Sibling Love

 My kids have done so well with having a new baby brother at home. And I'm so glad!  I've heard friends complain about jealousies between siblings and the new baby, kids reverting back to bad habits, or becoming bad tempered. Thus far everyone is getting along great! They love him so much! 

The Big Brother

"Can I hold him?" Bridger and Myra are always asking. We have to pass Sawyer around so everyone gets equal turns to hold and love on him. Myra actually loves to help change his diapers. She gets everything ready. She sets out his changing pad, diaper, wipes, and helps squeeze a poof of baby powder into his diaper. Bridger can't wait to teach him how to play ball and ride bikes. Myra sings to him.  Bridger gets close enough that when Sawyer moves his arms he hits Bridger in the face, and then Bridger laughs.

The Big Sister

My kids love Sawyer so much, but I don't trust them alone with him yet. They know the rules, but in their mind they are basically as grown up as everyone else and they each have the "I can do it" mentality... which could turn out for the worst unsupervised. For example both Bridger and Myra think they ought to be able to carry Sawyer. Myra kindly wants to pacify Sawyer which equates to her making him gag as she shoves the binkie into his mouth. Bridger wanted to play with him, I was only a few steps away, but when I looked back Bridger had Sawyer by the arms in a near standing position except his head was flopping back. Myra is very soft with him, but then doesn't pay much attention when she leaves him. Sometimes walking too close to where he lies on the floor, stepping on his foot or bumping his head. 

I said no one reverted back to old habits, but that may not be entirely true. Myra has been going through many more pairs of underwear lately. Mostly it is because she decides she has to use the potty the very same time I start to nurse Sawyer, and though she can go on her own she much prefers to have mom for an audience. Or if she does manage to go on her own, she will forget to put her pants back on, and go streaking until I'm done nursing. 

Little Bean

Then there was the time that she carried her spaghetti into the living room to eat. So its not all easy. It can be a helpless feeling watching all this go on in front of me. But by number three, I know what to do. I can nurse on the fly. Granted the first few weeks I took full advantage of nursing as mine and Sawyer's time alone, or my reading time. But I need some order to my house and things need to get done, so I multitask with nursing. I can nurse and chase kids. I can also nurse and prepare a meal. It's real talent I have here. One of my books says that's not very respectful to the baby, but Sawyer is great and he'll take his meal anyway its given to him.

"We are a happy family!"

The Siblings...