Big Sister Charlotte

So how is Charlotte handling life with the twins?

This is one of the top questions I get asked so here's a post on the big sister herself. I have another post about all her latest quirks that I'll post later.

She LOVES them! She's been really great about the babies. She is constantly asking where they are ("Babies?, Abby? Ol-ver? Don't know?") , wanting to hold them ("have it", "have it"), and kissing and hugging them especially when they cry. It took her a few weeks to be able to tell them apart but now she definitely knows which baby is which.

She great at getting me diapers and wipes, and helping to pick up things and throw things away. This whole experience is making her more independent. We've had a few incidents of her trying to hug them a little too hard, or pick them up, or shove a pacifier or sippy cups in their mouths. Most of it has been in the name of "helping" and not knowing her own strength. She is hardly ever bothered by the babies crying- which I'm glad about for her sake and mine. She honestly puts up with the craziness of having 2 babies around better than many adults!

One time at the end of the day she was cranky and tripped over her toys by the babies and she got mad and hit Abby. I of course sent her to her room for a time out. When I came to get her I asked why she got in trouble and she said, "Abby" and made a hitting motion. I told her she hurt Abby and made her sad. You could tell Charlotte felt really bad. She ran to the living room and kissed Abby repeatedly and said "Sorry, sorry, sorry." over and over. It was very sweet and we haven't had any more hitting incidents so far. Charlotte is very tenderhearted. She is constantly bringing people tissues if she thinks they are "sad, sad" (done with tear motions down her cheeks. So cute!)

Love the outfits! My friend Becki made them.

She's really great about me constantly holding a baby and often asks me to bring one of them with us outside or to read stories with her. She gets worried when I put one baby in the car and I haven't put the other baby in yet. At least I'll never forget one of them with Charlotte around to yell their name until they get in the car too!

Sometimes she does tell me to put them down on the blanket or in the swing and do something with her. That's probably been the hardest part is just having Charlotte entertain herself so much. She's still watching more t.v. than I would like but I keep telling myself I won't be nursing all day forever. We've had less melt-downs lately which is good. One change has been in her nap time and bedtime routine. Her routine used to be I'd put her in her crib and leave the room and she'd go to sleep- as easy as it gets. Now she asks to have a few books read to her and to be rocked for a few minutes. I think she misses out on some one-on-one time with mom so I don't mind doing this for her. Even if it usually means there are 2 crying and hungry babies while I do it.

I'm very excited to see the relationships between these three grow. I know my siblings were my constant playmates and still are my best friends. I talk to most of them at least once a week. They set such good examples for me growing up and still do. When I feel torn for not giving each one of them as much attention as I would like, I remind myself that having a sibling is one of the best ways to learn to share, love, ( fight:-) and hopefully compromise. I hope my kids feel the same way as they grow up.