Big Sibs

I have no idea how much the kids understand about the fact that they are going to have a little brother in just a few short weeks. From the beginning, they have pointed to my belly when we ask where the baby is, and often lift up my shirt acting like they are going to give it a sweet kiss, only to cover me in a slobbery zerbert. They both love babies, but I just haven't thought the connection was there for either one of them. Lately, I've been wondering if I'm not giving them enough credit.

About a week ago, I went to get Sydney from her bed in the morning and the first thing she said was, "Baby in Mommy's tummy?" and then followed it up with, "Me hold the baby." She hasn't stopped since. Everyday, multiple times a day, she will ask, "Me hold the baby?" We tell her she can hold the baby as soon as he comes out, which makes her very excited, at least for a bit until she asks again, "Me hold the baby?" One night I told her that she can hold the baby after I push him out, to which she replied, "Me push him out." and proceeded to push on my stomach as if she were performing CPR. If only it were that easy! It seems as though big sister is getting pretty excited.

And although Myles has been through this before, he has been brushing up on his skills.

On this particular day, Sydney was napping and I was doing the dishes when I heard the bathroom sink running. I went to check on Myles, and found him up on the step stool giving one of Sydney's dolls a bath in the sink. He soaked her with water, dried her off with the towel, grabbed a diaper from the closet and had me help him put it on, strapped her in his chair, signed "eat" and asked for milk. I got him a bowl of cereal and a cup of milk, and he fed her oh-so-very carefully, sweet boy that he is.

As far as a baby update, I am now 37 weeks along and hoping that baby boy stays put for the next few weeks. We have some big things coming up (like moving to a new house) that would be less complicated without a newborn to care for at the same time. Regardless, I am grateful to have made it full term without any complications for me or baby. I am slowing down considerably and so sore and worn out at the day's end, which I don't so much remember from the first two times. I try not to complain too much (okay, I complain to Gilby a little a lot) because I know many people who would love to be in my position anticipating the arrival of a new little one, and I am ecstatic to be here as well.

The reactions I get from people are funny. I've been asked a few times if I'm having twins, and more than once I've walked into a patient's room at work only to have the mom ask if my due date was that day. At the zoo a few weeks ago one lady even did a double take and then asked her friend if she thought that was only one baby. I chuckled, looked back at her and said, "Yep, just one." But then there are others, bless their hearts, who insist they can't believe I'm so close to delivering, or that it looks like I just have a basketball under my shirt (mostly these are newer moms who are probably just taking pity on me having been there recently themselves!). I will be shocked if this baby isn't bigger than the other kids though, he feels huge to me! I would post a belly photo, but we haven't taken any! Maybe, in all of my spare time, I'll get around to that these next couple weeks. Ready or not, he's coming soon!