She's still the princess

I knew to expect it, and last night my little princess was crying in her bed because she still wants to be the baby.

I had already put her to bed, which included 30 extra "mommy minutes" of playing and laughing. I am very aware that there is a great adjustment going on here, and I want to make sure noone in our house feels replaced or forgotten. AND it was the first time in several months I was actually able to hop on her bed and tickle her and really have fun.

When I left the room, after a million kisses, John Chelsea had started to stir. I went in and started getting him ready for a diaper and bottle. Em heard me and in she came. I let her help a little, but then sent her back to her room because I was getting ready to go downstairs. I poked my head in her room before I headed down, and I saw her wiping her eyes.

I asked what was wrong and she couldn't tell me. So I started asking questions "Are you mad?" (Em: head shake) "Are you sad?" (Em: Nod) "Ok, are you sad because it's bedtime?" (Em: shake) "Are you sad about the baby?" (Em: wipe eyes and nod) Of course, at this time, John Chelsea is starting to get really mad he is not getting his late evening bottle...which makes it hard to tell the four-year old not to hate her brother for needing Mommy's attention while he is screaming in my ear.

So I sit down with her, give her a great big hug and kiss and we talk about it (through the crying baby). I tell her she wasn't really a baby anymore anyway. And now, she is something that she wasn't before: a BIG sister. And I explain to her that the baby will grow up too and won't be little like this forever. Xavier used to be the baby and then she was born and he became the big brother. And I still love him just as much as always. And I tell her that when a baby is growing in a mommy's belly, her heart is growing too, so she will have a enough love for the new baby and noone will have to share. Mommies never run out of love. And besides, she is the only other girl, so she is the only one I have to do great girl stuff like Barbies and Princesses and dresses and pink with. If it weren't for her, I would be the ONLY girl and would be stuck doing all boy stuff (eww!!!). This got a smile.

We had a million more hugs and kisses and "I love you's" and wiped the last few tears away. This has been a hard week for her. Couldn't he have waited until after her birthday to steal her sunshine? I just hope everyone remembers on Saturday that it is HER birthday party - not a "Welcome home, Baby" party.

Love you tons, Gracie Bops!