Little Bro, about to be Big Bro

When I think about the big change that's about to happen to our family in 4 days (!?!?!!), the child who will certainly be most affected is Lukey Loo. The poor kid, very much the baby of the family, has no idea what is about to happen. And I am holding my breath to see how he is going to react, because he could make our lives pretty darn miserable if he chooses to do so.

After several weeks of forward progress in potty training, I was so excited when he went for a whole week - even the week of Christmas when we were all sick and he was having serious, um, digestive issues - with NO ACCIDENTS. At home, but still. I couldn't believe how great he was doing.

Then his tummy was taking a long time to balance out, and it was as if he just...gave up. All the sudden he was just peeing and pooping in his underwear and then telling me to clean it up. Then he was complaining of being sore because he got a rash. I was cleaning up some very nasty messes several times a day and feeling very frustrated because just days before he was accident-free. And I know this song and dance - been through it with the others - they have all had big set-backs after I thought we were doing really well.

So we took a step back yesterday and today and went back to keeping Luke naked all day, and he went back to no accidents. Without the security of the underwear, he isn't willing to make the mess.  So like many other things in the baby and toddler world, it's two steps forward, one step back. But as long as we're continuing to move forward, I'll take it.

His language is through the roof lately, which gives me a little peek into his heart and makes me love him all the more. The other day we were at a friends house and ate waffles. He came out of the bathroom and said to me, "I need wash my hands. My hands sticky. I can't reach water!" I couldn't believe that he articulated all of that so clearly - it's nice to know exactly what he wants and why he is frustrated.

Hopefully this will help me to understand him as we navigate a new baby sister this week. We moved the glider from his room into our bedroom - the corner nursery. The only time we rock anymore is if he wakes up crying in the middle of the night (not often). But today we were walking past our bedroom and he pointed at the glider and said, "Hey! That's not nice!" So I said, "What's not nice? Did we move your rocking chair into our room?" And he said, with a pouty lip, "yeah."

Oh, Lord, help me to help HIM to know that he's still my sweet little baby and I love him to pieces, even if I can't give him as much of my attention in the weeks to come. I know he will be a great big brother...eventually.