Life with Levi
By Amanda Olson
Editor 

Today is a very special day. 

18 years ago today, on August 13, 1995 at 2:54 p.m., I became a big sister. And I remember the day like it was just yesterday. 

It was a Sunday. I was at my Dad’s house when my stepdad Tony called to say that they were headed to the hospital. 

I swear that was the longest day of my life. I honestly can’t say how long I waited, I just know it felt like FOREVER! 

The next time the phone rang, I jumped from one end of the couch to the other and answered it at the end of the first ring. And I was told I had a little sister. 

Brittany Jo Ulman. Five pounds, ten ounces, 19 inches long. Blue eyes and the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a baby. 

She was beautiful. And she still is. 

I couldn’t wait to get to the hospital that day. It seemed like an eternity (probably something like an hour or so) before the proud new papa came to get me. 

I was so excited when I finally got to hold her. I had always wanted a little brother or sister, so once I held her, I didn’t want to put her down. And I really didn’t want to go home to go to bed that night. 

When we finally got to bring her home, it felt surreal. I had always imagined having a sister to talk to and play with. And now, I had one. 

I loved helping with taking care of her. Bath time was always my favorite because she loved taking a bath. She would kick her legs the entire time she was in the water, so much so that most of the water was usually gone by the time we finished. 

In no time at all, it seemed, we were celebrating her first birthday. She was so funny… She wouldn’t grab her cake with her hands. At all. I tried putting her hands in it, but she still wouldn’t eat it. But once we gave her a spoon, she was good to go. 

The best thing about being so much older than Brittany is that I remember all of her big milestones… First steps, first word, potty training, first day of school… All of it. 

Over the years, as she grew up, we grew closer. I finally had that sister that I could talk to about anything. Of course we had our sisterly fights, but the older we both got, the less and less those cropped up. 

And sometime in there, though I’m not exactly sure when, Brittany went from being just my little sister to being my best friend. 

Now, instead of just listening, she offers advice (and good advice at that). When she was in junior high and high school, I would proofread all of the essays and papers that she had to turn in. Now, she helps me edit my columns and helps me with ideas when I’m just stuck. 

I’ve come to rely on her over the years for a lot more than I thought I ever would. And she handles it well. She’s grown into quite an extraordinary young woman. 

And today, she becomes an adult. It’s been 18 years in the making… All the fighting and crying and talking and laughing have brought her (and us) to this point. And I am as proud of her as any parent could be… Even though she’s not my kid! 

Today, she turns 18… Tomorrow, she moves away. And when I say tomorrow, I literally mean tomorrow. Wednesday is her college move-in day at Ball State. 

Even though I haven’t lived in the same house as her for almost four years, I’m still going to miss her like crazy when she leaves. She’s always been there for me, just down the road, whenever I’ve needed her. And while she’ll still be just a phone call away, it still feels strange. She won’t be down the hall or down the road. 

She’ll be out in the world, making me proud. 

Happy birthday, little sister. Lots of love and best of luck in all that you do… And always know, that no matter what you do or where you end up, your big sister will always be proud of you.