The day I came home from the hospital, I started feeling dizzy and seeing spots. A quick check of my blood pressure and a call to the doctor put me back in the hospital for a week for round the clock monitoring. Like I said, we both had a hard time getting him in to this world.
Beautiful Bald Husband and I decided then that we weren't going to have any more kids. We thought we had won the jackpot with the first, and having another would just be playing with fire as far as my health was concerned. We were content to be a three person household. A few years later, there were some minor discussions about having another child. But, it never seemed like the time was right, and we never really did say for sure to the other one if that was something we really wanted, it was just a casual passing conversation.
Larger Child was doing very well being an only child, but he often asked us for a brother or a sister. He would wish for one on birthday candles, he would tell us he prayed for one, he would talk about what he would name him or her... LC needed a lot of attention. He liked being with his parents, he liked having all the focus, we thought there was a possibility that unless he had something really big to distract him, having a new addition to the house could throw him in to a tailspin. Sooo, once BBH and I had the REAL conversation and confirmed that we would both really like to try for a second addition to our clan, we made the decision to wait until LC was starting school.
We timed it just about perfectly. We started trying to conceive about 10 months before LC's first day of kindergarten. I got pregnant right away! (Way to go BBH!) We were all thrilled! I remember telling both BBH and LC at the same time, and I think they were both equally as ecstatic! I had a due date of sometime in the later part of July. We spent the next nine months doing all of the fun things you get to do with a 5 year old without a baby in tow, including a trip to Disneyland. (I am one brave Mama!)
We knew LC's world was about to be rocked, and we knew he had no clue as to what extent everything was going to change for us all. This is one of the last photos of all three of us before Smaller Child was born. (courtesy Emma Graham Photography)
The summer before Smaller Child was born was a strange one for me. I was super excited to be expecting a new baby in the house, but I was also a little bit sad that it was the last bit of time it was just going to be Larger Child and me. I decided to make the most of it, and nearly every day my huge pregnant self took her THEN only child to do something really fun (zoo trips, natural history museum, movies, park, you name it!) Part of me wondered if I was setting myself up for a fallout when all of those fun activities came to a screeching halt when the baby came.
But, LC took it all in stride. He talked about his new sibling constantly to us, to his friends, to strangers at the supermarket. He would often talk to my belly or make noises trying to get the baby to move. He went to the ultrasound with us, he loved seeing his brother's face, he even helped us pick out his name. He seemed like he was just as excited about Smaller Child's arrival as we were, maybe even more so! There seemed to be a genuine budding of a real love in that child for a being he hadn't even met yet.
Then the big moment came. Smaller Child made his appearance. I would like to note that the pregnancy went much smoother the second time around, and while my blood pressure went up in the very last week of my pregnancy, resulting in an induction, it was only about a week and a half off from when he was "expected" to come out anyway, and before I was even induced I was already starting to efface and dilate. He still took his sweet time showing up though. Another nearly three days of pitocin and a uterus that just wouldn't stop, our gorgeous Smaller Child was welcomed in to this world.
That was it. It took us about a mili-second to recognize the look on Larger Child's face when he came in to that hospital room to meet his brother. It was complete and total adoration and pure love. We knew that look because we had it too, and we looked at him that way when he was born, and now we were looking at him that way again as he transition into the BIG BROTHER roll. He still talks about the first time he saw his brother. He would tell you the story, in detail today if you were to ask him. He says "I knew he was going to be cute, but I didn't know he was going to be THAT cute!" This adoration continues, and develops in each passing day.
All of the fears we had about him not being able to handle sharing his house, his parents, his life with a sibling were squashed! He has always proved us wrong, and this was no exception. He has taken to his brother and is taken by his brother in every way a six year old can.
As for Smaller Child... from early on he responded to his brother when he wouldn't with anyone else, even in my belly. As SC gets older and gets more responsive, you can see that outward expression of that brotherly love grow. They are two peas in a pod. God knew what He was doing when he brought them together, for sure! It is a type of love that I feel so blessed to witness. It is pure and true. Larger Child acts as a protector, an entertainer, a provider, a hero, a role model and plays each role beautifully. For now, Smaller Child is content to be along for the ride.
How lucky they are to have each other! How incredibly rare it is to have that type of bond! I pray that they continue to grow together and support one another. As they do, I will do every thing in my power to foster that bond and help it grow.
And with that, I would like to leave you with a few pictures of my boys. You can see it in the way they look at each other. You can see it in a way that I could never express. Enjoy.
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