Becoming a big brother

Benjamin still doesn't really understand how much his life is going to change some time around May 23.  Of course neither do the rest of us really!  But over the last few months, his understanding of what it means to be a big brother has grown.  The baby doll pictured above sleeping on Benjamin's chest has been one way we've been introducing the idea to him.  He has learned to hold, rock, and swaddle the baby, change her diaper, and now feeds her and puts her down for naps and bedtime periodically throughout the day.  

The picture above is how he wanted to go down for his nap today--with baby doll on his chest just like JB sometimes lets him sleep when he wakes up too early and comes into our room in the morning.  B also insisted that we read her a "tiny baby book" before they went to sleep.  I don't really know what he means by that, but  this soft version of "Are you my Mother?" satisfied him.  

The above picture is for mom.  Not so very long ago you showed me a candle you kept that had my tiny little kid fingernail prints all over it.  I thought of that when I found Benjamin occupied digging his own little fingernails into this candle in the living room.  We don't really use them anymore, so I let him do continue--I think he spent a good 10-15 minutes delighting in the feeling of sinking his nails in candle wax.  

One more little Benjamin anecdote.  We were all eating a meal together the other day when something I said (cannot imagine what!) made JB say to Benjamin:  "It looks like mama is wrong, huh?"  And Benjamin replied, "Unbelievable!"  I prefer to think that this was meant sincerely and not sarcastically, but there was a certain glint in his eye : )  Can two year olds be sarcastic?!  

This last photo shows one of my favorite things about our house in the winter.  The possum haw looks like this all winter.  When the morning light hits these bright red berries the world feel warm and beautiful.  Now little green leaves are starting to bud out, and it makes me a little sorry for spring to come.