As I sit down to write this post, it’s beginning to snow outside and we are in the full holiday swing! Today is the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas is only a couple of weeks away. Chloe is at an age where she is starting to “get” the holidays a bit more, and she is very excited for Santa Claus to come and, in particular, to bake him cookies (which I believe she thinks are really just for her to eat).

I remember as a kid being so excited for the holiday season and a big part of that was my parents. They always decorated the house so beautifully and made sure that we had bits of magic throughout the season. As a result, I believed in Santa Claus for…too long? But it was so fun! And in that same spirit, I’ve been really leaning into holiday fun this year, trying to create little moments of joy for Chloe throughout the month.

We started with this little felt Christmas tree that hangs in her room. I figured it would be a one-and-done sort of thing, but she regularly likes to take it down and re-decorate.

We also picked out our Christmas tree last weekend and got to decorate it. Chloe only broke one ornament – honestly, better than I expected! But she really loved to help and gets excited every evening when all the lights come on.

Finally, we got her an advent calendar with a little treat in it every day. She gets so excited to open a new “door” each day, and it’s been really fun doing it with her.

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, so we will be lighting the menorah. Let’s just hope she does better this year than she did last year…

Even when sobbing, she’s the cutest baby in the world!

Another big thing we’ve been talking about is Chloe’s baby sister, coming April 2024! I’m not sure how much she really comprehends the idea of a new sibling, but she does love babies and seems very excited to have a little sister. She talks about how the baby is in mommy’s tummy and how she is going to help when the baby is born.

I’m also feeling excited to meet this new little one, but it also feels very bittersweet to be adding to our family. I am just so in love with Chloe that the thought of having another child that I will love just as much feels impossible. I remember before I had Chloe thinking that I loved Sophie (the dog) more than anything and I was afraid I wouldn’t love our baby as much. That was clearly insane, but it really is impossible to know the love you will feel for your child until you have them.

I’ve been really trying to soak up these last few months while it’s just me and Chloe. I pulled her out of daycare early this week to bake cookies, and the little holiday treats I’ve been surprising her with have all been in service of not only making the holidays special, but of also making our time together special, knowing that inevitably things will change when baby #2 comes.

I am a little nervous about how both she and I will adjust – me, having to divide my attention between the girls, and her having to get used to not being the center of attention. I think she will inevitably start to lean more on Rob, which I am actually excited about (for him – I’m sure it will break my heart and I will hate it haha). Right now, I’m Chloe’s number one person, but I’ve heard that when the second comes, that’s the time for the first to bond more with dad, and I know that Rob would really enjoy that.

Ultimately, I know everything will be fine and I know that, as with all other challenges/changes she’s faced, Chloe will handle our changing family with confidence and joy. She’s probably the most adaptable person I know – a trait I think she got from me – so I’m hopeful that she will find the good in the situation and lean into that, taking on the role of ‘Big Sister’ with all the excitement in the world.