Saturday, February 1, 2014

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.

11 comments:

Danielle said... [Reply to comment]

Benjamin is such an amazing big brother :D so freaking adorable! I love his bump! i love the HI HI HI HI! love it all... thank you for sharing them!! <3
Can't WAIT to hear about their first squabbles :D

AlliFerg said... [Reply to comment]

Cuuuuuute. B is hunky :)

Melissa said... [Reply to comment]

Adorable! What a good boy! It has been such a big transition. And my gut was a thousand times worse!!!

Caroline said... [Reply to comment]

The fist bump?! Ridic. So cute. I love how he kept waving to her and saying hi when he first met her. What a doll.

Ben and Katie said... [Reply to comment]

he is quite the cute hunky lil boy! so cute! what kind of co sleeper do you use?

Nicole said... [Reply to comment]

Okay, so the "Hi, hi,hi!!" video totally brought tears to my eyes. It's so sweet to see him with her!

I love the fist bump too!

And the post-baby gut? Uh yeah, I'm still sporting mine. And my youngest babe is a year old now. I don't think it's ever going to go away.

Kristi said... [Reply to comment]

Thanks for sharing! They are precious, of course! Let's get rid of all the sickies and cold so we can hang out.

Veronica said... [Reply to comment]

The "hi, hi, hi" is almost my favorite thing. My favorite thing is whatever you said to your mom while recording, and deciding to publish it anyway! Keepin it real indeed!

Those two are precious together.

You look great. And three kids in 3ish years? You ahhhmazing.

Tiffany said... [Reply to comment]

So sweet!! Adorable kids!!

Darcey said... [Reply to comment]

Love seeing the 2 of them together...B cracks me up. I see so much of Layton in him especially with his shenanigans. Crazy they know how to push our buttons at such a young age...honestly they are adorable!!

bohomamasoul said... [Reply to comment]

So happy for you all. As for big brother, he's not very big at all! In fact, he's still such a baby himself. You'll no doubt see some behaviors that while not directed AT Claire are most likely due to her presence in his little life. I can't imagine how hard it must be to still be a baby yourself, very much still dependent on mama and papa, but not THE baby anymore.

I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant with baby #4 (we lost our daughter at 20 weeks in March of 2013). Our third son will be here very early in April and my youngest just turned three. My oldest is seven so he had just turned four when his baby brother arrived. We didn't experience any acting out due to him being older. With only three years between my soon-to-be middle child and baby, I assume I'll see some of those behaviors this time around. Ezra is also still nursing occasionally so I'm hoping that will help and not hinder the transition. We all sleep in a family bed too, so I'm hoping that'll help as well. Two king beds for five people should be fine; we've had four people in one king for three years!

Anyway, from one BLM to another, congrats on your sweet girl. I can't wait to have Rigby here in my arms, where I've warned everyone he'll be for a very long time post birth. His big brothers are excited for him to get here, especially Henry, my oldest. He understands that he had a baby sister that died and he worries about me so much. And Rigby. Ezra just wants him to get here so he can share his toys and teach him how to play Infinity. I can't imagine the relief you must feel now that Claire is HERE and healthy. Alive.

I long for that day and pray April brings me my boy. Alive and healthy. Thank you for sharing your journey.