Inspired by the conversation on my friend Erin’s post about Elizabeth Foss’s 20 something-mom blogs and useful venting vs. too much whining, I decided to share a few positive-only posts about my children, who I am crazily in love with.
Today’s post goes to my sweet two-year old–my “baby”. He was just barely two when we found out we were pregnant with our fourth and now it’s almost time to welcome the new baby into our world. This means I have to accept that my ‘baby’ is not my baby anymore but my ‘big boy’. I think he knows this is coming also. His behavior has been changing the past few weeks, like he’s practicing for his new role as the older child. Of course this has brought on alot of wrong-attention getting behavior but I’m supposed to be positive so I will not go into that now.
These are the things I love about him:
- His cute sweet voice
- His laughs. Lately he likes to tell stories and laugh at his own story with a cute wide-grinned-scrunchy-nose-squeeky laugh, I love it.
- His ‘independence’. He is very proud of doing things ‘all by self’. For the most part, I’m happy to see how much he can do mostly on his own now. He takes his diaper off and sits on the toilet by himself, he even tries to wipe himself which isn’t so great but I’m glad he wants to. He gets his shorts on by himself and many other helpful things. Of course this does get him into trouble often and causes many battles of the will between him and I and him and his brother and sister but I’m glad to see him developing in independence, even if it does bring new challenges. It will be helpful when the baby is here and all I can do is sit on the couch and nurse.
- He also likes help like his older brother and sister. He can set the table and help unload certain things from the dishwasher. He helps bring his to the washing machine and together we put them away when they are clean and dry. He loves to help me water the plants outside and brings me my bottle of water several times throughout the day reminding me to “drink you water, mama”.
- He’s goofy. He loves to do silly things that make me laugh, even when I’m supposed to be mad at him; he steal my heart. It’s fun watching him laugh and be silly with everyone.
- He’s smart, like his daddy, and brave and fearless in a way his older brother and sister are not. I don’t know if it’s that he is the third or what but he seems to understand more about the world and isn’t so hesitant to try new things. He wants to keep up and not be left behind.
It will be hard to let go of my “baby” but I’m ready to embrace my new ‘big boy’ also.
Aw, that last picture is so sweet. James will grow very nicely into his big brother role, I know it. But there is something special between a mama and her baby boy-who-is-going- to-be-a-big-boy, because that means the special mama love-attachment is going to lessen a bit. I saw this especially with Gus after Zelie was born. But you know what, I love what that detachment has made him, and I’m sure it will be the same with James.
Sweet post. If I could do over one thing, I would prepare myself a bit more for Kolbe not being my baby anymore. It was all so sudden, it was hard. It’s all good now, but it really threw me for a loop, in a way it didn’t with Gemma…
Thanks Jackie and Monica. It’s funny you say that about Gus, Jackie, as James has been ‘detaching’ more and more and isn’t as affectionate and hardly lets me hold him or give him hugs…maybe because there’s not much room right now! I’m glad in a way he is doing all this before the baby comes as it will make the transition after baby ‘easier’ since I am getting used to his new behavior now. Monica, I had a real hard time with Nicholas growing up after James was born and so did he! He was never the same and I will ‘mourn’ my James never being the same again either.
Oh and Monica I forgot to mention in the post how sweet James is already being to our baby through my tummy ever since your Clem was born. He keeps talking about holding him and playing with him and it’s very sweet. Hopefully this will carry through after the baby is born!