Sister Speak

How many of you firstborns always wished you had an older brother or sister? I longed to have an older brother when I was younger. Maybe I thought he'd protect me from mean people at school and teach me how to play sports. By the time I was staring college in the face, I realized how much an older sister would have benefited me. I would have had answers to all my questions. I might have even followed her to college and had someone hang out with in those first few weeks when you're really insecure and do stupid things because of it. (Was that just me?) Of course, I'm sure I would have endured my share of torture had I been blessed with an older sibling. And how do I know this? Because I am an older sibling.

The Lord was sweet to give me two big sisters, Amy H. and Jennifer H., when I was really needing it, which was at age 18. Ten years later, we are still doing life together and I am still looking to them for advice and prayer. I love you, ladies!

Through the blog world, I have become acquainted with an author and speaker named Marla Taviano. She is a wife and a mom of three little girls and is just a few years older than me. I have read two of Marla's books in entirety and I think she has a great Big Sister voice. A Christ-centered Big Sister voice at that. The latest book of hers that I read was Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time: A Reflective Journey Through Your Baby's First Year. It came in the mail right before we moved and I just had a chance to pick it up about a month ago. Let me tell y'all something. I do not have the time or attention span to read boring, serious books at this time in my life. Hello, I have a two-year-old. If I'm going to read non-fiction, it needs to speak to me right where I am and I'd prefer to laugh along the way.

Now I'm going to put on my own Big Sister voice. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant within the near future, or if you are in that amazing learning curve that is your baby's first year, please bless yourself and get your hands on this book. No one is paying me to say this and I'm not getting a free gift because of it. I just think it's a great book. If you're not there yet, you'll learn a ton. If you're already there, you'll be encouraged AND learn a ton. If you've already been there and are thinking about going there again, you'll be reminded, encouraged, and learn some things you didn't get the first time around.

One thing that sets Marla apart is that she's had so many different experiences that I think she can relate to just about everyone. She knows about miscarriages, the sometimes very long and sometimes short journey to conception, epidurals and natural childbirth. She's very relatable and has a sense of humor. She invites you to celebrate motherhood but doesn't make you feel bad for having Calgon, take me away! moments. Her tone is conversational, down to earth, and grace-filled. One of my favorite things about the two books I've read is that she uses a lot of quotes from women she's surveyed. I loved reading their perspectives.

If you're not even thinking about having kids yet and you've made it this far, I appreciate you sticking with me! If you're married, you might want to pick up Is That All He Thinks About? How to Enjoy Great Sex With Your Husband. Your husband will thank you. Your husband might even take over your blog and give a heartfelt endorsement. But if his mom and grandma are reading, he might leave that to you.

You can connect with Marla through her web site and her blog. Boo Mama beat me to talking about this book (shame on me! I've been writing this in my head for 3 weeks), but the benefit is that they're doing a special of all three of Marla's books for $20. (There's one called From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife that I havent' read.)

Well, I'm off to call my little sister and tell her, again, how sorry I am for calling her swamp thing when we were kids. Y'all have a great weekend!