The Best Christmas Gift

You got a baby brother for Christmas this year. Not sure if that is what you really wanted, but that’s what you got!  Sutton was born on December 4^th, the day before you turned 16 months.  Papa TT came to stay with you while we were in the hospital.  He picked you up at Grandpa Al and Grand Rita’s, your dad and I had dropped you off over there earlier in the day so we could go to the hospital.  At about 8:00 that night I got really sad because I hadn’t seen you all day and it was the longest I had ever been away from you, so I called Papa TT and told him that I wanted him to bring you to the hospital so I could see you.  When you came into the hospital room and saw me, you had the biggest smile on your face!  It melted my heart.  I will forever remember that moment and your smile.  Daddy picked you up and put you on the bed with me and you just laid your head on my chest and cuddled with me, which you NEVER do!  I loved every minute of it.  You didn’t get to stay long because it was way past your bedtime.  Sutton was born at 12:44 AM.  I called your papa to tell him he had another healthy grandson and he asked what time Sutton was born.  When I told him he was born at 12:44, he told me that you had woken up, sat up in your crib and cried at that exact time.  I guess we are connected and you could feel my pain, or you knew that you were no longer the baby and that made you sad! J  Every time you came to the hospital to visit, you knew you were coming to see me and I could hear you saying “MA-ma” all the way down the hall.  Hearing you say my name will never get old!

You were not happy about having a brother at first.  You didn’t want to hold him or touch him or even look at him and you didn’t want me to either.   You got spoiled by your Papa TT, Nana, Mimi and Aunt Ashlie while your dad and I were in the hospital.  One day you even came to my room carrying big chocolate chip cookies in each hand!!  When we got home from the hospital we gave you a Pottery Barn chair with your name on it so you could sit in it and read your books.  You had been trying to sit in the baby’s swings and car seat so we didn’t want you to think the baby was taking all of your things. 

The day we came home from the hospital your dad went to work for a couple of hours.  At one point, I said, “Let’s go change the baby’s diaper,” forgetting that's what I usually say to you.  You didn’t see me pick up the baby and you ran into your room.  When you got to the changing table, you put your arms up for me to pick you up just in time to see me lay the baby down on YOUR changing table…it broke your heart!  You laid on the ground and cried the biggest tears I had ever seen! I left Sutton on the changing table to comfort you, and he started crying.  I was so overwhelmed, that I started crying too! All 3 of us laid on the ground and cried.

Things have gotten a little better.  You still aren’t convinced that you want a brother ALL the time, but you like to bring the baby toys and books, and you love to help with diaper changes.  You like to pat his head, tickle his feet, and you have even given him a kiss or two…but it has to be your decision!  When the baby is crying, you get really concerned and look for his paci to bring to him.  You used to wake up in the morning and call for your dog, Lola, but now you stand up in your crib and call for “ba-bies”.   Daddy got to spend almost a month at home with us for Christmas break.  You quickly went from being a “momma’s boy” to a “daddy’s boy”.  You loved having your dad home!  You guys did something fun everyday while the baby and I stayed at home.  Daddy took you to Gymboree, the library, Barnes and Noble, the park and the museum.  It was a hard adjustment for you and me when your dad had to go back to work!

You make your dad and I laugh all the time right now!  We love this age!!  You are doing the silliest things and your gibberish is hilarious, although we are able to pick out more “real” words with each passing day.  Somehow a new word “clicks” every day and when daddy gets home from work you have a new word to say for him.  Yesterday it was “juice”, the day before that it was “trash”, and the day before that it was “purple”.  You not only say the word that day, but you remember it for good now.  After learning “trash”, any piece of paper you pick up, you show it to me and say, “trash”.  You can recognize every animal and you know what sound they make.  If you can’t say the name of the animal, you will make the sound.  For example, you can’t say monkey, but if you see a picture of a monkey you point and say “ah, ah, ah,” like a monkey.  We are amazed at how quickly you pick up on things and how much you learn daily.  Of course, we think you are a baby genius, and no one will convince us otherwise!

You are also incredibly bossy and particular.  You feel the need to tell everyone where they should sit, where things should go, and when things should happen.  If you think Lola should be drinking, you go over to her water bowl, point to it and yell “LOLA” over and over until she takes a drink.  It looks like you got your bossiness and OCD tendencies from me.  Your dad always says you are really smart, very social, and you know exactly what you want and how to get it, which is great!  However, the three combined can be dangerous if not used the right way when you get older!   But for now, you are so sweet and you LOVE to help out.  Anytime you get sad, I just have to give you a job or ask you to get something for me and you get so excited.  We have discovered that your mind has to be working all the time or you get bored and start disobeying. 

I know this transition is really hard for you; it is hard for us too!  I’m sorry if you don’t understand why we can’t give you as much attention as you are used to getting, but someday you will understand, and you will realize that your dad and I gave you the gift of a sibling.  You and Sutton are so blessed to have each other and someday you will thank God for this Christmas gift because long after your dad and I are gone, you will have Sutton Carter.