Brother and Sister

The last two months have been an adjustment period for all of us, with a big change for Elijah especially. He’s done really well with Matea, and hasn’t sat/kicked/hit or otherwise endangered her. Most of the time he’s really sweet with her, only occasionally grumpy, and then he usually takes it out on Mommy and not Matea (discipline problems are up markedly!). Eli is interested in holding Matea about once a week (though if Noah or the girls want to hold her or stop her swing, etc. then Elijah wants to be the one to hold “My Matea”). He likes to play with her when she’s awake and alert though, and if she’s in her activity gym you can usually find Elijah right next to her, showing her toys and helping her make her hanging chimes play. Eli's also a big helper and can bring me diapers, her pacifier, etc. And he's in charge of washing Matea's hair at bathtime, which he takes very seriously (and is very upset if he doesn't get to do!). Here’s a sample of some of the things that Elijah has said about Matea over the last two months:

-“ Good morning, Matea. You look beautiful today!”

- “Hi sweetie. How’s my cutie?” (I think he’s heard this uttered to him a few times, can you tell?)

- After a particularly fussy day by Matea, and being told for about the 20^th time that Mommy couldn’t play because I had to walk/rock/feed/change Matea, Eli looked at me and said, “Mommy, this is not fun!” I agree, Eli, that day was not fun at all! On another fussy day Eli kept telling me, “Mommy, make Matea stop crying!” If only I had that power!

- Matea was lounging on a pillow and being our centerpiece for the table while we were eating breakfast one day, when she accidentally batted one of Elijah’s trains that he had on the table. A few minutes later she found Elijah’s face and was transfixed. I told Eli to talk to her, so he promptly leaned close to her face and said, “Matea, don’t play with my trains!” Uh oh, I think we’re going to have problems once she starts crawling and getting in to all his toys!

- After catching Eli pushing Matea in her swing and making her go too fast, I told Eli that he was Matea’s big brother and had to protect her and look out for her. He wasn’t buying that idea at all though, and told me, “I don’t want to be a big brother anymore.” I told him that he’ll be a big brother forever, and he seemed puzzled but then said, “Forever’s a lots of time, Mommy.”

-Despite some of his comments to the contrary, Elijah always needs to know where Matea is, and always comes to her after naps or in the morning and pats her head (gently, he’s really good at patting gently). And he usually gives her at least a few kisses every day. And he’s added her to the list of people that he says he loves. That list is pretty short – previously he only admitted to loving Mommy, Daddy, and Lexi and Tori. But now he says he loves Matea, and even tells her that! I’ve overheard him sitting next to her bouncy several times telling her, “I love you Matea,” or, “I love you sweetie,” or “I love you my sister.” Hopefully we’ll have love outweighing the fighting over the next years!

Happy big brother, holding a 2-day old Matea!

Showing Grandpa Bob how much I love my sister.

Watching Matea swing is fascinating.

Checking out Matea while she naps makes me happy.

Showing Matea a rattle. I love the word rattle.

Lunchtime with a Matea centerpiece for entertainment.

I'm showing Matea how you use the activity gym. It used to be mine you know. 

What are you doing on my bed, Matea! 

Can I hold your hand?

I like to help Mommy feed my sister.