The day I learned that we were expecting a baby girl I was elated that Isabelle would have a sister. It was all the I wanted for her and I actually felt relieved that no matter what happens in life, I would have sisters to encourage one another. Yet, all throughout my pregnancy with Olivia I was very concerned that Isabelle would feel somehow less than, once the new baby arrived. I knew she would love her of course, but I feared she would be jealous of her taking mom and dad's time which she had enjoyed all by herself for the last 4 years. Even the last few nights before I delivered, I laid in bed and cried thinking about sweet little Jelly getting the "shove" very soon. Isabelle and I also fretted together over what Olivia would look like and I hoped and prayed that she would look just like her big sister and they would look like they belonged together. Isabelle even said out loud in her prayer one night...please let the baby look just like me and mom and not like dad! (I think she was worried she would be dark and hairy!) However, I stand all amazed after the first two months of little Livi's life just how blessed we are.
First, Olivia looks almost exactly like her big sister! I seriously sometimes look at her and think, is this actually Isabelle? Especially when Olivia happens to be wearing something that once belonged to her big sister. It is literally like seeing double. I am sure there will be plenty of differences between the two sisters, like Olivia is a good napper and Isabelle hated naps from day one. Or, that Olivia is still holding on to some of her dark baby hair and who knows if she will have quite the same light hair shade as Isabelle. Or even that at 2 months old, Olivia is a whole inch shorter and more than a pound lighter than big sister was! No matter what though, I think tiny Livi looks just like what Belle and I were dreaming about for 9 months!
Next, I couldn't have been more wrong about Isabelle feeling jealous or spiteful to her little sister. She is so absolutely in love with Olivia and spends all day taking care of her and making her smile. She tells her all day long just how sweet she is and how she is the cutest person in the entire family. Isabelle is so helpful and always wants to change her diaper, dress her, babysit her, hold her, etc. When Livi gives a shout, Belle rushes to her side and gives her her Nuk and calms her with a song or something. And Olivia shares the affection. She turns her head as fast as her tiny muscles can move when she hears Isabelle's voice in the room and her favorite time of the day is when she gets to sit in the big bathtub with her sister. She will sit in there for a half hour and let Belle soap her up and dump water all over her, all the while smiling and cooing. There has not been one sour moment yet between the two. Again, I am sure those days and feelings will come and go, but so far these two sisters are the best of friends.
In the words of Maya Angelou: I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people work at.
**In the first two pictures, Isabelle is on the left and Olivia is on the right!
