Special Big Sister Stories

"The best thing about having a sister is always having a friend"

Cali Rae Turner

If there is anyone more excited about being a big sister, it's Nya!

From day one, Nya has been literally OVER THE MOON about having another baby. She has talked non-stop about being a big sister, taking care of her sister, what she wants to do with her, teach her and places she wants to take her.

I think that by including and incorporating Nya into everything pertaining to her sister from the very beginning, plays a huge factor in her excitement.

From being the very first to know about my pregnancy, to taking her to every doctors appointment and ultrasound with me, baby shopping, nursery decorating, baby clothes sorting, washing, folding and putting away,  etc. Nya has been apart of it all.  Nya hasn't missed a heartbeat with any of it, and I have been more than thrilled to have her apart of it.

We have made every effort to make sure Nya never thinks or feels that things are changing just as a result to the baby. Children will be easily become jealous, envious and even bitter towards having a sibling if they feel that things are changing or happening just because a new baby is coming into the home.

For example, Nya's crib set. When we introduced the idea of a big girl bed to Nya, we never said things like 'the baby will need your crib' or 'the baby will be sleeping in there', etc. Instead, we uplifted and praised the fact that she's growing up and becoming a big girl like mommy. We explained that with being a big girl, she gets the perks of being a big girl, like getting her very own  big girl bed.

I started this conversation with Nya a few weeks after finding out we were expecting with Sweet Pea. I wanted to prepare her and give her time to process the idea and get excited about it.

At three months of pregnancy, I brought Nya to the furniture store with me and let her help pick out her new bed. I also took her to Home Sense and let her pick out her very own bedspread and sheet set for her new bed. This sent her sailing!!! All she talked about for weeks after was her big girl bed and how excited she was to not be in her crib anymore. Even at this point, we never mentioned where the crib was going or that her sister would be talking it over.

Several months of 'big girl bed' talks and excitement, her big girl set finally arrives next weekend. Woo Hoo!!

A fews weeks ago out of no where Nya said to me "Mommy!! I am getting my big girl bed soon!!". I said "Yes Nya, that's right!! You'll have a bed just like mommy and daddy!!!". With her face alit and eyes sparkling she looked up at me and said "Yes, and the baby is going to sleep in my crib. It's going to go in the baby's room".

Floored by the maturity of my 2.5year old to understand that without ever being told, shocked me a little. She wasn't upset, dissapointed, or even sad about the idea. Rather, we was expressing her excitement regarding her new bed and the idea of her sister sleeping in her crib.

Nya has shown in many ways how ready she is for this new change in our lives. We questioned at first how she would be or react to the idea of a new baby, me being pregnant, the changes in the home, etc. But she has proven to us that we have nothing to worry about.

Now, we understand things may change a bit once the baby actually gets here and that she might have a hard time sharing mommy at first, but we really aren't concerned. We think she will settle in very well with the changes. She wants her sister here to hold, kiss, snuggle and play with just as much as we do :)

One thing I plan to do to help with the adjustment at first is having a 'sisters gift' for her at the hospital. This will be presented to Nya from her sister when she comes to the hospital to meet her for the first time. It will be something special to show Nya how much her sister loves her.

Now, I can't take credit for this amazing idea; my sister thought of this when she had her second son Grant several years ago. I thought it was a fantastic idea and have encouraged other expecting mommies to do the same since.

It not only makes the chid feel that they are still just as important and relevant, but it kindles an immediate bond between the two siblings. Who doesn't like getting gifts right?! lol Anyone who gives a gift to a child becomes their best friend. ha ha

Anyhow, I wanted to document a few of the sweet and special memories I have shared with Nya regarding my pregnancy and the arrival of her sister below. Something Sweet Pea can look back and reflect on knowing how much Nya loves her already :)


Belly Kisses
Almost daily, I get a kiss on my tummy from Nya to her sister. It doesn't matter when or where we are, if she is feeling compelled to give her sister a kiss, she will walk over to me, wrap her little arms around me or place her hands on my tummy and give her sister a big kiss.
She'll say to me "mommy, I want to give the baby a kiss!". It never gets old with me; I welcome the kisses every time :)

Shopping For Hair Clips
Just the other week after outreach, a few girls from church and myself stopped into Ardene's to look at some new hair clips and accessories for Nya. At one point during our shopping trip, Nya came over with a pretty clip in her hand and said 'Mommy, can we buy this for my sister?'. Needless to say, she sent the girls and myself into a frenzy of 'Awwww's'. lol
Once she saw our reaction, the rest of the trip there she was 'shopping for her sister' picking out every cute clip she could find. ha ha

'Ill Make Space On The Couch'
One thing with Nya and the daycare kids is that she hates to make space on the couch for the other kids. Nya has 'her' spot on the couch, and if it requires her to move over to make space for another child, she is not very happy. She will say that there isn't enough space for her now or that she has no where to sit, etc. lol It's an ongoing battle.
Anyhow, a month ago at the dinner table Nya said to me out of no where with a big smile and nodding as she spoke 'Mommy, I will make space on the couch for my sister!!'. I literally busted out laughing!!! For Nya to not only be willing, but to 'suggest' that she make space on the couch for her sister, shows just how much she really must love her sister! ha ha

Nya's Overnight Bag
I've already started to think and plan towards Nya's overnight bag for when we go to the hospital with Sweet Pea. Last week while running some errands with Nya,  I bought her 'special new big sister' toothbrush to pack in her overnight bag. I told her that it was a 'special big sister toothbrush' that she will take with her and use at Grampy's house when mommy has the baby. Now, nothing to the eye makes this toothbrush special then any other, aside from the cool suction cup bottom and Hello Kitty cover maybe, lol, but it was the fact that I made it a big deal in her eyes. This is just one of the few things I plan to pack in her bag to make her excited and feel special while we are in the hospital.
Just today she took her 'special' toothbrush out of her closet and said 'Mommy, I want to bring this to the hospital to show my sister ok!! I want to show her my special toothbrush'. It was soo cute!
I of course said 'That's a fantastic idea!! You're sister would love to see it!'.

'Awwww, So Cute!'
This is one of Nya's cute and favorite sayings when I show her something for her sister; whether it be a toy, clothes, shoes, etc.
She'll say it genuinely and with such meaning behind it too; it's hilarious!

'Is The Baby Hungry?'
Nya will ask me from time to time if the baby is hungry. She will even randomly tell me  'Mommy, you need to eat, the baby is hungry!'. lol It's the sweetness in her innocence and care that is really precious. She'll even go to the extent of coming to the kitchen with me to see and ask what I am going to eat to feed the baby. lol

Singing For The Baby
Friday night we were driving home from the mall as a family. Nya was singing her heart out in the backseat, something she does all the time, but this time, she wasn't singing for us or for her own entertainment, rather she was singing for her sister :)
She was belting the song "Hallelujah" from the top of her lungs. Dennard and I started laughing at her passion when she stopped us and said 'I am singing for my sister!'. lol

Adorable Quotes from Nya:
"Mommy, I'm going to tickle the baby's feet and change her socks when they get dirty"- lol

"Mommy, the baby can sleep with me in my bed. We can have sleepovers"

While giving me a bug hug, Nya has said "I'm snuggling with the baby". Too cute!

"Mommy, I can change the baby's bum. I will get rid of the poo poo for her". Lol
Let's see if this offer still stands once the baby gets here! Ha ha