My daughter desperately wanted to give out handmade valentines this year. We always end up running to the store at the last minute and picking out some prepackaged assortment, which is fine (we’ve done that every year except this one!). But, she was insistent, and so I set aside a couple of baby-free hours yesterday afternoon, and we made some really cute handmade cards together.

In the “no, life is not perfect” category, I will just say that having a second child does, in fact, make life harder for your first, especially if that first has been the one and only for quite some time (almost 8 years in my daughter’s case). That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have two kids, but my advice is to always remember that it is going to be difficult for your older child. No two ways about it. I try my hardest to make time for her, but it will never be the same as it was before Zane came along.

Still, I feel in my heart that they will both benefit so much from having a sibling, and Lillia absolutely adores her little brother (he’s “her” baby). At the same time, I am not oblivious to her needs, and I try to make special time for her when I can. We had a wonderful, craft-filled afternoon together. It was rejuvenating for me, for her, and for us.

Are you doing anything special for Valentine’s Day?