Okay, I admit that I have seemed a bit unsure about how Athena would handle having a little brother. She is a very loving little girl, so on optimistic days, I knew she would love having a little guy to take care of and look after with Mommy. But she is also used to running this house, and on pessimistic days, I worry that she will hate having to share everything with her younger sibling. I'm still not sure how it will really turn out in the end, but last night was very encouraging.
Daddy had gone off to play games with the boys, so Mommy, Grandma, and Marcus were all home with Athena. I wasn't feeling very well strength-wise, plus the milk machine was open for business, so Grandma was entertaining Athena. Suddenly, soon after Marcus had eaten and I had put him in the pack and play, Athena came tiptoeing into the room. She went right over to the bassinet and peered in. "Baby," she said. "Sleepy baby." I told her yes, the baby was sleepy, and it was nice of her to come in so quietly. She then proceded to put every little baby toy in the room into the bassinet next to her brother. As if this weren't generous enough of her, she even tossed in her brand new Dora doll that Aiden's mom had just given her and that she had refused to part with all through dinner and bathtime.
Inevitably, Marcus began to stir, and Athena tiptoed back over and said, "Shhhhhhhhhhh" with her finger to her lips. She was very concerned that he was upset. He woke up fully, and needed a change, so while I changed him, Grandma held Athena up so she could see what we were doing. She was fascinated, and when he started crying in earnest due to being bared open to the world, she started tearing up as well. But Grandma explained that he was okay, and we ran the hairdryer over him to keep him warm while we changed his diaper so he wouldn't be so upset. Athena perked up a bit, and she watched us, completely wrapped up in her little brother and very clearly concerned for his well-being.
I still feel a bit guilty for thrusting this new circumstance upon her, but she is obviously handling it okay. Even this morning, she came barreling into the bedroom, clearly happy to be alive and well-rested, and she came right up to Marcus, who was once again dining happily, and she stroked his head very gently. I swear this kid is going to make me cry with her sweetness before long.
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6 comments:
OOOOOH...that is so sweet. That made ME tear up and Ive never even seen either of those gorgeous kiddos in real life! She is going to be a great big sis!
How do you think I feel? I'm usually here for these things, and I had to hear about it second hand too.
Awwww... that's cute. Athena has always been a champ from Day 1, I'm sure she'll adjust just fine to a brand spankin' new little brother. Her "little mommy" instincts have obviously kicked in already. Makes your heart melt :)
Say... how are Murphy and Hector reacting to the new addition? I've heard stories that pets have a more difficult time than siblings sometimes!!
Aww.. she's such a sweetie. It's such a wonder they know and feel so much at such a tender young age. Soon, she'll be playing make-believe tea parties with him. She's gonna be a great big sis!
Aw! My Elizabeth really is just like your Athena! She is also very protective of her little brother.
This morning she peeked into his pack and play to say hi to him and he wasn't there and she audibly gasped and scanned the room wide-eyed as if to say "Oh dear! The baby's been kidnapped!"
But no, he was just laying on mommy's bed.
Wow, what a sweet post.
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