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!
Awww congratulations!! That is so exciting!!
xx, Elise
http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com
Love it! I have a little sister who is 15 years younger than me, and when I first found out that my mom was pregnant, I was really upset. But just like you said, it brought us all closer and now none of us can imagine our lives without Genevieve. It’s so fun to be so much older—in fact, I’m currently in New York with my little sis (taking her on a sister trip to see Hamilton). My motto now is the more the merrier!
Xx Hannah // http://www.homemadebanana.com
So cute! I recently went to Hamilton with my little brother Jackson, too. Such an amazing experience!
Oh exciting for your family!! How fun for Amalia!
That’s really cool!! Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes!!! Congrats to all of you!!
Lovely news. Does that mean Amalia will be older than her Aunt/Uncle? I love families of all sorts and shapes
Yes! So funny, right?
I’m 35. My brother is 32. My parents had a late-in-life surprise child when my parents were 46/47. That baby bro will be 14 in two weeks. 🙂 It was wild: my mom didn’t find out until she was 6 mos pregnant; we didn’t find out until she was 7. (She thought she was going through menopause.) I’m 21.5 years older than him to the date, and he’s my favorite person ever (besides my husband). He was a brother-in-law by age 5. My 32-year-old brother graduated high school in May 2003; Matthew was born in August 2003. It’s literally like my parents started over.
Babies and expanding families are ALWAYS great news! Congratulations all around!
I agree! xoxo
Ohmygoodness! That’s amazing! My mother is older than two of her uncles and has an aunt the same age (my grandfather was the 2nd of 11 children and 20+ years older than the 3 youngest) — they were all raised like cousins and remain nearly as close as siblings!
Congratulations! Your little ladybug will always have someone to play with and go through life with — whatever “label” is put on them.
Awww I LOVE hearing that. Thank you so much for sharing!
My own “Modern Family” puts the Modern Family tv show to shame. My scenario is 10x more modern than yours but can’t be posted in public! Lol. Maybe one day if we meet at a bloggers convention I will tell you all about it, as you will need more than just a drink! Haha
On another note, congratulations! That is great news 🙂
OMG now I need to know!! Hahaha
Congratulations!!! My husband’s dad is getting remarried so we’re wondering if he’s going to end up with another sibling at some point! My cousins have a similar family dynamic as they have nieces and nephews who are older than them, and it always seemed so fun that they were growing up together.
Kristina does the Internets
It’s definitely fun! Tell your husband not to worry if it happens. It’s definitely weird at first but ends up being the best blessing!
I love this so much! Your little sibling will be best friends with your daughter!!
xxoo
Mary
http://www.BelleOnTrend.com
OMG love that! So fun to have a growing family 🙂
Oh my goodness, congrats to you and the fam! I actually grew up as an only child. When my dad re-married, he and my step-mom had a baby boy! We’re 14 years apart! It’s kind of crazy, but I love my little brother so much. I’m definitely apart of a modern family too and I love it! It makes things so interesting LOL
I just read this but OMG congrats……so I am 34 my husband is 41 ….we have a 10 year old and a 7 year old. He also has a 21 year old daughter and 18 year old son from previous relationships. His 21 year old daughter has a daughter too so technically now that makes us grandparents but we also want one or two more of our own. Even though my husband says its crazy to think he will have a baby younger than his grandbaby if we do have another of our own lol
LOL I’m glad to know that I’m not in the only modern family around. My father walked out when I was two, and my mother, a successful commercial airline pilot, had just become a Captain. My mother, to ensure financial stability for me and my brother, did not quit her job, which created a problem considering that her job required her to fly around the world four consecutive days a week. She hired a kind young woman from Congo to raise me, and, after 10 years, my nanny’s husband — in Canada — suffered a few medical problems.
My mother helped the man get his citizenship and and invited him to live in her house for free in exchange for taking care of our cats.
So, in short, for most of college and high school, my immediate family in the household consisted of me and my quasi-surrogate parents from Congo, whom I love as much as my biological parents. On another side note, I am the only Italian-American I know that speaks fluent French with a Central African accent.