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My
little sister, Brittany Jo Ulman
(fabulous photos by me!)
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Life with Levi
My first
favorite baby
By Amanda Olson
Editor
If I said Levi wasn’t my favorite baby in the whole world, I’d be a bad
mom. But there was a time, long before Levi, that I had a different
favorite baby. And that’s my baby sister, Brittany Jo Ulman.
You’ve heard about Brittany before but probably know her as Levi’s Aunt
Beej or Aunt Beejy. And from the things I’ve written, you can also
probably tell that she’s no longer a baby.
Far from it, actually.
This past weekend I had the immense pleasure of watching her graduate
from high school. I sat proudly snapping pictures, trying my best not
to cry (and failing) as she accepted a college scholarship from the
Ansonia Alumni Association Saturday night, and again Sunday as she
accepted more scholarships following her Salutatorian speech addressing
the Ansonia High School Class of 2013 at her graduation.
Aside from the day Levi was born, I’ve never been so proud in my life.
Not even on the days I graduated from high school, and later from
college, do I remember being so proud.
Can’t imagine how I’ll feel when Levi graduates.
My mom and dad did a great job raising her, but at the same time, I’d
like to think I had a little bit to do with her success in school and
in life. I
mean, after all, she’s my little sister and I’d have given her anything
I could. But as it is with all kids, all I could do was sit back and
watch her grow up, giving her love, support and help with her homework.
So no matter how much credit Mom and Dad deserve for Brittany’s
upbringing, she deserves just as much credit for growing up to be an
intelligent, funny, beautiful young lady.
The funniest part about the whole weekend was thinking back to all of
those times when she was little, and wondering where the time had gone.
Because it seems to me that it went all too fast.
Warning: flash-back ahead. This could get lengthy!
Even though I know it was almost 18 years ago, I still remember holding
her at the hospital, eleven days before I turned 12, thinking that she
was the best birthday present that anyone had ever gotten me.
And one year later on her first birthday, trying to coax her into
mushing her hands into her birthday cake. (Side-note: My sister is one
of the neatest, cleanest people I know aside from my mom. Should have
known then when she required a spoon to eat her cake that she wouldn’t
like getting her hands dirty!)
I also remember that I couldn’t wait for her to walk and talk. And
thanks to her, I didn’t wish that once I had Levi. Because once she
started walking and talking, I couldn’t ever get her to leave me alone,
or get her to shut up. We still tease her about how everyone says she’s
so quiet, and we tell them how she is anything but quiet at home.
My favorite memories include when she was learning how to talk and how
for a while everything started with ‘B’… Bea-cation, Bea-nilla ice
cream, Bea-scusting. And how she had a Thumbelina doll, but when she
said her name, it sounded more like ‘Farmer Wiener’.
Back then she liked to eat at ‘Chuckie’ Fried Chicken, and would only
eat the “brown ham” at Arby’s not the roast beef. One time the kid
taking our order tried to correct Mom when she told Brittany she was
getting her ham… That kid got the look.
Brittany was also never the typical girly-girl. She liked playing with
her barrettes and play make-up, but her favorite toys were her tools,
and her toy car. We always told her she was Daddy’s Girl because
whenever Dad would work on the cars, Brittany was right there with her
tool box, ready to help if he needed her.
Later on, she played softball, and grew up to be a pretty good pitcher,
with the help of Dad. She played at the local ball park, on traveling
teams and later in the Celina Fall League. That’s probably one of the
things I’ll miss the most now that she’s all grown up.
While she was fun as a kid, and I’ll miss her streaking though the
house before a bath, and saying things like, “Weave me wone,” and “Are
we most all there yet?”, I’m also glad that she is all grown up.
Because somewhere along the line, she went from being my little sister
to being my best friend. I know I can talk to her about anything, and
that if I ever need something, that she’ll be there for me. We still
have our differences, and don’t always see eye-to-eye, but what sisters
don’t?
So as she’s ending this chapter, and beginning the next, I can’t help
but look back and be proud of how far she’s come. From the baby who
walked
across one of my posters and almost ruined it, to the poised young
woman who walked across the gym to get her diploma, she’ll always be my
little sister.
Starting this fall, she’ll move to Muncie, Ind., and pursue a degree in
Dietetics from Ball State University. And a part of me will be right
there with her.
Because no matter where she goes or what she does, she’ll always be my
first favorite baby. And I’ll always be proud of her.
Love you lots, lil seester! Good luck in everything that you do, and
I’ll always be here for you. (Unless you need help with your math
homework… Then I’ll be less than useless!)
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