Little Sisters and Big Brothers

Some of you may know that I am the youngest in a family of two—my brother being 18 months older than me. 

Being a big brother is a big job, and when we were younger, we definitely had our moments.  I played the role of little sister really well, i.e. I loved to get him in trouble.  Just turning on the waterworks and running for mom did wonders when he wouldn’t give me the toy I wanted.  I also loved to drive him up the wall in argument when I would scream at him: talking to a wall, talking to a wall, talking to a wall!  I still haven’t lived that one down.  In the car, he would get his revenge by slugging me in the left arm (he sat on the left side of the van and me on the right) and I had what I fondly refer to now as a perma-bruise.  Probably well-deserved. 

But the truth is I drove him nuts because little sister loved to be around big brother.  I wanted to do everything he was doing.  I remember wanting to play Star Trek with him and his best friend, and while they reluctantly agreed, they gave me the role of Doctor Crusher because she always stayed on the ship—never going on “away missions” with the crew.  Basically, this meant sitting on the bunk bed while the two boys were off on their imaginary missions.  Pretty clever, really. 

I also remember going on bike rides near our house.  My mom always told my brother that he had to stay with me, because I was his little sister and needed to be looked after.  I loved to gloat about that one, and while he’d always agree at mom’s insistence, once we were around the corner he’d speed off and only come back for me when he was ready to head home.  I’m pretty sure I told on him. 

Sounds like a pretty normal sibling relationship, yeah? 

Just wait.

My favorite memories are of playing on the backyard swings with my brother, taking the dog for a walk, laughing as we wrestled with dad on the floor in front of the TV, and making memories as only a brother and sister can.

And the older we got, the better it got. I started to appreciate my big brother even more.  I looked up to him more than anyone else, and the example he set for me was always good.  Whether it was in school, or at home, or with friends, there was never a time when I couldn’t look to my big brother for an example of the person I wanted to be.  He was my hero. 

I remember how Tony always knew what he believed in, and he was always willing to stand by it.  I saw that in him and it made me want to know what I believed in too.  I remember going to my brother and asking him questions about God, about politics, and about how to integrate our faith in the society we lived in.  His answers always impressed me and made me think. He knew the Bible and would point to passages that related to what we were talking about.  He inspired me to know more, to be more, and to grow in my faith. 

I remember one time in high school—I was a freshman and he was a junior---and it was one the first days of school. We were standing in a group of his friends and some other upperclassman.  Someone asked Tony who his best friend was, and without hesitating, he put an arm around my neck and said my sister is.  I’ll never forget that moment.  My heart soared with pride. 

I think it was high school that was the turning point for Tony and I.  Our relationship morphed into a deep friendship and appreciation for one another.  He became my best friend.  We’d have brother-sister nights at the movies, we’d talking about everything (even things we didn’t want mom and dad to know….solidarity!), he rescued me (and laughed at me) when I got my car stuck in the snow on more than one occasion, we were roommates in college one year, and when I interned at the US Embassy in London my junior year of college, he visited me and we went to Italy together.  Those were some precious memories 

We’ve seen each other through all the curve balls life has thrown our way, and he’s been a sounding board and listening ear every single time I’ve needed one.  I love him more than I could ever say.  I look up to him for the person he’s always been, for the person he is now, and for the person I see him becoming.  I am so proud to call him my brother, and feel incredibly blessed that God saw fit to give me the precious gift of a big brother. 

So why am I telling you all of this? 

Because, as Adam and I began to talk about starting a family, we talked a lot about how we wanted our little girl to have the special gift of a big brother.   Adam is a big brother, too, and he understands the importance of that role.  I know what an incredible gift I was given in mine, and I’ve always wanted my little girl to have that built-in protector, that partner in crime, and that best friend she’ll know her whole life through.  I’ve always wanted her to have a big-brother hero, just like I do. 

While Adam and I would have been overjoyed with whatever God had planned for our family, we always hoped that we’d welcome a little boy first, because we both know how important big brothers are, what an important job they play, and what a precious, precious gift they represent.

And so, it is with incredible joy that we share with you the results from Friday’s ultrasound:

It’s a boy.