When our eldest child was still a baby, we were on the fence of being one and done. As would any responsible parent would, we considered several factors into our family planning decision: my mental health, finances, childcare, career, etc.

And just when we were finally at peace with our decision to stop at one child, life has a funny way of turning our plans upside down.

As we were oscillating from being one and done to wanting another baby, I held a quiet hope that if we were ever meant to have another child, it would happen when Kitty turns first grade. 

By then, my body would have fully healed from the battles of postpartum recovery. My mental health would be steadier, no longer weighed down by the fog of sleepless nights and hormonal shifts.

Childcare wouldn’t be as overwhelming too, with Kitty spending more time in school. And financially, we would be in a much better place — more prepared, more stable.

And then, just as life often does, it unfolded in ways both unexpected and perfectly timed.

At the start of the school year, we learned we were expecting our second baby. 

The news hit us like a whirlwind. We hadn’t been actively trying for another child, so our initial reaction was pure shock. 

But as the reality settled in, it stirred a complex blend of emotions:

Excitement, because a new life was growing. Anxiety, because even with all our careful planning, the weight of responsibility felt immense. 

Grief, for the chapter we were closing — the simpler days of focusing on just Kitty, the quiet moments of having her as our only child. 

And yet we were also extremely happy, because despite the uncertainty, this baby was meant to be.

Seeing Kitty’s face light up with pure joy when she learned she was going to be a big sister was all the reassurance we needed that this surprise was truly worth it.

During my pregnancy,  we made sure to involve Kitty as much as possible. She eagerly joined us for nearly every prenatal checkup, her wide-eyed curiosity making each visit even more special.

Her reactions were priceless — the pure wonder on her face when we first heard the baby’s heartbeat, the excitement when we found out she was going to have a baby brother, and the awe when she saw his tiny features on the 3D ultrasound. 

Every milestone became even more meaningful with her by our side.

We let her have a voice in choosing his name, valuing her opinions as much as our own. 

She would talk to my belly every day, singing sweet songs and telling him stories, as if she already knew they would be the best of friends.

And when the day finally came to meet her baby brother, it was clear — she was the best big sister our little Liam could ever have.