Big Sister Brooklyn

I was looking for a sweet sister quote, one that would make someone say "Awwwww", but instead I came across this one and just had to use it....hahaha!

I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.  

~Author unknown, attributed to a 4-year-old named Lauren

Well if you asked any of my family and friends about what I was most nervous about during my pregnancy it was how Brooklyn was going to adjust to her new baby sister!  I was pretty worried...in fact I probably cried about it a time or two lol!  It's just such a big change and I didn't know how much it would change up Brooklyn's routine, really just her life in general!  I didn't know if she would be jealous, resentful, act out, regress, withdraw, hate her momma!....I was just thinking about everything :(

Lots of prayers were said and Brad would always tell me (my raging hormonal self ha) that brining a new baby into her world was normal (meaning lots of people do it) and that it would probably be good for her.  Also, he would tell me that she would love it ;)  Then I would feel better...until my emotional self got the better of me and I would worry all over again HA!

Anyway, I know it will not always be perfect, and believe me we have had our days, but overall Brooklyn has done amazingly well and really made this transition such a blessing!  I am so grateful and so thankful for the sweet girl she is :)  UGH I really just can't get enough of her!

Here is just a quick letter to my precious Miss B.....

Dear Brooklyn,

Well you pretty much ROCK!

I just wanted to share with you how you have been with the arrival of your new sister.  You may not remember all of this, but maybe on the days when you want to pull your sisters hair out, you can read this and it will remind you just how much you LOVE her ;)

• When you saw your sister for the first time you had THE BIGGEST SMILE on your face I have ever seen.  Your eyes were so big and you just wanted to hold her right away.  Oh it just melted our hearts.  We gave her to you and you just looked her over and were so careful.  Then you pointed over to your 'bunny' and you wanted us to get YOUR bunny to share with your sister.  You put it right up to her face so she could love on it just like you do :)
• When we came home from the hospital you were in your playroom and we were calling for you but you didn't come right away.  We rounded the corner and set Brynlee down, who was in her car seat, and your eyes just lit up and you came running!  You could not get her out of that car seat fast enough and wanted to hold her again :)  You help daddy unbuckle her and we went straight over to the couch and you just held her and stare at her...I felt like you were looking at her like, "She is all mine ;)"
• The next few mornings, after we came home, as soon as you woke up you were pointing to the door. You would go running out to look for Brynlee.  You just couldn't get enough of her. Eventually after about day 5 you didn't go running out the door anymore, but you still like to go find Brynlee and say hi to her in the morning :)
• GENTLE! I know that is a word you are hearing a lot lately, but overall you do a great job being gentle to your sister.  You like to pat her back, like mommy does when I am burping her, but sometimes you pat her like you are trying to get a burp and all the contents of her stomach up!  Or you want to give her a hug but it is more like your mommy and daddy hug when you squeeze the life out of us (which we LOVE by the way). Or you might grab her arm or leg and pull depending on what you are trying to get her to do....yikes!  We practice on your baby doll which helps, but like I said you really just love on her for the most part :)
• So there is this thing that I know other moms do to try to get their little one to sleep that I do for Brynlee (and I did for you too).  When she is really sleepy and just not shutting her eyes I rub my hand over her eyes, starting at her forehead and then down across her face, and she will close them and go to sleep.  The other day I saw you doing this to her...it cracked me up!
• I LOVE LOVE LOVE your unsolicited hugs and cuddles you give Brynlee.  It is so sweet when I turn around and you are snuggled up to her while she is in her bouncer or swing. Sometimes you will point to sleeping during church and you want to give her a cuddle...which we let you do :)
• You are such a big helper!!  When she is crying you have brought me her paci.  The other day I was changing a big poopy diaper and when you saw it you brought me 3 bags of wipes!!  You are just a Little Mother!
• You are learning to share and you like to share with your sister although we have to be careful right now.  You have tried to share your cherrios, your food pouches, raisins, water, toys, etc.... I could name more but you get the idea lol! 
• You like to have Brynlee try things you do...like you grab her hands and try to get her to clap when we are all clapping.  Or say your memory verse with the hand motions...you move her hands like you do. The other day you tried to give her a marker so she could color.  It was funny to see you try to put it into her hand by opening up her fingers...but you are also good about stopping when mommy tells you that Brynlee doesn't want to do that right now ;)
• We ALWAYS give you a good night hug and kiss and when we first brought Brynlee home you would remind us by pointing to Brynlee that you wanted to hug and kiss her too.  Now we never forget but it was so sweet that you would reach for her and include her in your night time lovin' right from the start! :)
• There are a few things mommy does not let you do for Brynlee, like give her a bath or change her diaper all by yourself, which you don't like one bit and have gotten pretty upset at times.  But you are only 21 months old...one day you will understand ;)
• Speaking of doing things yourself,  which you are really into now, when you want to hold her we go to help you and you push our arms (meaning let go so I can hold her all by myself).  We have let you do this a few times under our supervision and lots of pillows around ha!  You feel so proud!
• You brush Brynlee's hair whenever you brush yours.
• The other day you read Brynlee a story and daddy and I laughed so hard cause you stuck the book right in her face, and I mean RIGHT in her face, to show her the picture...it was so cute and funny :)
• Whenever I see Brynlee smile (which isn't a whole lot yet) I tell you and you come running over to see!  It will be so fun when Brynlee starts to really interact with you...I'm super excited about that! I know you can't wait!

You just LOVE LOVE LOVE her so much! We tell you all the time, "Ohhh Brynlee loves Brooklyn!" and you just smile real big!  You both are such a blessing to us and we are SO PROUD of you! We pray that you will always be there for one another and always remember you are blessed to have each other :)

Love,

Mom