Mes Petit Choux: The Very Best Big Sister

Zaylee girl, I had so many emotions about the transition from one baby to two, and all of that was due to the fact that you would no longer have all my attention. I worried we wouldn't share the same bond we did before baby brother was in our lives, and I feared you would resent me for that. I envisioned you being jealous and not wanting anything to do with your brother which would break my heart. All of these things ate me up before the day your brother came into our lives. I wanted to make sure I kissed you more each day leading up to his arrival, spend extra quality time so you knew how much I loved you, and reminded you over and over how much you meant to me and how happy I was that you were my little girl.

The night I went into labor was the first time we ever left you, and the whole way to the hospital all I could say to dad was how much I wished I would have sneaked in to your room and kissed you as my only baby one last time. I thought about you the entire night as I anticipated your brothers arrival. When morning came and we called home, I was so relieved to hear you were doing great and were happy to be with Grandma D when you woke up. A few hours later your brother came into the world, and we were over the moon. It was wonderful to have those first moments and hours with just him to bond and get acquainted with one another, but we couldn't wait to see you and have our whole family of four together!

When you arrived, you were so sweet with Marcel and I my heart was exploding with joy watching you love on him. You wanted to be close to him, kiss him, lay your head on him, and you even shared your beloved bunny with him. It was such a natural thing for you to give him so much love and it was incredibly special to witness as your Mother. I'm so proud of your compassionate heart and can't wait to see what the Lord does with it's greatness.

Over the past few weeks you have grown more in love with Marcel. Each morning the first thing you say after I get you out of bed is, "Baby!?" You want to know where he is and make sure he is ok before we have our breakfast together. When I am changing him, burping him, or holding just simply holding him, you are constantly trying to help me or asking to hold him yourself. It only lasts a minute or two before you are done, but you are always giddy when you have him in your arms. You are constantly trying to cuddle him when you find him laying on the couch or the bed, and like to make sure he is covered and warm. Its so sweet, and he is very welcoming of your affections.

All of that sweetness is not without your moments of frustration. You have started to show bits of jealousy when you want me to do something with you, but can't as I am usually in the middle of feeding the baby. In those moments, you have been known to start out with a sweet caress and quickly grad hold of his hair while giving it a good yank, attempt to poke his eye, try to sit on him, or smack his little body. There was even an incident with your finger up his nose! I understand the hardship, and it breaks my heart. I have no doubt that you will be the very best protector of your brother and will have a bond so deep that no one will be able to separate you two in years to come. For now, the frustrations and fits are acceptable (although you do get talked to very sternly when you hurt him!) and I am confident that they will pass as the days go on; that is, until you are older and the fights become two sided! :)

Both of my babies ready for naptime!

Always wanting to share your things with him!

It has been such a joy having our little Marcel with us, and such a blessing to watch you be a big sister to him. Your concern and love for him are the greatest gifts for me as your mother and I can't wait to see the two of you grow up together. You are so special to me my Zaylee Jean, and I'm so thankful to be your mom!!