The Sisters

The most popular question I get every time I run into someone I haven't seen since having Otis is: "How do the girls like him" (followed by how are you adjusting to having a boy...more on that later).

The girls.

The girls love him. And so far have been great with him (minus the admitted drive-by biting/hitting incident that cannot be verified by anyone but Bea and since she doesn't have all of her words yet--only Otis really knows).

The each have their own style with him.

Matilda is Mother Hen. 

Less interested in holding, cuddling, nurturing and more interested and telling him what is what and offering words of encouragement.

"Otis, don't you cry. You don't need to cry right now"

"Otis, Mama will feed you soon"

"Odie, I love you!"

Bea, on the other hand, wants to hold him. Touch him.

Change his diaper.

ALWAYS suggesting to us that we change his pants. If Bea had it her way Otis would go through about 37 diapers a day.

She also has moments of jealousy. Where she will say "move" and start to shove Otis off of whoever's lap he is currently residing (did we mention that Bea is DEFINITELY an Alpha?)

Or climbing up right onto the pillow while Otis is nursing and just saying: "sit". Like..."hey! I deserve to sit here too, buddy".

She has also started to want to hold him by herself (shocking no one that knows this independent soul)....motioning for me to get my hands outta there when she is trying to hold him. Which usually ends up with Otis crying, and Bea saying "shh, shh, shh" to him.

We have been the lucky recipients of a non-stop cold and flu virus extravaganzaa the last month that has landed up with 16 visits to Ready Care in 35 days, 2 stays in the hospital for Beatrice and a whole lot of vomiting for Matilda.

With this, came very limited access to Otis, as I didn't care to see any of their plague sicknesses manifest in a newborn.

So it will be very fun to see how their bond continues to grow stronger with him when they aren't relinquished just looking from afar and 'head kisses'.

And Toddler toes. Because I love these two girls so much that even their toes make me smile.