Our Adjustment

Adding a third child to our family has been a blessing, but it has also come with its challenges. BA has anxiously awaited EE's arrival. Most days of my pregnancy he would ask, "Mom, is it getting close to Christmas yet?" because I told him EE would be born around Christmas. Now that she is here he loves her even more. He will hold her as long and as often as he is allowed. (And I think he would attempt changing diapers and feeding her too if he could.) We have had several talks about "sharing" EE with other people, because he is quick tell you "She wants me."

CJ, on the other hand, has yet to hold his sister. He wouldn't have anything to do with me or her at the hospital. When asked to see Mom or EE, he would quickly say, "NO!" and go the other direction. On one visit, Grandma managed to get him to look at her and give her a quick smooch on the head. Other than that, it would be safe to say he has been uninterested. (And of course, we don't try to make him become interested either... It will come with time!)

Thankfully, we have seen a change in him since we have been home from the hospital- though they aren't huge improvements, they are more encouraging. CJ has learned Mom is back, and he will come sit with me and read books or play in my lap. He first smiled, or should I say laughed at his sister the other day when he heard her cry. He then started imitating her. Now he will come up and rub her head, and point to the parts of her face and name them (eye, nose, mouth, ear). This morning when he woke up I put EE in his crib with him. He seemed to like that, but he still kept his distance. I am hoping sometime this week he will decide to hold her, but I understand he will do it when he's ready. I am just grateful that he has started accumulating to the change a little better than he started out. I fully expect for him to become just as loving of EE as his older brother in time...and maybe there will even be a few disputes between them saying, "She wants me!" :)