Our pediatrician has two children in the exact same age spread that we do–16 months. When we went for Seamus’s 15 month well check, we asked how they helped their oldest adjust. After all, they don’t have much in the way of language, so it’s hard to explain. He said they got their oldest a special toy, from the baby, and that while he didn’t seem to understand it at first, he still (8 months later) refers to it as his baby car. We decided to get Seamus a rocking horse. (Hence the title of this post.) Poor kid. He had no idea of the trade off. But he does seem to enjoy his horse, and he calls it the “baby horse.” So there must be something to it.
He’s actually getting very exuberant on it and we’re afraid he’s going to topple head over heels backwards.
Seamus is saying so many new words, including a variation on his name. It sounds like “Shay” but say it in a high-pitched, breathy voice. He also signs more and cheese, which he’s been learning at daycare. Only today when he left with Sarah (who he calls ware-rah), he said to me, “Bye bye. School.” Clearly, he wasn’t too fussed about leaving. When he hears an airplane go over, he points to the sky (inside the house) and says, “pane!” then as the sound fades, he says, “Bye bye.” He says words for (and they don’t always sound the way we say them of course) cereal, keys, outside, pig, sheep, train, truck, in addition to his old standbys. He also crawled across our bed this morning to lay his head on my pillow and say, “Night night. Bye bye.” It’s self-indulgent of course to write all this, but he was playing a game. He can reach the door knobs now, and no knives are safe anywhere on counter tops. But he still gets pooped out:
And this is what my life is often like, as I nurse Gilbert and try to keep Seamus from bopping him in the head as he crawls up on me. Seamus always needs a book read to him, right now!, when Gilbert wants to nurse. It’s one of the many reasons I’m grateful Seamus still goes to pm daycare.
You’ll notice there’s not a picture of me doing this because nobody said they were thankful for me! (Dexter reference–you’re welcome, Dad!)
And I wanted to offer up another comparison photo pair:
These are from almost exactly the same age.
All in all, we’re doing all right. This is easier in some ways than I thought it might be, but I’m not going to lie. The time between 6-8 at night is about as stressful as it gets. Everybody needs to eat. Most of us need baths/showers. And we’re all tired from the day’s events and sometimes take that crankiness out on each other (excusable from the kids, and understandable in us). Dinner is tough. Which is why we’re so grateful that our friends D, A, and C made and delivered us a delicious dinner again last night.*
That’s all I’ve got for today. I know, scintillating, right?
*When we do our big bike ride with kids down the OR coast, these folks are at the top of our list to join us. Not only are they great cyclists–just our speed–they’re also fantastic cooks. And they have a little boy smack dab in the middle age-wise between Seamus and Gilbert.
Academic Leigh Speaking 
In having time to think of the right way to make introductions between Seamus and Gilbert, I’ve come to a different method than your pediatrician. There is of course, no right or wrong way, but given what I saw that day with Seamus’ meltdown, the quivering lip, the inability to breathe, the broken little heart, I question whether a “horse” sets it all right.
I’m thinkin’ a scenario of Seamus at home, just beginning eating, and in you pop with a baby in a basket. Basket is the keyword here. Something in dialogue along the line of “Look Seamus, a baby in a basket!”.
Then, use a lot of the lines from the movie, “A Beautiful Life”, by saying,
here’s the baby’s nose, see the nose, the nose is for . . . well you get it.
And on and on.
This method, I think is less traumatic. Since there’s only one first chance,
and you don’t get a do-over, maybe with the third one, Wilamena Dixiana,
you can try my way. Nobody asked ME for MY thoughts in the runup to the big introduction, as I have duly noted in my life ledger for scoring under the category of offspring.
And while I’m at the keyboard, I might as well add, I don’t see the resemblance of nomenclature between Gilbert Quinn and William Dixon.
Again, duly noted. I’m beginning to understand Warren Buffet’s position
of not following dynastic wealth.
More uplifting is that the moments of 6 – 8 PM can be very satisfying if the little ones are kept busy reading, bathing, getting ready for bed.
The run up to bedtime can be a big event each evening, much like a camp
vespers service is so peaceful and calming. Then, when all are in bed and the evening quiet sets in, everything is right in the world.
And remember, few countries have as much prosperity, water, electricity,
rule of law, and convieniences as US citizens. It’s automatically a good life
by default! Enjoy. Children are fleeting.