Lucky Little Ray

Oh, Ray. I wish you knew already what a wonderful big sister you have. In the evening, one of her favorite things to do is rub lotion on my belly as we talk about you. She gently rubs the lotion between her hands and then onto my tummy, even pausing for an occasional kiss. She loves talking about the baby in my tummy and even invited you to her birthday party – and that’s about the biggest gesture possible for a two-year-old obsessed with birthdays.

She points to your crib and says “baby” and likes looking at all of your tiny blue clothes in the dresser drawers next to hers. She’s excited to stay with grandma and grandpa when you are born and I know will be thrilled to meet you at the hospital. We’re going to wrap up some little blue hats and mittens for her to give you and you already have a little puppy purse planned as your first gift to her.

She practices taking care of baby dolls, rocking them, holding them, pushing them in buggies on “trips.” She even likes to push the big stroller, so I think some wild rides are in your future. She’s quite the little football player with dad and can wrestle with the best of them, so she’s definitely ready for a rough-and-tumble little brother.

Most of all, I think she’ll be excited to have a forever playmate, a best friend, a sibling. You two will spend so much time together, reading books, playing peek-a-doo, running around the backyard with the dogs, dumping sand in the sandbox, going for walks and having tea parties with the play kitchen. You’ll do puzzles, play trucks, throw balls, share stuffed animals, chase each other, draw pictures and collect stickers. And even if you don’t always get along or see eye to eye, you’ll love each other in the way only brothers and sisters can.

You’re a lucky little boy, Ray. And so is your big sis’, Natalie.