A Letter to the Big Sisters

"An older sister is a friend and defender – a listener, conspirator, a counselor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too." – Pam Brown”

Jo Grace + Parker Jane,

My sweet girls.  We are counting down the days now before you will officially earn the title “Big Sister,” and I will become a mama to three girls.  But, your Daddy and I have been calling you that for months – and even still when we use the word ‘sister’ you glance at one another as if to say – “yea, there she is.  That’s my sister.”   

You girls wise beyond your years and your daddy and I have been working very hard to prepare you for what lays ahead, though we hardly know ourselves what it could be like with three of you running around.  You both have come to realize and are definitely aware that something big is about to happen, but I don't think any toddler can truly grasp new life.  Reading you stories, calling your littlest sister by name, letting you love on my belly (you are so good at loving on my belly), reminding you that there will be a “new sister” for you to be a big help with very soon – all in attempts to help you understand.   I want to write you this letter to let you know, before your new baby sister arrives, how very much I love you and how much you mean to me, even though words could never, ever do my feelings for you girls a single bit of justice.   Our mother-daughter bond is exceptional, and all that to say, you are both fiercely independent, uber confident, and have no issue whatsoever about leaving my side when you want.  

I love that about you, my sweet girls.  

The past 31 months with you both have been an absolute joy.  You sweet girls are our JOY.  You bring your daddy and I so much happiness and watching you grow into the sweet, kind, and amazing little people you have become has been, by far, the most incredible journey of our entire lives.  I want you to know how special you are because these next couple months you might feel a little confused.. I want you to know that you could NEVER be replaced and that your daddy and I are going to try very hard to make sure you never feel sidelined.   You will always be the girls that made me a mama first, and you will always be the ones that stole our hearts before any other.  Deep down inside, I know you two will do just fine. You have shared the attention of another for your entire life- your daddy and I are confident that you will rock at this big sister job.  You both have the biggest hearts and I know there will come a day that you couldn’t remember what it was like not being the sisters three.  My trio - you have so much life and growing to do together. I am more excited about that than anything else.  The very thought of you girls stepping in to help me with littlest sister, so sweetly and intently, just brings me to my knees in thanksgiving.

Your emotional mama gets teary eyed simply thinking of being in the hospital, away from you for a couple days.  The ‘hey mama’ that I get greeted with first thing in the morning when I open your bedroom door is the highlight of my entire day.  I treasure moments like these and cling to them because I know all too well they are fleeting.  Time is flying.  I want to always remember them just as they are, precious moments with you, Jolie Grace and Parker Jane.

I want to freeze time forever.

There are some big changes on the horizon for all of us.  But your daddy and I have proven to be quite the parenting team - I don't know what I would do without him.  After all this family of four has been through, we can do anything.  I know in my heart  that together we're going to be awesome as we greet your new baby sister into our lives and grow from a family of four to five.  More love than we ever imagined is going to come into our family (though it hardly seems possible that there is room for more love in my heart). Whatever the future will bring - as crazy as it might be sometimes - I am certain that it will bring with it love.

I love you so much, more than you could ever possibly know.  You two are very, very special to me. You are my heart, my love, my sunshine.. you girls have proven your incredible ability to adapt to just about anything thrown your way and I know that this transition into big sisterhood will be no different.  Parker and Jolie, you never cease to amaze us. We are so very proud of you.

You will always be my baby girl(s). My firstborn(s). My sidekick(s).

I love you with all my heart,

Mama

Big Sisters,

You two are about to be big sisters. I can not wait! I have been thinking so much about when my first girls get to meet our sweet new baby girl. I think about that almost as much as I think about meeting her myself. You two are what made me a 'dada', which is something I cherish and adore being more than anything in this world. 

I daydream everyday how it will be when you finally get to meet the 'baby sister' we have been talking about for month and months. I want you both to know that your momma and I love you more than anything and that will never change. I know you will be amazing big sisters who love their little sister and will be such big helpers. 

Your momma and I have watched you with other babies and your baby dolls - and how proud we are. We comment all the time about how motherly you two are and about how good we think you will be with a baby sister. I am looking forward to those sweet sugars on the forehead I know you will freely give. I watch the way you love on each other and that makes me feel confident that you will love her just as much. 

I love you two and am so excited about this journey of become big sisters you are about to start. 

Dad

 headbands c/o mint + arrows // tee c/o curly q's counter // skirts c/o the twirl shop