Little Brother, Big Brother

I've realized that I've not really written much about Thomas.  I suppose that is because compared to James, Thomas doesn't really do very much.  In baby terms though, Thomas is certainly getting bigger and doing more things.  His latest tricks include:

• sort of reaching out for things
• grabbing my arm hair
• eating fairly well from a bottle
• sleeping through the night
• holding up his head more
• pooping like a pro
• smiling in the greatest toothless way
• sucking on his wrist

Yeah, maybe he's not quite ready for Stupid Human Tricks on Letterman, but he's a pretty good baby.  It's hard not to compare him to James since James is so active and really growing up.  Then it is hard TO compare Thomas to James when he was three months old.  I just don't remember much of that time.  I was so busy teaching then.  I'd come home from school, crash on the couch for a while, have diner, and then go up to my desk to work for the rest of the night.  I'm glad those days are over (for now.  We'll see come the fall).

Thomas is pretty good about napping, especially in the morning.  He does pretty well with his magic swing.

Believe it or not, this was right after a smile... stupid phone cameras.  He usually naps for a couple hours in the morning after Sarah leaves.  This is something I really appreciate, since I am not usually ready to to go until I've had three or four cups of coffee.  It also allows me to watch the Tour de France (Go Cadel Evans!).

This morning after his nap was over and after the end of today's stage of the Tour, the three of us went to the Edgcumbe Rec Center for pre-school open gym.  This is a great time for James to get lots of wiggles out.  Thomas slept on and off and I practiced my ukulele.  I've nearly got Mr. Sandman down now.

Here's a happy little Thomas with a James streaking by on one of the many trikes in the gym.  I am glad that Thomas is often content to sit in his chair as my back would take a beating if he constantly insisted on being held.  So Thomas napped off and on, I uked, and James zoomed.  Then James and I decided to chase one another, which had the added benefit of having Thomas fall asleep again (doubly good 'cause I forgot a bottle at home).

"You can't catch me!"

So the little one is still pretty babyish, of course.  The big one is really embracing his role as big brother, and I am often very proud of him.  He is pretty helpful when I need him to fetch something for me, and is concerned when Thomas cries.

Thomas was kind of fussy as I was making lunch, so James went over, "I'm here, Thomas.  I'm close by."  He then starts singing lullabies to him and Thomas calms down and smiles.  "That's a good smile!"  Then James decides to draw some pictures for Thomas:

"What did you draw him, James?"  "A big happy snake."

I am proud of him.  Sarah and I were concerned about how James would do with a little brother, but aside from reminders that he needs to be gentle sometimes, he is doing pretty well.  My mom sent James a little doll with some clothes and a blanket.  Though James doesn't play with it often, he does pull baby Thomas out now and then and takes care of him.  He is also happy to be sharing a room with Thomas.  We got James a twin bed earlier this spring and made a big deal of moving to his big boy bed from the toddler bed.  We converted the toddler bed back into a crib and it wasn't long before James was asking when Thomas would be sleeping in there.  He still sometimes asks if Thomas will be sleeping in his room when we put James down for bed.  I think he'll be a pretty good big brother.  All signs point to that so far.

Here he's playing the little tickling game that I played with my little siblings.  You crawl your fingers up the baby saying, "Here comes the fox up the hill, gonna get the baby" and give a little tickle under the chin.  Then James invented, "Here comes the fox down the hill, gonna get the toes."  Funny kid.  Ask him to tell you a joke some time.