Brotherhood Comes With Bruises

I've just felt lucky it's taken almost 5 months!

Here's a little backstory...

At Gavin's last doctor check up, I had the joy of having our toddler tagging along. When the pediatrician started examining Gavin's eyes, ears, mouth, etc, Ethan was shocked and said, "No! Dr. Steve! We only touch the top of his head and toes!!!!" We had established that as the boundary for baby touches with Ethan since I got pregnant, knowing one can't do too much damage touching on top of a baby's top of his head or his toes and this approach would also help contain SOME of the two year old's germs that were always being sneezed and coughed about. Whenever Ethan was in the room, even Chris and I kept to that boundary. Seriously, we only kissed his head and toes.


Well practical Dr. Steve didn't know our level of investment in this and said, "You know mom, after three months germs aren't that big of a deal for an infant and it's okay if he catches a cold or two now." I sighed, knowing we'd had a good run of it with these boundaries. But, I knew this day would come where he would have to be allowed to hold his hand or kiss his face... or worse. And Ethan has been a gentle giant with all of his friends' babies as well, showing time and time again he deserves a chance at being trusted. In fact, we joked at his preschool, where babies are often present, that if we put a barrier of babies between him and the other children, he'd never have any conflict. Seriously, he'll chase a child for a toy he wants in the heat of battle and if a baby crawls between, he stops and goes, "Awwww, hug for baby Thea!".

So we have explained to Ethan that at that doctor's appointment the shots that they gave Gavin made him stronger and healthier. Therefore, he's grown big enough now that we can touch him gently and give him big boy kisses. It served the dual purpose of giving a good outcome of the shots that scared the heck out of Ethan to witness baby brother getting, and giving a reason why the boundary was moved.

Well, yesterday I found Ethan "feeding" Gavin grass while they lied on a blanket in our yard together. And here's Ethan gleefully showing how fun it is to be allowed to touch Gavin on something besides his head or toes... (note, my camera was on rapid fire mode, I swear I rescued Gavin ;)

I think I post so often the pictures of these brothers happily snuggling and hugging and kissing because I know the days are finite. I hope over the years that bond will remain and be even more mutual, but I'm realistic that brotherhood also has conflict and bruises. I'm just documenting the harmony while it's here!

Moments later, he was back to his old snuggling tricks. Enjoying it while I can. ;)