Such A Sweet Boy!

Josiah, that is.  I know Elijah is our new guy and he is quite the sweetheart, too, but this post is about how good Josiah has been and how proud he makes us.

We have been concerned with how Josiah would do without us for a few days when Elijah came because of some recent separation anxiety and then of course there is always the question of accepting a new sibling, but he has done great.  My labor went very quickly on Saturday morning, so we dropped him off at my Mom’s already fed, but still in his PJ’s with bedhead.  We hadn’t even told mom he had been fed, so when he asked for eggs, she didn’t hesitate to feed him an entire second breakfast, which he ate readily – Pig!

Only a short time later Elijah had arrived at Mom brought him to see us.  When he got there I was just finishing up feeding Elijah for the first time and so was holding him close.  I hadn’t planned to be near him when Josiah met him for the first time, but there didn’t seem to be any jealousy.  Instead he was just overwhelmed by the room in general and was scared to sit on the bed with me, that is until I shared my chocolate covered granola bar with him – Pig!

Over time Josiah warmed up and was loving being at the hospital and took some interest in Elijah.  The rest of the day was spent playing with family.  He even took a nice nap and went to bed easily at Grandma’s.

Looking out the window at the ducks in the pond with Uncle Jesse and Savannah.

They sent us home from the hospital the next day when Elijah was only 26 hours old.  We were home in time for a late lunch which my visiting Grandparents and Dad brought us.  I was so touched to see Josiah play so well with them since his life and routine has been turned upside down and he doesn’t get to see them as much as we’d like.  I enjoyed watching him play with my Grandfather who was always fun when I was growing up.  Unfortunately with his ALS, he no longer has function of his arms and Josiah kept trying to hand him things and put things in his lap.  Deda did his best to use his feet to play.  It was sweet to me.  When they were leaving, Deda bent over and asked Josiah for a kiss.  He is usually a bit stingy with his kisses and rarely offers them on his own, but he readily kissed Deda, then walked over to Gram and said “kiss” as he kissed her, then repeated it with my Dad.  I was blown away.

The excitement of a new brother wears on a boy!  This was on the way home from the hospital – the only nap he got that day.

Right after Jacob put Elijah in Josiah’s lap, Elijah let out one of those super noisy meconium poops.  Josiah got wide eyed and started pushing him off as quick as he could!

Since then Josiah has been anxious to hold and help with Elijah.  At first he called him by name, then “Bubba” (he did that himself even though it sounds influenced), but now it is mostly just “baby”.  His big job is to make sure every diaper in the house gets put into the diaper pail.  He loves it, but the sanitary side makes me nervous!  So far he is willing to share his toys and snacks and has even helped with his sponge bath by brushing his hair for us – the wrong direction, of course.  We’ll see how things progress, but as of now we have completely loved seeing the interaction.

“Helping” to give Elijah his pacifier.  Excuse Josiah’s bedhead.

Two cute things: I’ve heard Josiah mumble songs that seem made up and “sing” a little tune before, but the other day we heard him sing “Jesus Loves Me” clear as day.  It was precious.  Also, when Elijah sneezed he said “God bless you”.  He says new stuff all the time to the point that we take note, but don’t really “ooooh” and “awwww” over it, but these just struck me as sweet.  Maybe I’m emotional!

Once again, this post is much longer than intended.  Sorry.