He normally gets his "brave little soldier" face when he's getting his bath since, he's not a fan, but he doesn't really complain about things as long as I'm there.
In the bath tub however, he was instantly more curious and wanted to stay. I think the reason I thought he didn't like baths was more the fact that he didn't like the constant stream of water around his belly and the fact that he wasn't submersed in water like in the tub (I either use a puj or a munchkin sponge similar to this one.
I helped him sit up, and he batted his hand in the water smiling.
Then Anna came over and splashed him.
I held my breathe because he used to hate it when the water splashed in his eyes in the sink, but when Anna did it, he laughed.
And again and again Anna splashed him and laughed with him.
I swear, I have NEVER heard him laugh like Anna was making him laugh. He's naturally very smiley and coo's a lot and giggles, but this was non-stop gales of laughter.
It was the best feeling, that this milestone was because of his sissy. Of course the 21st century mommy in me was kind of irked that it wasn't caught on film ( me preventing baby Iggy from drowning and all), but it was an amazing moment none the less.
I think all moms of multiples feel bad for the eldest suddenly having to share their mom's attention, but it's harder when they are still under two themselves.
Anna was still 6 days away from being 1 when baby Iggy was born, and suddenly her mommy went missing in the night. She visited me in the hospital once, and I went home as soon as they let me. It was still surprisingly hard to get discharged considering I dressed myself and went down to the nicu not even a full hour after giving birth. But even then I'd disappear during her naps to go to the hospital. It got to a point when she'd see either grandma she'd cling to me knowing I was going to go away. When baby Iggy had surgery we would all go to CHOC early in the morning, she usually in her jammies still. Even though the surgery wait rooms at CHOC had loads of toys and things for her to do, she would still pick up our nervous energy and stare at us confused.
Then he came home. We knew it wasn't going to be easy already, because Anna would flip out when either of us would hold other people's babies, but we didn't think it was going to be so hard either. Anna flapped her hands around and kept yelling "no" at everyone holding baby Iggy (even though she had seen babies at parties or other peoples houses, this was the first baby in her house). After a few days of crying she started ignoring him, and being less affectionate with everyone as if we'd somehow betrayed her.
She ignored him even if he was in my arms and she wanted to be carried. And because I'm kind of an idiot I'd carry them both. It wouldn't matter how much I played with her, she'd still stare sadly at me when she saw me playing with baby Iggy.
Little by little though, she adjusted. She still wouldn't play with him when we asked her to but she started slipping him toys. I'd leave him in his baby swing and come back to see little plastic blocks on top of him. I also saw her pitching some toys into his crib but she avoided my eyes when she saw me.
Then she'd give him a quick pat on the head when she'd walk by him and she was in a good mood.
For the past couple of weeks she's been grabbing his arms and swinging them or rubbing his hands and feet.
And it seems like my sweet girl has returned.
My heart has felt so much lighter these past few days. I hated feeling like Anna felt alone or pushed to the side and not being able to tell her fully how much I still loved her even if I had to hold and play with someone else, but it feels a little more like she understands now. Or has forgotten what it was like when it was just the 3 of us. Either way I love it haha.
Precious! Absolutely adorable!
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