Looking Back On Five Years....

I have a trio of fun giveaways going on right now:

Family calendar giveaway from BusyBodyBook right here.

JumpStart Get Moving Family Fitness game for the Wii right here.

Spinbrush MyWay! (for girls) battery operated toothbrush right here.

***

Little Miss was born five years ago. She was an extremely planned baby. We knew we wanted Mister Man to have a younger sibling who was somewhere between twenty and twenty-eight months younger than him. She is twenty-two months younger. We knew she would be a C-section because Mister Man was and my doctor didn't give us the option to try a VBAC. We knew what day she would be born, and we knew approximately what time.

While I love planning, I could have used a few more unknowns with her birth. I did keep her gender a surprise, so after the pulled her out, I asked (weakly? I'd had a really bad reaction to the initial anesthesia) if it was a boy or girl. I received no response, and several panicked questions later, my husband finally asked for me, and we found out that Little Miss was a girl.

Once I was in recovery, my husband called my parents, who were anxiously waiting by the phone to hear the news of another healthy grandbaby. They were thrilled - and kindly watching Mister Man for us while we were at the hospital. They promised to visit as soon as Mister Man woke up from his nap later that afternoon.

When Mister Man walked in, I had Little Miss in my arms while sitting in the standard issue hospital chair. She was tucked up in her blanket with the little knitted stocking cap volunteers had made for new babies. As soon as he saw Little Miss, he marched over and immediately grabbed the top of her hat and pulled it off.

Little Miss's head went kaboing as it bounced from the surprise of having her hat suddenly removed - and I sat there open-mouthed stunned by what had just occurred, unable to cushion Little Miss's head in time. After assuring myself that Little Miss was ok and hadn't suffered any permanent injury in her only hours old life, I asked Mister Man why he had done that.

But, Mommy, you aren't allowed to wear hats inside. That's the rule.

Well, yeah, I suppose it is the rule. I hadn't thought to explain to Mister Man about the infant bonnet beforehand, nor had anyone else. It was a very memorable introduction to her big brother, but Little Miss hasn't held it against him.

And somehow, it's five years later. Five years of growing and changing and learning for all of us. Five years of a very strong bond created between the siblings. Five years of sharing and ... not. Of generosity and selfishness.

But mostly five years of a love that is proven by Mister Man sneaking into Little Miss's room last night long after she'd fallen asleep to give her one of his favorite toys for her birthday present from him. And I don't think I could ask for anything more.

(And yes, I know I've posted before about the tradition of a cake for the birthday and cupcakes for half-birthdays, but ever since I went to the Wilton Tent Sale and found this cupcake stand - among many other things - Little Miss has been begging to have it for her birthday. So of course I obliged.