My daughter, the big sister

There's a new reason to blog about my charming Lilypie. Her baby sister will be joining us on or around February 8th! Yes, my little princess will soon be a big sister to our second little girlie. But, if you ask her she will quickly correct you (as she did the lady at the coffee shop yesterday)..."I'm a big sister NOW!" she says with her little brow a bit furrowed. She's right! Gotta give her credit for accuracy! She gets the whole "life at conception" concept better than some of my friends. So, we talk a LOT about the baby. She kisses my belly each day, talks to her sister and tells me that they're "secrets" and I can't listen. SO cute. She will be a great sibling. Lily was made to be a big sister. I would know. I am one myself! She'll be bossy, super loving, nurturing, guiding, inquisitive and jealous.
Part of me is very excited to have Lily know what having another kid around will be like. I am very much looking forward to the light bulb (and corresponding tantrums that will ensue) over her head when she realizes what life is like when you have to share and care and think about someone else. But another little part of me isn't ready to have this one-on-one time with her diminish. I pray a lot about that. I pray for the ability to make each of my girls feel needed and cared for and wanted. I want her to feel invited into my home and my life, not pushed out. Many of you who have more than one tell me that I will have challenging days, but there will definitely be enough love for everyone. That encourages me. I'm sure we'll all fall right into our new roles after the first few weeks or months. But for now, I relish the times in the car where no other baby cries and Lily can ask me a thousand questions about one topic. I hope she always feels loved and heard. She is. She SO is. My girl is growing up and that's a fact of life. Mommy's just not as ready as she is, I don't think. What Mom is?