The day you find out you're getting a brother your whole world changes, and only continues to change as you both get older.

The day I found out I was getting a brother, I sat in the room with Mom as she got an ultrasound, not quite understanding what was going on. Then the technician looked at my mom and told her "Congratulations, it's a boy."

The months go by and excitement builds because pretty soon you will have someone new in your life forever. As an older sister you will probably give advice on names, for me I was suggesting for my brother being named Buzz Lightyear. Possibly giving any advice since at 5 years old, you as a future big sister have been caring for baby dolls, so clearly you're an expert.

Soon that brother comes into the world and it is no longer just Mom, Dad, and you. Now there is someone else, someone who requires a lot of attention. As a 5-year-old, the only emotion you have is happy and being excited. Everyone is asking you if you're ready to be a big sister, and all you can say is yes.

Little did you know at 5 years old, that being a big sister is hard. It's not always getting to play what you want to play with your brother, or getting to tell him what to do all the time. Now you even have to be a role model to a little boy.

While your brother is little you find it amazing to hold a real life baby in your arms and not just a baby doll. As a sister, you cannot wait to help out your mom and dad take care of your new little brother. Giving bottles, attempting to help change diapers, helping change clothes, and again, getting to hold your brother in your arms.

Getting to help teach this little boy, who now looks up to you, about talking, and walking to start out with. Then you begin to teach them how to play the games you want them to play.

As time goes forward, both brother and I grow up and grow older. My typical play time of Barbies and playing house was now changed to playing with little boys toys, such as tractors, cars, trucks, and action figures(aka glorified Barbies). I learned that with a little brother you learn how to incorporate these boy toys into your own games, so you can still be the boss of play time. You incorporate trucks, tractors, action figures, which for my brother was Scooby-Doo characters and Ben 10 characters and aliens into Barbie games. You even get your brother to play house with you. This is the beginning of the good years with your brother, the ones before you become a teenager.

As you become a teenager and hit middle school, your brother is in elementary school and continuously watching you. Continuing to learn from you, and at the time you're not even aware of it. While you spend your nights and days texting your friends and boyfriend about what went down at school, your brother is still there wanting to play the games you played just a few years before.

As you are wrapped up in your life, your brother is waiting to hear about it. For me, my middle school years were when I was most distant with my brother. I was concerned with my boyfriend at the time, and not being the role model my brother needed. I stayed in my room and typically wouldn't give my brother time. Occasionally I would let down my teenage girl wall and would let my brother in. Then you turn around and you're starting high school and your brother is in the middle of elementary. For me, these were the darker years of being a big sister.

In high school, you learn that your brother's opinion about different things is actually worth listening to. Just as you grow, so is your brother. He is becoming his own self and not the little boy you can boss around all the time. You all begin to grow closer and you find that friendship that you missed for so long. Going out to eat at your favorite places together, watching movies you both enjoy, and bonding over more than ever.

Finally, you blink and it is your senior year and your brother isn't so little anymore. Your last first day of high school is his first day of middle school. You can't believe how much he has changed from the little boy who came home from the hospital and made you a big sister. As you begin applying for colleges your brother begins to change before your eyes. He is no longer a little boy but becoming a teenager.

As a big sister the goal is to always be strong for your brother, but for me, my brother has seen me at not only my strongest points but also my weakest. Instead of going to tell your parents that you're crying, your baby brother now wraps you in his arms and comforts you as you cry. He even listens to your day just as you do for him. You talk to him about the choices you are trying to make about where to go to college. Where he is talking to you about the cute girls in his school. It is at this point you realize, that you don't want to leave your little brother.

Graduation day comes, and your biggest fan is sitting there. No, it's not your grandparents, aunts, and uncles, or even your parents, your biggest fan is your little brother. He is still looking up to you as he did when you all played Barbies/action figures. As you become a graduate, you see before your eyes a young man who is supposed to be your baby brother.

One day you will wake up and your baby brother will no longer be shorter than you, and will no longer want to play Barbies/action figures and house together, but will be becoming the young man you have always wanted him to be. He is strong, beginning to learn to treat young girls with respect, he is smart and brave, beginning to give you some of the best advice you could ever receive, and most importantly he is your rock. He is now no longer your little brother, but your confidant, and most importantly your best friend. He is someone who loves you no matter what, just as you do him.

I didn't realize at the age of 5 when I was told I was getting a little brother how much he would impact my life. But now at the age of 20, I couldn't imagine my life without my little brother. Thanks for being my baby brother Wesley, I love you.