"Sibling" Rivalry

No, this is not a post where I tell you all that HMB will be a big brother! He already IS a pseudo big brother to our little friend Lily. I have been watching Lily, who is just over 6 months old, every Thursday while her mom does some training. And it has definitely been a learning experience for us all!

HMB loves Lily, from the way he says her name to the way he runs to the door when he knows she is coming over. But...he is quite jealous of her, too. I am certainly not surprised since it's been me and HMB for the past two years. He goes from doting older "brother" to bully in two seconds flat! Every toy Lily plays with is ripped out of her hands (unless I quickly intervene), even when said toy IS actually Lily's toy. I even put HMB in his first ever time out for throwing Lily's giraffe at her (it missed Lily, thankfully, and even if it had hit her, it's very soft).

This experience has prepared me for when an actual sibling for HMB does arrive, how to prepare HMB for it, as well as the need to read up on sibling interactions and how to help us all! The times when HMB loves on Lily make it all worth it, he says "Gentle" and pats her foot or arm. And he puckers up for smooches when she has to leave.

One last thing to mention - HMB does not call Lily his sister, instead she is his girlfriend! Of course she is, HMB has a couple of those already! Although I am convinced HMB will be the sensitive, caring best friend and his crushes will go for the bad boys, running back to HMB with their broken hearts...Nice that I have already made my son's future love life into an after school special!

Party at 11pm?

A sleep post, surprising! Actually, since HMB got his very own queen sized bed, he has been sleeping better. He still wakes up at night, at least once a night. Sometimes he wants milk, and how can I deny his little cries of "Milk, mommy, milk, mommy", as well as a "Tank too, Mommy" when the milk is delivered??

But last night, a strange thing happened. HMB went to bed after reading books and singing songs, at about 8pm. Of course, as soon as I snuggle in and try to fall asleep at about 11:30pm, HMB cries out and I go in and check on him. "Hi Mommy" he says and pokes my face. He does not fall back asleep. After an hour of laying with him, trying to get him back to sleep, we get up. It's like it's the middle of the afternoon, HMB is playing with toys, wants to read all his books, watch Diego.

Please, please go to sleep! I am TIRED! It's 2am! We finally head back into his room and he FINALLY falls asleep, thank you! Which leads into a very cute thing about HMB - he tosses and turns in his new, big bed and usually ends up belly down with his arms under the pillow (and his head on it). It's pretty damn adorable. In fact, my husband just checked on him, told me all of this and exclaimed "He's like a little person!" Yes, yes he is!