Adventures of Almost Irish Twins

I guess we should have seen it coming. My babies are almost irish twins. True Irish twins are born within a year of each other, mine are 1 year and 3 weeks so it is pretty close. Prior to the birth of my son I was concerned about how the big sister to be would take it. Would she feel left out and jealous? Would she be enraged and violent towards him (she had recently become fascinated with eye poking)? Would I have to supervise him at all times or have him fitted with baby swim goggles? Would she transform in to a shy and nervous creature once she was no longer the only mess maker in town? Luckily she did none of the above. Their first meeting- in the room I shared with another new mom before heading to my private room - was anti climactic to say the least. She gave the part baby part blanket noisy thing a cursory glance and then sped off to investigate a cell phone belonging to the mom of my roomie. It had music, it had lights, it had everything!

Coming home was a different story. Little M was recently vaccinated, had had his first brush with the outside world, motorized vehicles and his new home and was hungry, Naturally he did the only rational thing to be done in such a situation. He cried, screamed, wailed as much as his little lungs could handle. Iz, now seeing that the part baby part blanket noisy thing was planning to muscle in on her turf did the only rational thing to be done in such a situation. She cried, screamed, wailed as much as her slightly larger lungs could handle. A friend of mine had been taking care of Iz while K (the hubby) came to collect me from the hospital. I turned to her and gave her a look that I assume could only be read as ....'HELP this is my life - everyday will be like this! Should I just end it all now? Please let me leave with you'
Luckily the crying did subside and over the course of weeks and months we settled into a routine of sorts.

After coming to terms with both the invasion and the noise Iz returned to her initial stance on sibling relationships.. she pretty much ignored that he was even there. He was pretty quiet at first so it wasn't hard to do. However, once he had come to grips with moving his head, and making expressions it became clear that he felt differently. His eyes would follow her everywhere. And so it went until M learned to roll over. At this point Iz seemed to  realise that maybe there was more to this blob and she first thought. That being said the kid clearly didn't know his arse from his elbow so he needed her help. Luckily she had recently mastered speech and could help him out... she would be his guru. So she lay on the floor in front of him and slowly and carefully pointed to his nose and said 'nose', his eyes and said 'eyes' and well ... you get the picture. She was the god of all wisdom and he was her minion.

Then M learned to sit up... like a 'real' person. He started to make noises.  Iz decided a new plan of action was required. This upstart needed to know his place. He, however, still thought she was the most amazing thing ever and would smile and coo at her accordingly. Anytime she made eye contact with him he would make a really high pitched 'eeeeeee' sound while sporting a huge grin, often throwing in some arm flapping for added emphasis. This show of total awe was nothing to Iz though- she was set on her goal. She would talk to him in her most authoritative voice and with her most serious face so he would know who was boss around here. Their interactions these days go something like this...
Iz (using her best 'you've been naughty and must be told voice' : blah blah... blah blah blah... blah blah blah blah blah
M: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE flap flap flap grin
Iz: (a little louder) blah blah... blah blah blah... blah blah blah blah blah!!!!
M: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE giggle giggle lunge in general direction of sissy with mouth wide open
until Iz eventually gives up and heads off to deal with more important business like finding a snack or emptying mommy's cupboards.


I have my hopes pinned on loving siblings who play together all day- but for now I will settle for one sided adoration and some intact corneas!