Mom's Talk: Preparing Ava for the New Baby

Kristi's question: How do I prepare my toddler for the arrival of our new baby?

November seems far away. It's the middle of summer and temperatures have been climbing near 100 degrees. The last thing I'm thinking about is turkey and stuffing.

But before we know it, our late autumn due date will be here and our Baby Boy will be born into our lives and ready to come home.

My concern lies with my toddler. We've all seen the TV shows and movies that portray "the new baby" and how older siblings respond to them, but I want to know how it really works. 

How will Ava react to the new baby? Are there things I should do ahead of time to ease her into the change of no longer being an only child? How can I make it less of a shock to her?

She's only 2, which makes it impossible for me to believe that she has an understanding of the magnitude of the situation.

Any advice? Tell Kristi in the comments.