Bringing Baby Home

Jackson has been home for just over a week now and I must say he is an absolute delight.  I know, he’s still in his super sleepy stage, but he has been so easy so far.  He’s a good eater, doing pretty well at night already (going 4-5 hours) and most importantly, puts up with his adoring big sister.

I knew Hannah would like having a baby around.  She’s been talking about it for weeks.  In fact, the week leading up to his arrival, anytime the doorbell rang she thought it was the baby coming to our house.  Unfortunately, it’s not THAT easy. 

She first met him in the hospital.  She spotted him as soon as she came in the room.  She climbed on the bed with us and mostly just pointed and said, “Baby”.  She gave him kisses and giggled at the faces he was making.  After a few minutes she became more interested in the peanut butter sandwich my mom brought for her and the ice cream I had on my lunch tray.

His head looks broken….I know.  Good thing babies are so flexible.

After a little while, my dad told Hannah they were going to go to McDonald’s.  Hannah was just as excited about that as meeting her new brother.  She said, “Bye Momma, bye Dadda, bye Jackson” and left.

A few days later when we came home from the hospital Hannah got to see Jackson on her turf.  Her response to him being in our house was adorable.  My dad brought her back to our house and right away she ran in and found the baby.  She climbed up on a chair so she could get a better look.  Then, she took my dad upstairs and a few minutes later they returned with a stroller full of Hannah’s favorite stuffed animals.  She introduced Jackson to each of them as she laid them on top of him.  Can you spot the real baby?

(Please excuse the next several pictures of Hannah.  My dad was her primary caregiver at this time so she kind of looks like an orphan.)

She wanted to hold him right away.  She thinks she can pick him up and carry him so we have to watch her closely.  She’s finally learning that only Mom and Dad get to walk with him but Hannah can hold him on the couch.

Next she wanted to put him in the swing.  We’ve had the swing out for a little while now and we kept telling Hannah it was for the baby so she was ready for the baby to be in it.  First she wanted to push him in the swing…

And then she wanted to give him toys to help keep him company.

Good thing he’s so sleepy and doesn’t even notice.

Hannah loves this little guy and loves to show him off.  We’ve had a few visitors since we’ve been home and she runs to show them Baby Jackson.

 

Great Grandma Jean                                  My Aunt Chris

Great Grandpa Queed

Aunt Cherilyn                             Cousin Kendra

 

Every night Hannah wants to give Jackson a kiss good night.  She’ll check on him to see if his eyes are open or closed.  She’ll rub his hair and give him hugs.  She laughs when he makes funny faces, “talks” or blows bubbles.  She likes to have him hold on to her finger.  She is always wanting to help regardless of what I’m doing with him.  She knows he has a “yucky” on his tummy (umbilical cord) and has to be soft.  I’m so proud of her for how she’s responding to Jackson even though he’s taking up more of my time and therefore taking attention away from her.  She has yet to show any jealously though towards him.  For now, she just loves to love him and LOVE him she does.