Raising sisters

When I was pregnant with Big Sister E, I was fairly certain that I was having a girl. Sure enough, when the ultrasound revealed that I was right, I was overjoyed knowing that I was going to have a daughter (or pretty overjoyed, considering the ultrasound tech pointed out at least twice that with girls, they're pretty sure but it's not quite as easy as with boys. Yes Lady, I understand anatomy, THANKS). Two years later, when I was pregnant with Little Sister B, I thought she was going to be a boy. I don't know why, I just did and I was pretty sure. So, when we had her ultrasound and were told that she was a girl, I was amazed that I was wrong. I was all, really? And the tech was all, see the lines? Do you understand anatomy? Oh, RIGHT.

Their first picture together taken right after bringing Little Sister B home from the hospital

Now that I've had 7+ months to witness my girls as sisters, I am beyond happy that they will have each other as a friend forever. I can't wait to see them grow up and play together and share secrets and whisper late into the night and hear about when they call each other to commiserate on how crazy Mom is... oh wait, I probably won't hear about that.

For now, it warms my heart to see them together and when Big Sister E gives her little sis hugs and kisses and rushes to make sure she has a toy (or two... or TOO MANY as in the picture here), I couldn't be more proud of her. There are moments when she, understandably, doesn't want her hair pulled or her toys taken away. But there are also times when Little Sister B is in a crabby mood and all it takes is her big sister to sit down in front of her and patiently give her a rattle, then a block, then a stuffed animal, and on and on forever. Big Sister E takes those responsibilities as a big sister very seriously and, as well as playing, she really loves helping Mommy and Daddy whenever she can (sometimes I even have to stop her from helping when, say, it's probably best that I am the one who throws away the poop-covered diaper or feeds Little Sister B her cereal. Letting a toddler take charge in either situation seems to end up in a mess that is just not pleasant).

There are days like today that I pause and think, how did I get here? Growing up, my mom always told me how time goes by so fast and the years slip away as you get older and yada yada, all that stuff that GROWN-UPS always drone on about, but all of a sudden it makes sense. She was... right. How old will my kids be (or will they be fully grown) before I stop asking, how is it possible that these are MY CHILDREN? And will I ever stop being baffled that I am SOMEBODY'S MOTHER?

I have a hunch that it is a little too late for me to wonder if I'm up to the task of raising these girls, no? But as I watch them play and learn and grow together, I just hope that I can show them how lucky they are to have each other and that the bond that they have as sisters will last a lifetime. I think that one day they, too will realize that giving each of them a sister was the best thing I've ever done.

Two wonderful, beautiful somebodies.