I write a lot about my firstborn, Levi. It's not terribly surprising, I suppose. Everything about his life is brand new for me; every accomplishment, development, difficulty is the first time I've encountered it in my short journey of motherhood.
I certainly don't love my second-born any less, though (and, in fact, I secretly think he's even cuter at 18 months than Levi was)! I love the way he grins and waves when our eyes meet. I love how he stops whatever he's doing and says "woof" whenever he hears a dog outside. I love his infectious giggle and his obsession with belly buttons (mine and his, mostly) and his willingness to ask for help (a trait his older brother does not possess).
Owen regularly asks me to blow on his food (by holding it out and blowing on it himself), whether it's hot or not, but hates to have the wind blowing his hair. When he particularly enjoys a meal, he'll put a bite or two on the flat, rimmed lid of his milk cup and watch the pieces of food while he drinks. He has favorite pages in a lot of our books, and will bring me books not to read, but to open up to those favorite pages; his whole face lights up when he finds what he's looking for. He loves rocking chairs and his stuffed rat and anything with wheels (especially if it can be driven on Mommy's big belly). When it's time to leave the house for any reason, he'll go to the shoe basket and bring each of us two shoes, almost always a matching set to the correct person.
What startles me the most is how much Owen watches and copies Levi. Levi asks for milk at a meal? Owen signs "milk." Levi sits on the couch with a book? Owen climbs up with one of his own. Levi says he needs a diaper change? Owen pats his own bottom [it's pretty funny]. (Given Levi's reluctance to potty train and Owen's interest in anything Levi does, I'm seriously wondering if I won't end up just training them both at the same time!) Levi loves to look at anything with numbers? Owen follows suit and fights for turns with the calculator, though I highly doubt he notices the numbers like his big brother does. I think about my husband's childhood broken collarbone, instigated when his own 18-months-older brother assured him he could fly if he jumped off the tall dresser, and I wonder what paths Levi will lead Owen down.
Owen is about to have his world rocked, as the arrival of my third son will displace him as self-perceived ruler of our little roost. I haven't spent nearly the time training him to obedience as I had for Levi at this point, and I worry how much of that will prove to be problematic in the coming months. His temper flares hotter but is more easily dissipated than Levi's. For all he's an active, independent little guy, he also loves a good snuggle, and Mommy's lap is about to be quite crowded!
So anyway: my tribute to Owen at 18 months. I think it's common to wonder, when you only have one child, how you will ever love another as much. Turns out it's not hard at all!
I certainly don't love my second-born any less, though (and, in fact, I secretly think he's even cuter at 18 months than Levi was)! I love the way he grins and waves when our eyes meet. I love how he stops whatever he's doing and says "woof" whenever he hears a dog outside. I love his infectious giggle and his obsession with belly buttons (mine and his, mostly) and his willingness to ask for help (a trait his older brother does not possess).
I have no idea what he's doing here, but I love this picture!
Taking zebra for a ride.
What startles me the most is how much Owen watches and copies Levi. Levi asks for milk at a meal? Owen signs "milk." Levi sits on the couch with a book? Owen climbs up with one of his own. Levi says he needs a diaper change? Owen pats his own bottom [it's pretty funny]. (Given Levi's reluctance to potty train and Owen's interest in anything Levi does, I'm seriously wondering if I won't end up just training them both at the same time!) Levi loves to look at anything with numbers? Owen follows suit and fights for turns with the calculator, though I highly doubt he notices the numbers like his big brother does. I think about my husband's childhood broken collarbone, instigated when his own 18-months-older brother assured him he could fly if he jumped off the tall dresser, and I wonder what paths Levi will lead Owen down.
My first two boys. :)
Owen is about to have his world rocked, as the arrival of my third son will displace him as self-perceived ruler of our little roost. I haven't spent nearly the time training him to obedience as I had for Levi at this point, and I worry how much of that will prove to be problematic in the coming months. His temper flares hotter but is more easily dissipated than Levi's. For all he's an active, independent little guy, he also loves a good snuggle, and Mommy's lap is about to be quite crowded!
So anyway: my tribute to Owen at 18 months. I think it's common to wonder, when you only have one child, how you will ever love another as much. Turns out it's not hard at all!
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