On 'Only-Child' Life.

Dear Carter,

Very soon, your life will change.  Soon, you will become a Big Brother.

You have been an only child for three and a half years.  Those years have been so special to us, pal.

We have absolutely loved every second of being parents to only you.

You are our first - you'll always be our first.

Being your parents happened over night, literally - and it was sort of like being thrown into the deepest part of the ocean without ever having seen the water.  But you have been patient with us.  We are slow to learn, and you are quick to forgive.

In a few short months, we'll look back and try so hard to remember what it was like to have only one little treasure in our life.

Changes are coming, but change is good.  We know you will be the best Big Brother, because you are so full of sweetness and kindness and gentleness and sassiness (which, in this family, is the best trait to have).  

Your little sister is bound to adore you.  Her life will be like a canvas painted with every color of the rainbow - because of you.  She doesn't know it yet, but having you for her brother will be the most perfect gift.

Life has been so good, Carter B.  And it's only going to get better.  We promise.

At first, she might be really annoying.  Like, completely obnoxious.  We might all wonder what happened to our quiet, simple life.

And that's okay.  It's only going to get better.  We promise.

Lately, our little family of three has enjoyed long, quiet cuddles in our bed before putting you to bed in your own room.  You quietly make eyes with us, as we talk about the day that you just had, and look ahead to what awaits you tomorrow.  You laugh, and say hilarious things...and we swoon over your cuteness.

And these last moments of our family of three are so sweet.

We are just going to rock this thing, together.  As a family.

A family of four.

And maybe sometimes, on hard days, we will tuck you into your bed at night and snuggle in close, and we'll remember how sweet it was to be parents to only you.

Life is going to be different, but oh-so-good.

And it's only going to get better.  We promise.

One Thing I Know For Sure: The best is yet to come, we promise.