I love being a big sister, and today I have a fun and perhaps shocking announcement to make! But let me back up a little bit first…

One of the greatest roles I play in my life is being a big sister. I’m three years older than my sister Lauren, and we couldn’t be closer. We talk multiple times a day on either the phone, GChat, Facetime, or all three. I’m lucky to call her my best friend in the whole wide world.

We’ve always been close, which I know isn’t always the case for sisters. Growing up we played, danced, laughed, and put on shows constantly. As adults, we get along swimmingly and happen to feel and act the same in many situations. Sometimes I think she’s the only person that I think fully 100% understands me… even more than Anel which is crazy because he’s pretty in tune after five years of marriage.

When we found out that my dad’s wife, Jennifer, was pregnant almost seven years ago now, it was a huge surprise to me and my sister. For 25 years it had been just the two of us, and now a baby was coming into the picture. We had no idea how it would effect the family dynamic, and that was really scary. We’re both extremely close with our dad, and the fear was based in that relationship somehow deteriorating.

However when Jackson, our little brother, was born, it had the opposite effect, bringing the family closer together. I still talk to my dad daily on the phone, and although he has one more kid, he never makes us feel like we’re second fiddle. Jennifer has also been amazing at making us feel included every step of the way.

Not to mention, it’s been insanely fun being a big sister to a little brother. We’ve been able to experience everything with Jackson from changing his diaper, to watching him learn to swim, to traveling the world together, to many a bedtime story.

I’m excited to announce today that I’m going to be a big sister for the third time in January 2018!  Feel free to insert your Father of the Bride Part II joke here… everyone does it.

Much to my dismay, they aren’t finding out the gender, although I constantly pressure them to. Either way, I can’t wait to meet the little booger and expand our family brood very soon.

Do you have a “modern family”? I’d love to know about the dynamic and how it works for you!