Hookie

Paw-Paw, Grandma and Ty came for a visit, so we decided to let Kaelan stay home from preschool so she could hang with them.
When Paw-Paw came back from a little excursion to find Kaelan still home, here is the conversation that followed.

Paw-Paw:  Kaelan, are you playing hookie today?
Kaelan:  No, Paw-Paw.  I am not playing hookie (although she pronounced it ho-key....with a long o).  I know how to ice skate, but I  can't play ho-key.

Cute, eh?
Well, I thought it was.  So much so that I tried to text this little story to some friends. 
Word to the wise, hookie changes to "hooker"  with auto correct.   Yeah, now imagine my confused friends' responses.

Little Big Man

 

I find myself staring  at this little guy and wondering,  "How is it that he is so big, so fast?"

Then I look away for a second, and look back to see this little, helpless being who still needs me and depends on me to protect and care for him.

 Someday, when he is a big burly man with man hair on his body that omits  man smells, out on a football field taking blows that crush him, I think I will still see that sweet, wittle baby face staring helplessly from the swing. 

Then, I will probably run out on the field and whoop up on some other mother's  wittle baby to protect mine and get hauled off in the paddy wagon.

For now, I will just stare at him in wonder....sigh.

I had no idea.....

I knew she wanted a sibling.  She really didn't care, boy or girl, just "please, please, please God, send us a little brother or sister", she prayed each night.

The day we told her she was going to be a big sister, she cried.  Real tears.   Then came the cherry on top.  We told her it wasn't going to be through adoption like we had thought.  This baby was really an answered prayer.  Mommy was going to have a baby, and it was a brother.   You could have offered her the moon instead, and she would have refused.   Tears.  Real tears of joy.

I knew that when she saw him for the first time she would love him, but I had no idea how deep that love would be.  

You have a second mother, little boy.  I know that may not be the best news for you, but just know, this girl has your back.  She will probably drive you crazy with her overprotective ways, but she will ALWAYS have your back.

If given the choice of playground or hanging with her little bro, the boy wins hands down.  

I had no idea he would cast that kind of spell on her.

Each time she comes and speaks to him, his eyes open wide and the volume of his cries weakens to a whimper.  She mumbles sweet words in his ears.  Sweet little words that are secret for just those two.  Whatever they are, they calm him.  Mom gets to change his diaper without the wails and all is right with the world. 

I had no idea how helpful she would be in  her wise five year old ways.

I had no idea that my heart could expand so, and allow me to love again the way I have loved my first.  Watching the love pour from her has made it so simple. 

 I hope they always share this bond.   Even when he keeps going in her room (when he is not allowed), or colors in her favorite notebook with permanant marker, or throws a perfume bottle at her and chips her front tooth, or sells her bike to the kids down the street, or cuts up her clothes to make G.I. Joe combat gear.  Yep, I have a little brother, and I had no idea what a booger he would be.....but I love him dearly.

I think she will, too.