Adjusting to being outnumbered

Every morning, Sofia and Alex stumble out of their rooms and run to my bedroom to check on their baby brother Gabriel.  Their level of excitement and desire to be involved really makes me happy and proud.

They love to hold him, kiss him, and talk to him.  Sofia even sings to him; that alone will melt anyone.  They like to get some “baby time” before they head to school.  Here the two sleepy siblings are holding their baby brother before school.

It brings me great joy that they are both so eager to help me.  In truth, they have stepped up and have been much more willing to help when I ask.  You know… it’s the little things… picking up after themselves, listening to what they need to do (ok, sometimes), and helping out with the baby.  If you think that this includes changing diapers… you are mistaken.  Holding him so I can pack their lunch, go to the bathroom, or brush my teeth is help enough! I am thrilled when they come let me know that the “baby is crying” or that “Gabriel needs his pacifier.”

Sofia, who is only 5, is mommy’s right hand.  A couple of my friends have expressed concerns about her “dropping” the baby and all I can say is that she knows she is not allowed to stand up and hold him; honestly, the girl would die first than drop her brother from a sitting position.

Alex is the one I was most concern with when we welcomed Gabriel into our little world.  He’s 4, very loving, and definitely mammas-boy.  I am sure there will be days where he is jealous of something; but for right now he is so happy to have a brother he is counting the days where he can play cars and jump in the trampoline with Gabriel.

A lot of people have asked me how I’m handling going from two to three kids.  I definitely feel like we’ve started over.  The other two are only fifteen months apart so I basically didn’t sleep for about three years.  This time around the lack of sleep is what’s getting to me.  Now that I’m alone with the kids it’s pretty difficult to “sleep when the baby sleeps.”  So, I take it one day at a time, struggle with the lack of sleep, and usually recruit the help of a strong cup of coffee (or two) to get through the day.