The Girls

It's admittedly quite strange now that I can't simply say "the girls" when referring to my children. Poor Briggs. It's such a habit that he'll no doubt be grouped in with the female children in reference to this family more than a few times over the coming months, if not years. But I'm thinking that's not the only girly thing he'll have to put up with in his lifetime, so I guess he'd better start getting used to it.


But as far as these girlies go with having a new baby brother, I have to say they have pretty much been all-stars. I expected crankiness. I expected tantrums. I expected clinginess. But they've been amazing. They follow him around the house saying, "I love you, baby brother!" and "He looked at me! He likes me! I like him, too!!" They really do love him and have been so sweet and extremely patient. Sure, they're not huge fans of his crying. Particularly Reeve.


But overall they have been champs.

I think I may have prepped them a bit too much before his arrival about how they would be great big sisters, teaching him everything they know. The moment he arrived home they started bringing him anything and everything in the house to "teach" him about things. Here they are "teaching" Briggs about some of their toys.


He'll need to learn about sunglasses sometime in his life, so, you know, why not at two days old?


Libby enjoys reading him books.


And even serenading him with Primary songs.


Reeve likes to prance before him, one foot slowly in front of the other, proclaiming, "And that's how you walk, Briggs!"

It's sometimes hard to even take his picture without a blur of curly blond hair obstructing the view in an attempt to give a quick kiss to his head, tummy, or toes.


There are so many things wrong with posting this picture below (Hello pajama-clad backside just a few days postpartum!), but there a just a few too-precious things about it not to share. My girls try to be such helpers and love to run and get things for me, offer various suggestions (I think he wants his binky. He wants to sit in the bouncy chair now. Why don't you put him down now, mom?? I think he's sleepy. He wants to look at me. He wants me to touch his head. Can I hold him???...), and even just follow me around all day while I take care of him. Here is Reeve helping me at the changing table... with a post-it note stuck to her bum. =)


They are definitely craving time and attention from me. I fear I may have lowered their SAT scores by a few hundred points with the amount of TV and macaroni and cheese upon which they have subsisted these past few weeks, but I'm doing my best. Luckily Grammy and Popi showed up a few days after he was born, and they are all too happy to play along with the antics of the girlies.


There was even a Duck tour,


an Aquarium visit,


and a day at the Children's Museum. Thanks, Grammy and Popi for saving them... and us all!


So far, the girls just can't seem to get enough of their baby brother. Guess we'll see what happens once he starts stealing their toys, but for now, he's a welcome addition all around!