Ethan's New Role as Gavin's Big Brother

I was very apprehensive about Ethan's reaction to his baby brother, I wanted Ethan to still feel as loved as before Gavin came home while also feeling protective of our tiny, defenseless baby.  I imagined Ethan asking for me to hold him instead of Gavin, as he has when I have held other friends' babies.  Instead, we have encountered Ethan begging for "Ethan's turn to hold baby brother Gavin!" He's not jealous of Gavin's time with Mommy or Daddy, he's jealous of Mommy or Daddy's time with GAVIN!

Ethan has had a wicked cold and our worry has been Gavin catching this cold as he was just in the hospital for respiratory issues.  The doctor told us that Ethan's cold is not airborn, it's through contact with mucus membranes.  So after thorough hand washing with a bonus of hand sanitizer (called "magic soap" in our house now), Ethan can hold Gavin.  The one rule is that he can only touch his hair or his feet.  So Gavin's feet are getting lots and lots of tickles, kisses, and sniffs to see if they are "stinky!"

 

I know this is just the beginning of a lifetime of ups and downs in their relationship as brothers, but it's been a heartwarming and sweet experience this first week.