The Big Sister

What does Lydia think of all this?  Honestly most times I have no idea what she is thinking in general, but so far she seems amazed by her baby brother.  I'm sure it is confusing that for so long we talked to her about mommy is in the hospital so the baby can grow bigger and stronger, and now he is "out" and mommy is home.  But baby still isn't, and mommy still can't do a lot.  She seems to expect things back to normal now that "baby is out" which is understandable.  At least daily she asks "mommy can you carry me now?" And although she looks said when we say not yet, she also seems to accept that answer.  We've told her mommy's new ouchie needs to get better first, and she either asks to see it several times a day, or asks if its getting better yet. 

As for her focus on Will, she has been up to visit him a few times, but one can imagine the threshold for a 2 1/2 year old for being still and quiet ~ so the visits are brief. I can't wait for her to see him again now that he has less lines/iv's etc attached to him as he really does look more like a little baby.  She asks to touch his hands whenever she is hear, and has been so good about a gentle little hold.  She got this toy dinosaur/lizard thing she wants to show him, and reads books to Will.  She shows genuine concern when he squeaks or cries, saying "its okay don't cry, you need a lovey.  I will get you a lovey" and hopped off the couch to walk out.  I asked what she was doing and she replies very matter of fact "well I'm going to the lovey store for my baby."  I just melted.

She does ask about him sometimes at home, but I think she is still in her routine enough that since he isn't there yet she isn't sure what to expect.  The first couple days we were sharing a twin room with another baby whose family was from farther away, so when we'd go visit Will there was another baby boy in the room.  Being the little lover that she is, Lydia has mentally adopted him as "her baby" too, and has asked about Alex almost as much.  When he was moved to another room she wanted to go find him.  Hopefully when we do bring Will home, she will be content enough with just one baby brother. 

The hospital has become so routine for her, she actually asked to go play there the other night.  She said she wants to play the games in mommy's room, and when we explained that mommy doesn't have a room there anymore, she suggested that daddy go away and he should stay at the hospital.  Apparently if we take turns being there and she can come play then it's all okay.  At least we know my being gone so long wasn't terribly traumatic for her!

In the next few weeks we will bring her up more to visit of course.  I'll ask her to help get his room ready, and she gets a big girl bed so "her baby" can have the crib.  So far she is on board for that transition.  She is such a loving and empathetic girl that I can't imagine she won't be happy when Will comes home, but like I said before sometimes I have no idea what is going on in that girls head.  She is amazing to me.