Benjamin, Meet Claire.

It feels wild to be able to say I have "kids" without people looking at me funny since I really do have multiple kids in tow. 

When we first brought her home, we told him this was baby Claire that mommy was growing in her belly. He immediately went into our kitchen, opened the junk drawer and pulled out the doppler that I used to listen to her during my pregnancy. It was his association of what a baby was at the time.

Benjamin has, for the most part, been really amazing with the transition. Or at least, he hasn't appeared to take the craziness out on Claire. He was also sick with his first real fever ever the first week she was home and his sleep was very interrupted, so that could've caused some of the craziness. His naps have suffered a little this week (transition or coincidence?) and I feel like he's been throwing more tantrums, but that could be just because I can't lift him and dominate like normally and that I've been feeling sick. Tantrums seem louder and more annoying when you're sick. That I know to be true. This week he has been protesting pants. And socks. And jackets. And shirts. And shoes. Basically, clothes. Does it have anything to do with Claire? I don't think so. But maybe.

He has had a small issue with hitting her on the head. This happened about 5 times and each time earned him calm-down time and an explanation that sister needs to be treated gently. I chalk that up to a toddler testing his boundaries. Benjamin is most definitely a very good boundary tester.

He calls her "baybee" the majority of the time, especially when he hears her cry. He insists on giving her kisses at night before we put him in bed, just like we kiss him before bed. 

He loves the baby items. She sleeps in a co-sleeper attached to our bed and he insists on "jumping", which is his way of telling us he wants in the bed. He doesn't necessarily jump. Attached to the co-sleeper is a little nightlight/lullaby maker and he just loves pressing those buttons. During the day I'll hear him upstairs pressing the buttons. He also loves the baby swing-- which drives me crazy. I'm thinking of getting rid of the thing. We bought it for Andrew. Benjamin hated it. Now baby #3 and I have yet to even put her in the thing because the lullabies Benjamin turns on about 432 times each day haunt me. It's one of those baby items that although I've now carried and birthed two living children after losing Andrew, still mocks me. He's also obsessed with pressing the buttons on my breastpump. I was using it 3x/day for the first two weeks and now I'm back on the lazy train. Luckily, little sister seems to have an affinity toward eating every 2-3 hours, so that seems to be doing the job.

Our first outing as a family (and with my parents) was to our favorite Mexican restaurant. We've been avoiding eating there for sometime since I was on a restricted diet and not eating much dairy or fat. Oh, and did I mention I couldn't have a margarita either? Well, now I was free and we were celebrating! Five days after Claire was born, we were dining and enjoying. Benjamin decided sister needed to have a chip. 

If she won't take it in her hand, I guess I'll just have to feed her.

Sharing books and an iPhone with Sister.

Taking a pacifier captive (hasn't used one since he was 6 months old), picture with grandparents & touching baby Claire for the first time.

Holding Sister.

Meeting Sister for the first time.

Giving sister a (fist) bump. He says "bump" when he does it. Totally unprompted.

And because it's funny. We call Benjamin "hunky" and he repeats us. We all find it hilarious. He won't let us tape him if he knows we're doing it, hence the video of him not looking... take what you can get! And you're welcome for sharing my post-baby gut. Keepin' it real.