With the recent arrival of our newest family member, Little Miss, there have been some big changes in Monkey’s world. He is now a big brother!
We have been trying to prepare him for the moment over the past few months as carefully as we could. We didn’t want to over do it or worry him (he had some anxious days earlier in the pregnancy) but we wanted to prepare him. We used some story books (review to follow soon) and just tried to make sure he was aware of what would happen. He knew (though who knows how much he understood) that there was a baby in Mummy’s tummy. He was involved a bit in the decorating of the nursery and we told him that it was going to be baby’s room.
We told him that when baby was going to come that Mummy would be in hospital for a few days and that he would have fun with his grandparents. Unfortunately with my waters breaking in the middle of the night this happened a little sooner than we would have liked and we didn’t get to say goodbye to him that morning. He coped really well though and had a lovely day with his Nanny, who kindly popped a few photos on facebook throughout the day to show me how much fun he was having.
He came to the hospital that night to see Mummy and we told him that baby would be born the next day. We had hoped that he would be able to come into hospital on the day she was born but with the C-Section happening so late and with me not being moved to a ward until 2am, that wasn’t going to happen. He had a lovely day with his Granny, Granddad and Uncle Simon that day but got a little upset that night, I think because he hadn’t seen Mummy or Daddy for the entire day.
As Little Miss and I were doing well I told hubby to stay home with Monkey for a while the next morning to give him some attention, and then to bring him in for a visit and to meet his baby sister. When it was time to go Daddy said to him “let’s go and see Mummy” and Monkey said “and baby?” which was good.
Monkey was very excited to see Mummy and we had bought a present for him from the baby, a really cool till, which he loved. As for Little Miss, he did pretty well with her. He wasn’t hugely enthusiastic but he did give her a lovely gentle stroke and we felt that was a lovely first step. When it was time for Monkey to go and spend the day with Nanny he said “take baby home?” which we were thrilled with.
We’ve now been home for a few days and he is doing really well. There have been difficulties. He wants Daddy to carry him a lot, whereas he didn’t before, and he has played up a bit quite a few times. But, he is a 2 1/2 year old so I think that is to be expected and on the whole he really is doing so well.
He thinks Little Miss sounds like a cat sometimes (which she does to be fair) and thinks it’s very funny when she gets the hiccups. He things “baby eating milk” is fascinating bless him though he still doesn’t like it very much when she cries. We have been dead impressed that he hasn’t been disturbed by her in the night yet, as she can be loud during night time nappy changes!
Overall we are just so proud with how he is adapting to life with baby around. Of course it is still early days so I know there will be challenges ahead, but…. so far so good!! 🙂
Congratulations on the safe arrival of Little Miss! Sounds like your little Monkey is handling it really well, it’ll not be long before he won’t remember his life without his little sister, he’s a lucky boy! I hope you’re recovering well and getting looked after x
Ah, well done, Monkey! It’s a huge change for them, but it sounds as though you prepared him as best you could and it’ll now just take time for them to get used to one another. I’ve always been amazed at how Boo can ignore Little Man, and yes, slept through some pretty noisy nights! x
Lovely, monkey sounds like he is adjusting well and will make a fine big brother, I wonder how my youngest will take the arrival of baby number 3 in march!
Aww he seems to have taken being a little bro in his stride. Hope the little miss settles in well x
Aww he sounds like he’s doing wonderfully well as a big brother – many congratulations again!
Aww Caroline congratulations so happy for your family! What a wonderful big brother monkey is!! Sounds great, you must have been delighted for him to be asking about and wanting to bring baby home!!
Hope you are recovering well xxx
congratulations! its so lovely seeing your ‘baby’ become an older sibling. looks like he is loving it x
Getting a baby sister is a huge change for anyone, he sounds like he’s handling it really well. Down to how you’re handling it all for him I’d assume 🙂
Fab news Caroline! JJ went through a bit of a naughty period when we brought EJ home, pushing the boundaries a bit as I recall but he was always quite loving with the baby. Glad to hear the feeding and everything is going so well. Xx #sharewithme
Congratulations om your new arrival! What an exciting time for you all and yes, such a big deal for your son, but it sounds like he is handling it really well. I’ll be so nervous when the time comes to have another and the 3 of us become 4… but I recently read a lovely quote that said “A sibling is the most special gift you can give a child”. So true. xx #sharewithme
Congratulations on your new arrival, that’s wonderful news! And how lovely that you are all doing so well xxx #ssamazingachievements
It is such a huge change for everyone, but sounds like he is doing well! my son was only 16 months when he became a big brother. It is so lovely to see the relationship develop though
#sharewithme
Oh, lovely to see you all adapting and settling in so well. What a lovely big brother! xx
thanks Sian 🙂 xx
Some of my favourite times were seeing my older children with their baby siblings. We were lucky that they all adapted really well too, to each new addition, and it was so sweet to see them fuss over them. Monkey sounds like he is chuffed to bits with his new little sister. They are beautiful children Caroline xxx
thank you lovely, sounds like all of yours adapted really well too which gives me hope this will continue and won’t be just a fluke for the first few weeks! xx
Well Done Monkey. I think you’re going to make an awesome big brother and Little Miss is very lucky to have you xxx #sharewithme
Lucas & Grace say – High-5’s to Monkey for becoming a big brother. You’re gonna have so much fun teaching Little Miss how to hide Haribo, tag-team when the Mother gets a little too bossy and Dad will give you some AWESOME piggy back rides. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures xx #sharewithme
Ah huge congratulations, that’s amazing news! So pleased for you all. I always think it’s tricky for the older one who has had their mummy and daddy all to themselves for 2 1/2 years! I’m sure he will just get more and more used to his little sister and adore her. Thanks for linking up to loud n proud today 🙂 x
Aww bless, that’s so cute. And Congratulations!
#loudnproud
Ah this is a lovely post! Such happy news! It looks like he’ll dote on his little sister, and I think it’s a great age gap! Congratulations to you all x
Oh, well done Monkey! It’s a big transition, but it sounds like he’s doing brilliantly x #SSAA #loudnproud
Congratulations! Such lovely photos. Big man was like this with his brothers. Unfortunately middle man was not so keen on the arrival of little man x
That’s fantastic, well done to Monkey for adjusting so well. And big congratulations to you on the birth of your baby girl!
sounds like he’s doing great x
#babybabble
Ahhh what a beautiful first meeting of siblings. I love the photos. Made me ever so broody and teary on my own two kiddos meeting. Sibling love is so bittersweet to watch grow. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me Glad all is well. #sharewithme
Thanks lovely and sorry to make you tear up 🙂 I am really looking forward to seeing their relationship grow and hope they have as lovely a one as your two do 🙂 xx
Congratulations and looks like he is making a brilliant brother.
Well done Monkey. It’s a big change for him but he sounds like he’s going to be an outstanding big brother xx #familyfriday
thank you, we are so proud of the way he has handled it so far! xx
Aw lovely photos! Congrats to you all.
Found this post from #sharewithme linky
Sophie
Xx
http://www.pocockins.co.uk
So glad he is doing so well at becoming a big brother. It is such a worry as parents how it will all go. I was also amazed how Ethan didn’t hear our Little Lady in the night. That was my biggest concern. I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
x
I think that was my biggest concern too but so far so good, amazing how they sleep through it all! I am sure there will be challenges to come but so far so good! xx
yay! Congratulations! 2 years old is a hard enough time as it is, without introducing a baby into the mix, so I’m not surprised Monkey has been put out a little. Sounds like he is doing remarkably well though, on the whole. You must be very proud! Thanks for linking up #FamilyFriday
haha you are totally right, not easy going from being no.1 to having to share mummy and daddy all of a sudden, we r v proud of him, though I’m sure there will be tantrums ahead 🙂 xx
Oh my goodness, what sweet pictures. He’s so proud, you can defo tell! Sorry for late comment from last week#s #babybabble… had a nightmare this week!