Spending Time With a New Big Brother

I had the opportunity, the priceless privilege, of spending time with Maddie last year as she became a big sister. This year I had that same gift of being there with Pete as his little world was rocked. The day that both their little brother and sister were born, the older toddlers were a little subdued. Was it having mom gone and only Grammy Joey there for such a longer time than normal? Perhaps. But I wonder if it isn't some divine preparation for the role to come, a mantle of the responsibility of being an example drifting upon tiny shoulders. At the very least, they must be sensing that something big is happening; something much bigger and beyond the norm.

However, there is something so incredibly sweet in spending time with a toddler in their own home with no mom in sight. They become reliant upon you for their meals, diaper changes, naps and cuddles. And you get to know them in a way that you don't when they are at "Grammy Joey's." I think it's being on their own turf that does it. At Grammy Joey's, it's a mad pace to fit in all of the regular fun (playing in the van, shooting a few baskets, getting some books read...the list is different for Maddie and for Pete).

Well, I will say that the time was choice. Poor Pete has had a lot to contend with the past few weeks. First came the tension that inevitably attends the ticking time bomb of a due date getting closer and closer. Second, the sad fall off of the swing. While it is true, that it could have been much worse and a week long splint followed by a three week long cast isn't too bad, really; I'm not sure you could convince any active two-year-old of that. I wish I could understand what is going through his head. Right in the middle of having fun, he falls and experiences pain and; before you know it, he can't do half of the things he wants to do. Wassup???

Well, the morning came to put the cast on. Poor Sarah was having contractions 20 minutes apart the entire time that they were putting Pete's leg in a cast. She went home and I went to work to finish up a couple of things. I got them done and rushed over to Sarah's house. She was more than ready to go to the hospital; and thus began my time alone with Sweet Pete.

He is so doggone cute, I'll tell you. Too many cute memories to share them all, but I will always remember building huts with the couch cushions and Pete motioning me to "Come on, come on!" There was no convincing him that we couldn't both fit under one tiny couch cushion.

I also loved watching Elmo in Grouchland with him. He was so concerned when it looked like his hero, Elmo, had lost his best friend blanket forever. When they were reunited at the end, Pete clapped loudly and said, "Yay! Yay!" (Note: we made sure beforehand that I could work the remote. Imperative!)

We played basketball with him standing in the crib, race cars sitting on the pool table (him, not me), trains sitting on the floor, read books, and cuddled. And I learned again what I already knew, Pete is really, really sweet. Oh, and he has a very good set up shot.

Thank you, Sarah. What a wonderful gift!