The way they are this week

The boys seem like they are growing up even faster than usual this week. Big Brother all of sudden wants to look out more for his brother and complaints about being bugged have been at an all time low. Big Brother has begun to just give Little Brother whatever toy he was trying to take away from him. Now being the one to push the shopping cart or stroller so he could make the baby laugh and give him undivided attention. I mean really turning into a big helper. Little Brother really laughs and is entertained enough to want to sit against his will strapped in to both stroller or cart. Giving Little Brother rides around the yard in his power wheels truck and strapping the little Velcro seat belt on Little Brother is a nice change from Big Brother laughing as he drove around the yard with Little Brother running after him crying to be let in.

Little Brother has always wanted to try to do simple everyday things that he watches his older brother do with almost no effort. When Big Brother brushes his teeth Little Brother bangs on the bathroom door to be let in. I have watched Little Brother slam down the toilet lid, climb to stand on top of it to reach his toothbrush on the sink counter. Big Brother is tall enough to stand in from of the mirror so I have no idea how Little Brother came up with the idea but I’m keeping a close eye on the two of them to see if Big Brother is helping with these big kid problem solving ideas. Another thing that Little Brother has insisted on doing is eating at the table instead of his highchair. For the last month getting him in his highchair has proved to be a big fight that ends up with Little Brother’s crocodile tears and throwing any food he’s given onto the floor. He’d shake his head no and either spit out his food or not open his mouth. At first I thought he just wasn’t hungry but now he climbs right up onto a chair to stand at the table. I would never let him before because he would want to get on the table and instead of him getting up there and trying to do a little dance I’d get him down and turn all the chairs sideways. I thought his fits after that were because I was stopping his table top goals. He’s finally figured out he gets no table privileges for acting like a table monkey and has started to stand on his chair and eat. I finally figured out what it was he was trying to do and I’ll let him stand on the chair since he’s too little to see his food as long as he does eat. Poor Little Brother couldn’t tell me what was wrong or why he wouldn’t eat because he has no words.

Big Brother and Little Brother share all the same snacks and toys now. There is no more baby snacks and big boy snacks, just snacks. As long as one likes cut up apples one day or veggies and dip the other one will like it too. It’s like one brother looks to the other for a verdict on whether to accept what I’m handing out or not. Big Brother has become a little too good at sharing and Little Brother has had a few lollipops this summer and worse was snuck a piece of gum while in the car seat. We noticed when Little Brother was running around the yard with gum wrapped around his face and neck after stretching it out of his mouth and experimenting with it. He had gum stuck to his hair at the back of his neck for a good week. We had to have a talk with Big brother about how it is great for him to share with the baby but even though the baby eats all the same food as him he can choke on candy and gum. Please ask before you let him have it. So now Big Brother thinks he is the customs officer of what goes past the borders of Little Brother’s mouth. “He’s got a marble! A piece of gum, an unauthorized car wheel!” When you ask him where did Little Brother find it, you are told, “Oh I gave it to him, just letting you know!”. Big Brother used to always go in his room to be away from Little Brother and play cars or watch a movie in peace. Lately The door is barely closed and the two of them will sit on Big Brother’s bed watching a show or play cars on the rug. Next week it will probably be back to the fighting and then crying. Being nice to each other, well that is the way they are this week.