Tub for Two?

Since James has started sitting up better and better I got out the duck tub. He had started to roll over on the foam pillow thing and tried to drown himself. Not on my watch, save that for Daddy. He still tries to face plant into the water of the duck tub but luckily there is no someone there stopping him. That is right. My 7 month old is stuffed into the duck tub with his older, longer legged 3 year old brother. Zach has insisted that they can and should both fit into the tub.

Alex won't let me post the full pictures/videos of Zach and James and I while think he is right, I really want everyone to see the joy on both boys faces at their newly discovered pastime. Zach climbs all over the tub, in and out and plays peek-a-boo with James around the duck tub. James just laughs and laughs. It is the first time they really have interacted just themselves. James does not mind if his brother is in the tub squishing him and making him sit on the plug or out of the tub bouncing forcefully against the duck head and roaring "PEEK A BOO BABY!". Though sometimes he does give me a look like, "woman are you seriously letting this happen? and taking pictures?" Yes, sweetie I am. Now smile for mommy!

All I can think is that it reminds me of how I once made my sister share her mini bag of microwave popcorn claiming it was "for sharing". Emphatically. I insisted this tiny one person bag was for sharing.

Oh my poor baby boy....what he has ahead of him with a mini-Kinsey for a brother.

Let me help you with that

Sometimes you just need to practice holding up your head. Even if you are 3 years old. 

And really it is best that your brother learn early on that everything he has is yours. 

You will help him play with it.

The Same Love

I could just stare at this face all day. This was taken two months ago. His eyes are bigger now, as are his eyelashes and he is in a constant state of smiling. Yet my adoration of him has not waned. It was tested, mind you, with the whole throwing up on me for a week and trying to stop breathing shenanigans but we persevered and I still cannot imagine my life without him. How did I not know he was waiting to come to us to cuddle with me, beam at his brother and become obsessed with Norman? 

I do a lot of thinking about the challenges and joys of having two kids. It is so stressful and crazy yet sweet and surprising. I read the below on another blog and thought it summed up having a two kids pretty nicely. 

"The earth shakes when the doctor places your firstborn in your arms. Your love for him is colored by terror because you are positive that he is going to die with each passing minute. You bring him home understanding that the Universe has made a mistake, that someone more qualified, more motherly will show up to retrieve him soon. So while you wait, you play house for awhile. You do not trust that he will be able to navigate his world. You eye his doctors, his playmates, his teachers, even his grandparents with great suspicion. Will they be gentle enough with him? He is so sensitive.

Holding your second, you become human again. You are elated and concerned. Your firstborn is replaced. You can’t look at or listen to both of your babies at the same time. So you look at your baby while talking about your firstborn. You say, hold on honey far too many times. Your guilt is relentless. How will you convince them both that they are the center of your universe? 

This new angel seems like a stranger at first, and then your firstborn does. Suddenly he appears to be a giant. You wonder when he’ll start pulling his weight already. You are worried you’ll never find your balance. What is the right division of time, love, attention, fear, worry?

But then again, you have your moments. When they smile at each other, when big retrieves little's toy, touches his hair, tickles his feet. When you hear two giggles coming from the family room for the first time. When you and your husband look at the two of them on the floor and exchange a glance that means – look at what we did. We’re doing it. We’re making a family. "

Perils

 

My sister can attest that having a bigger sibling means sometimes you have a cupcake wrapper put on your head and called a hat. And you best keep it there and not complain about it. Just appreciate that it matches your outfit. 

That's right - I am in there too

I don't know why I feel such vindication at the sight of these two pictures; me at 3 1/2 and Zach at 3 looking so much alike. Oh wait, yes I do. Because EVERYONE that sees my boys immediately says "Oh they look just like their father".  So SNAP they do not look like Alex all the time. Just because they are all boys with the same head shape and hair cut does not mean they look totally alike. 

I would like to add that my dad took both these photos. So he has been getting this I-will-cut-you look for 33+ years. Lucky guy.