Brotherly Love

Is there anything more wonderful in the world than watching your children show love to their siblings? 

 I think not!

It's almost as if it's God's way of telling you that you did something right somewhere along the road of parenting and raising them, because somehow they 'got it'!  

Honestly, the transition from 2 to 3 scared me -- like I had a paralyzing fear that now that we were outnumbered, my kids were going to realize that and take advantage of it and my life was going to spiral into this scary place.  The transition from one to two had gone pretty much seamlessly...so I figured the universe must figure that it was payback time and that payback was going to come during the transition to three...

I am happy to report that my fear was (mostly) unnecessary.  

Little Max was old enough this pregnancy to REALLY understand what was going on (when Sam was born, he was only 2.5, so while he understood it on a basic level, he really didn't GET it).

This pregnancy, he talked to the baby nearly every day -- whispering (ha!  does a 5 year old know how to do that?) to my stomach how much he loved the baby and how much he couldn't wait to meet him/her.  It was awfully sweet to witness (although I admit it got a little annoying towards the end when he would randomly trap me so he could sit and talk to my stomach).  Still...how often do you get to let things like that happen?  Let go....

And it is so sweet to see now, that the bond that was started between Max and McTrois in utero has continued on, undiminished, since Ben's birth.

In fact, his love for Ben is so obsessive and so consuming that I am finding myself worriedly watching him to make sure that he doesn't smother the baby in kisses and hugs.  He can't enter a room that Ben is in without saying hello to him and giving him a kiss on the head....He can't leave a room that Ben is in without saying goodbye to him and kissing his head....He can't stay in the same room with Ben without approaching him and telling him how much he loves him, or how big he's getting, or how stinky his 'beeps' are...AND KISSING HIS HEAD.  It is downright STINKIN ADORABLE!

And yes, it makes me have hope that as his mom I am doing something right.

Sam has a similar love for his brother, but I'm not sure how much of it is just him repeating what he sees his big brother Max do, and how much of it is because he is consumed with the same overwhelming love that his big brother apparently has...

Honestly, whatever the case may be, it has been A-MAZING to watch these three together.  Looking at this picture of Ben, its hard for me to even remember when he was this small!  He's just a peanut!  And now...he's going to be 2 MONTHS old next week already!  It is so amazing how much these little ones change, and how quickly they do it!  They change so much in just a blink of the eye!  I think my parents will be shocked when they see him again in January -- 3 months later!

And big brothers have changed so much too!  As little Max told me the other night before bedtime "Mom, my heart must be HUGE by now."  I asked him what he meant by that and he told me "Well, for every person I have love in my heart for, it grows....so because I love you, and dad, and Sam, Granna and Grumpy, Grandma Jan and Grandpa Dave, Uncle Fran, Aunt Denyce, cousins Lilly and Liam, Grandma and Grandpa Far Away, and NOW BEN...well, my heart must be HUGE!"  And he emphasized just how huge his heart must be by demonstrating how large it was with two hands.

I just about melted right there.

Max has blossomed into such a sweet, empathetic and caring little boy.  When Ben's crying, Max is the first to rush over and say 'It's ok Benny-Boo! Don't cry, we Love You!".  If I ask him to watch Ben while I cook dinner or use the bathroom, he jumps up without fail and sits right next to him -- his attention might get a little distracted with the TV on, but for the most part he is an eager helper with anything to do with his little brother.

And I have to say, it COMPLETELY melts my heart.

Sam, on the other hand, is helpful to a point.  Our once 'baby' is having a little bit of a struggle embracing the fact that he is now 'pickle in the middle.'  This has been evidenced with little shennanigans here and there -- like throwing everyone at the pediatrician's office in our exam room into pitch blackness because he decided to turn off the lights, or a little regression with the potty training, or just more sassiness and whininess in general.  It's definitely par for the course for his age (3 was always a little rougher than 2 in our house, and the half years -- Sam's 3.5 right now -- seem to always be the peak of the problem).  And despite the naughtiness, how can you not smile at that face (even when it's being sassy?)

But overall, he has done a great job being a big brother to this littlest one. (Who's not so little anymore!  If you missed him as a newborn, he's definitely now an 'infant').

I just have a feeling that these 3 are going to be good friends...and loads of trouble for mom and dad, LOL.  

Meanwhile, on the two biggest brother front, these two take the cake for the silliest, goofiest and funniest duo in the world.  Oh my gosh, I laugh (and cringe) daily with these two -- where their relationship with each other wavers between LOVE and HATE and nothing in between in a matter of seconds.

Best Friends/Brothers forever! 

Man, I love these boys.  I might have wished for a girl, but God knew me best and gave me these amazing boys.  They are truly a blessing to me -- teaching me things I didn't know I even needed to be taught. 

As always, a HUGE thank you to Shannon Wucherer Photography for capturing my little family EXACTLY as they are and creating lasting memories for me (very important for during the newborn haze of life).  But seriously, if you need a photographer, check her out -- she's been snapping our family since little Max was 1 and she is amazing!  (Ok plug over, but if you DO go use Shannon, please let her know I sent you!)