Siblings

Kids. Siblings. Children. Brother. Sister. Four.

These are all new words in our house these days. I like it. They all give more depth and meaning to the word "Family".

As I wrote in my previous post, Joshua was not able to meet Emily in the hospital. I think this was actually for the better for Josh. The hospital itself may have been pretty overwhelming and seeing me there might have been confusing or worrisome. At least this way at home it was just the four of us. It may have also been clearer that Emily is a new addition to the home, and not just some baby he met in the hospital.

We came home from the hospital on the 8th. Jim picked up Josh from his parents' after Josh's nap and I had Emily in the living room ready to meet her brother.


Josh walked in with the gift he had picked out for Emily and presented it to her. It seems I could see his wheels turning to understand that this little creature was the Emily we have been talking about for so long.


There were also a couple gifts from Emily to Joshua which quickly became his focus. After a little while we had Josh hold his sister. He was reserved, but patient.


Since then he really likes to ask to hold her.

Jammies time

Josh sees me nurse Emily and started asking to feed her himself. In fact, when I left the room to change her diaper, he grabbed the nursing pillow and wrapped it around himself sticking out his arms to receive her when I returned. Way too cute!

(Only once did he asks to be fed in the same manner as Emily.)

Instead, he has since learned that he can hold her with the pillow. It doesn't last for much more than a minute, but he is very gentle with her, stroking her head and saying "be happy" if she is fussing.

Joshua did finally get to feed Emily from a bottle.

He was very focused.

I just thought it was way too cute when Josh saddled up to his chair to draw next to Emily.



He is definitely very concerned about where she is most of the time. He likes to be with me when I put her to bed or get her up. In fact today we took Emily to her first chiropractor appointment. The doc always likes to get a picture with his young patients and as he walked out of the exam room with Emily, Josh got quite worried about where she was going without me.

Josh is such a big helper...

...moving her bouncer...

...making sure buckles are taken care of...

...and giving a bath.

He really gets right in there.

So we are all learning to be a new family unit.

Josh seems to be adjusting pretty well. He has shown absolutely no bad behavior towards Emily. I've seen a little bit of jealousy in that he wants to be held more, but he usually waits his turn and just asks to be held as soon as Emily is out of my arms. And how can I complain about my kid wanting to cuddle??

Jim seemed to like this moment of both kids being held. Josh was upset about something and saw me giving Emily a "big hug" and needed one too on my free shoulder. Then he put his arm on Emily too.

And these are the moments I love. Josh and I have our cuddle spot on the couch and Emily joins us now.