades.You also like to boss William around and tell him that when the baby comes, you’re going to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for awhile, but it’s OK, you don’t have to be scared, she will bring us to the hospital to visit mommy and daddy. You also love to randomly come up to my belly and rub your nose against it and tell me you’re nuzzling the baby.

Although the questions aren’t as frequent, here are a some of your favorite questions to ask: How does the baby come out? Where does the baby come out of? How did the Baby get in there? How big is the baby? Will the baby be able to talk? What will happen to my Squinkies and Shopkins–will the baby try to eat them? Where will the baby sleep? How do they know if it is a boy or a girl?

Prior to finding out the baby’s gender, you were 100% positive this baby was a girl and only refer to it as a ‘she’ and ‘her’. I told you many times, we don’t know if this baby is a boy or a girl yet, and we’re just going to have to wait and see. Occasionally, after you catch yourself saying ‘she’ you’ll repeat the little phrase back to me verbatim. ‘Well, we don’t know if the baby is a girl or a boy yet, we’re just going to have to wait and see’

When we did decide to find out the gender, you played a pretty big role. We were driving home from school, I told you we could find out if the baby was a boy or a girl when we got home. You came tearing into the house and yelled, ‘Daddy, we get to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl’ and started going through the mail. I helped you identify the correct envelope and you started opening it right away. We ran upstairs so Daddy could be with us. You opened it and saw the words and kind of went silent. You helped identify the letter ‘G’ and when you connected the dots that girl starts with G, you got very giddy and announced that you are going to help give the baby bottles, but not change the poopy diapers.

Oh Lexi, you are going to be an excellent big sister to William and the new baby. You are sweet, kind, helpful, generous, thoughtful, protective and honest. Your sweet but honest demeanor are going to be great qualities and make you a wonderful role model to these two little ones. You love to follow the rules and let others know when they aren’t, love to play with your brother and are a great helper to mommy and daddy. I couldn’t have picked a better big sister to your little brother and sister and am so excited to watch you grow over the next year.