i came upon this pretty little scene as i passed by maddalena’s room just recently, and oooh, my heart just melted! i am more in love with her sweet, feminine spirit every single day. it’s just… bananas! and i am so so lucky.
[but, wait, what is it shakespeare wrote, again? though she be but little, she is fierce. 😉 and high five, there, too! because a girl’s gotta have a healthy dose of that, if you ask me!]
anyway, i’ve been so so proud of this girl in these last 5 weeks. she’s been patient and nurturing, gentle and helpful… both with me and her new baby. she’s had a blast getting a little more bonding time with daddy, and is growing up even faster, i think, now that she doesn’t see herself as a baby! so, i remind her that she’s myyy baby, always, because slow. down. time! [she’s been telling us lately that she’s going to be 16 and drive a car! i can not eeeven handle that!] and of course, she gets frustrated, too, i know… but she’s just handling it all so darn well for a 3 year old.
i had definitely been worried about how it would all go bringing a new baby into our lives, when for the last 3 years maddalena and i have been best, best friends, attached at the hip for everything, every single day. and night. i mean, i had no idea how it would go! none. i knew it would be good for her to have a sibling, but that breakthrough period was suuuch a scary thought! would she resent him? would she try to act like a baby, too? would she get depressed? would i handle it okay? would it hurt our relationship? so, we talked about it and we read books and we did our very best emotional prep leading up to it all…
and hey! here we are a month in! and my appreciation for maddalena is absolutely endless. she’s the best big sister ever, and it’s genuinely nice to have a set of little hands to help out. very, very touchy hands, i might add… we’re still working on maybe a less-invasive level of sibling affection!
then, when i finally get to give her some good one on one snuggles, she dives in like she’s been waiting her whole life for the chance… and that pretty much breaks my heart! but, i have to say, it makes me feel loved at the same time. especially since there have been many moments where i’ve really just missed her and her whole-body snuggles so much, too. really, though, before i can complete an entire thought process over it, there’s a hungry, snuggly little rocco that’s ready to steal me back. 😉 and that’s okay, because it’s his time to be the baby!
so, gosh, growing up is so hard, isn’t it?! but it’s such fun to be a part of. my childhood was the best… so good that i never wanted to leave it! and really, i can only hope my babes get to say that one day, too. <3
thank you for being my girl, maddalena rose, my pretty ballerina!!
She is just such a beautiful little lady! She's changing so much. I remember being very worried when it was Letty having to give up her throne, or share it I guess. But with the third it never even crossed my mind. It has to be such a shock to their world view you know? It's sort of unfair if you think about it. But then again they had years of their life with just us and the younger ones never get that. Soo. Trade offs?
thank you, lovely!! and she is, she's changed even since rocco was born. it's crazy and i'm afraid i'll miss something!! and yess i worried so much, but then again, i was the first and only until i was three, and i couldn't love my brother more. 🙂 and the second doesn't know life without a sibling, anyway, i suppose!!
Oh gosh- this post made my heart a puddle. She is the sweetest little girl. Childhood is the best. And growing up with siblings in the best. I used to think I just wanted two babes, but these days I'm thinking 3-4 sounds about right 🙂
amen!! siblings are the best! especially when you become an adult… i seriously couldn't live without mine. and at least 3 all the way! the more the merrier as long as you can survive/fund it, right! haha!
this is the sweetest! i am constantly asking myself if my babies BOTH feel my unconditional love always and it's just so hard sometimes! i want to be all there for both of them at the same time. but luckily our big girls are sweet and understanding and patient. and i TRULY believe one of the best gifts you can give your child is a sibling! and before you know it little R will be chasing after M on the farm 🙂 you're rocking this mama of 2 thing B!!
it's sooo hard! maddalena being my first, i don't want to cut back on how much love/attention/okay, pure obsession i have given her in the past, but at the same time i want to give all that to rocco, because he deserves it, too! i need more of me!! haha! you are the sweetest!! and back at ya, mama of 2!!!