Having babies together

Being the youngest in my family I watched my sisters have kids while I was still a kid myself (I was 6 when my first nephew was born). I loved being an aunt and watching their families grow and soon some siblings were done having kids. Then I got married and started to think about how I was in such a different stage than most of my siblings. I was worried that I wouldn't get the chance to be pregnant and have kids together with my sisters. Who were my kids going to play with? My brother got married a few months after I did, so I thought I at least had him there with me. Then when they announced they were having a kid a whole year or more before I was even ready...I was very upset.

Finally, when we were ready to start our little family I was excited because Brian's sister was already pregnant. I was just a couple months behind her and was relieved that my baby would have a cousin to play with. Then my sister got pregnant a month after me (mind you it was her 4th and my 1st). It was so fun to be able to share my pregnancy with my sister and sister-in-law. It is just nice to have someone else to complain with and who doesn't get sick of talking about pregnancy because they are going through it with you.

This time around another sister-in-law was already pregnant, so I knew I had her. I didn't really have any hope for anyone on my side of the fam. See one sister had what she thinks will be her last child just last month, and my bro has a little 6 month old so I don't think they will be having another anytime soon.

Then, yesterday, I got some great news...my sister Jo is pregnant. She hasn't quite realized how exciting this is yet (this will be an unexpected 5th child...4 1/2 years after the 4th) but I am so excited! I never thought I would get a chance to be pregnant with her. And I have a special place in my heart for her little family since I got to live with them for 2 summers and take care of her cute girls. I am so excited for my next little one to be cousins with her next little one.
I have also learned to appreciate the different stages that all of my siblings are at. I love that my nieces and nephews that I used to babysit can now babysit my kids. And I realize that they don't have to be 2 months apart to be able to play well with each other (Emery is obsessed with Ava who is 16 months older). I am just so happy that my kids will have cousins to play with afterall - because cousins are such good friends to have.