The Things Teagan Says...

Teagan: Mom, I want to give your tummy a little squeeze.

Me: Why?

Teagan: Because it's beautiful.

Mom, I want to come wiv you wash your hands. But don't touch me with poo.

Me: Remember not to run with scissors, sweetheart.

Teagan: I don't like running.

Did you know I was a baby when I was just born?

You're so pretty Mummy. (After I'd already started to read her an extra story - no flattery needed.)

In the middle of a Target trip: I love you very much, Mom. (Aww!)

During a particularly difficult bout with constipation, with hours spent on the potty hugging Buddy and I or squeezing our fingers, she wanted to accompany me to the bathroom. As I sat on the toilet, she offered for me to hold her hands and squeeze. How sweet.

We spent 20 minutes reading the book I made telling her birth story. She pointed to my belly in the photo then pulled up my shirt and said "It's a match!"

I had her put her hand on my tummy because it was moving. "Mummy! My bum's moving - put your hand on it."

To Mason: I'm just here. Don't just cry. You need a hold my finger?

"Eebee" - even
"A most a be" - supposed to be
"Nipstick" - lipstick...or a brilliant new invention

Time for your check-ups!

For the sake of convenience, I scheduled Mason's newborn and Teagan's 3 year check-ups at the same time, and took advantage of Mum still being around to help and Brandon being home from work and dragged them both along. 

Teagan's very into doctor stuff lately - Doc McStuffins and her little Fisher-Price kit and is constantly giving us check-ups. The only thing is, she's convinced herself that shots don't hurt. I tried to persuade her to believe otherwise, but my argument must not have been strong enough. The girl did not see it coming. Ooh, did she scream - it broke my heart. The rest of the check-up went well - I appreciated the doctor being so patient with her. She asked her to kick and, bless her heart, she wouldn't. She got in trouble for kicking GG the day before and just shook her head. I had to tell her that it was okay in this specific instance. Then out came the reflex hammer and Teagan knew exactly what should happen and kicked like a donkey with the doctor tapped her knee. The doctor recognized that Teagan knew what was supposed to happen, so distracted her by asking her to do something with her hands so she wouldn't actively kick. We've really liked our new doctor. She did something then that Mum claimed she hadn't seen a doctor do before. Before she checked Teagan's diaper area, she was sure to tell Teagan that it was only okay for her to look there because her Mummy and Daddy were there and because she is a doctor. I thought that was very considerate. Teagan struggled with the "follow my finger" concept and just kept copying the doctor and moving her finger instead of her eyes. Darling and maddening at the same time.

Teagan was actively involved in Mason's check-up, watching like a hawk as the doctor used instruments she recognized and (for the most part) understood. The unfamiliar arose when we were told he was in the 25th-50th percentile for weight. Those numbers were foreign indeed. But he's got plenty of time to plump up.

When we got home, we told Teagan how brave she was for her flu shot and offered ice cream while we watched 'Brave.' Poor thing had tears streaming down her face as she cried "I not brave!" We had ice cream anyway.

He comed out your tummy!

Teagan came to meet her little brother just a few hours after he was born. He was a champion sleeper and I finally managed to catch him awake so I could feed him and Brandon came back with Teagan. I asked them to come back a litle later so they played in the foyer for 15 minutes, no questions asked. When they did come in, Teagan knew just who he was. "Baby Brother! He comed out your tummy, Mom!" She came right up and looked at him, but when we asked if she wanted to hold his hand or give him a kiss, she got upset and countered with "He's too tiny!" GG unleashed her magical Grandma powers and managed to get her giving him kisses eventually convinced her to hold him and she loved it. Although she always though he was going to cry (based on the one time he actually did) and covered her ears whenever he moved. 

 

I'd heard of friends giving the older sibling a gift from the baby and thought it might help smooth the transition for her a little. When we bought the dollhouse for her birthday, it came with twin babies and all their accoutrements - high chair, stroller, cribs, etc. I thought those would be the perfect little present for her from Mason. When we presented it to her, she wanted to give HIM the present - I hope that spirit of giving continues!