Finally summer

There are a few things Big Brother and I have in common or I should say that we both aren’t big fans of. One is waking up early. Since birth I am pretty sure Big Brother’s bedtime has averaged out to ten or eleven. It used to be a solid eleven every night before he started school. A night that I get that boy in bed by nine feels like a free time night. But now that school is out we don’t have to worry about it.

Another thing we share is our dislike of having to stop watching a show when we are in the middle of what we think to be a really good part. Big Brother has already grown accustomed to pausing the satellite to eat or take baths. If I say, “Hey get your butt in the tub or come eat,” that boy is grabbing the remote control to pause what he’s watching until he gets back to it. And sometimes he’ll rewind it a bit just in case he missed a second. I usually have to stop watching my shows because he has decided everything to do is boring (I doubt he even knows what he means) or his favorite show of the day is on which is always because there are so many channels to watch cartoons on.

The third big thing we share is the kicks we get out of Little Brother. We laugh when he drools, farts, attempts to communicate, and makes one of his faces. Big Brother says he cannot wait to feed him and walk him. I don’t know if he is talking about holding Little Brother’s hand and walking with him or if he wants one of those kid leashes. I hope it’s the first one. Big Brother thinks “his baby” is so cute and I still have to say I am utterly speechless at how much love a four-year-old could have for someone. Especially when that someone needs your parent’s immediate attention almost non-stop. Little Brother turned five months yesterday and I think I should let my guard down now because all this time I waited for Big Brother to be mean to or get jealous of the baby.

It has only been a few days since the end of the school year but Big Brother and I just love it. We get to sleep longer in the morning. Of course the baby gets up earlier than Big Brother but he eats and wants to sleep again on most days so I also get to if I’m lucky. Big Brother can watch his shows without having to go to school or get to bed. And of course at mealtime he will just pause the TV. What a world he lives in. When I was younger I remember having to shut the TV off at my grandma’s and sitting at the dinner table worrying about what I missed and wonder would it be over? Also, now that school is out Big Brother and I can just play and laugh at Little Brother.

If Little Brother does stay up I have that one on one time with him feeding and changing him. By then Big Brother is up and I start his breakfast. Little Brother just wants to watch his Big Brother every minute he is awake. I joke that the reason for Little Brother hair loss is his head rubbing so much from watching his Big Brother walk this way and back that way following what his brother is up to. He can be a little nosebag. Even in the car he has to see his Big Brother. I love that Little Brother finds Big Brother so amusing when we have a long ride. Big Brother will even serenade “his baby” to sleep. Once the Little Brother falls asleep he is so happy and will exclaim, “I did it mom, I sang him to sleep! He’s sleeping!” Then Little Brother wakes up at the sound of Big Brother’s voice and has to be nosy and find out what is going on. I am even so lucky that if Little Brother’s pacifier falls out Big Brother will give it back to him. Yes, the pacifier is back. Mommy lasted a full week nuk nuk free. After a few nights of Little Brother no longer sleeping through the night I had to buy new ones. No more fighting with Big Brother to wake up in the morning or get to bed early at night. I can give him a bath before we go some place versus the schedule. We can stay home all day if we want to.

Well summer is finally here. I got a few good months of it just being Little Brother home during the day. I made it through the colic and sleepless nights. I feel like Little Brother is already so big and old. He’s only a few months but things have changed so much. We can sit outside and watch Big Brother play. I don’t have to worry about getting the kids in and out of snowsuits like I did. Getting out of the house is a lot easier with warm weather. Big Brother hasn’t been talking back as badly. I was thinking he must have been overtired waking up for school. Miserable because of the time he goes to bed. Now he can wake up when he is ready and is a happy little camper. And Little Brother just wants to see what his Big Brother is doing and he is happy. I have all day to spend with both boys doing whatever they want. It feels like I’m not frantically rushing around anymore. Ahh yes, it is finally summer!