Monday, March 1, 2010

When Big became Big

I really regret that I haven't been blogging or logging or writing all of this stuff down all along.  I have bits here and there, but Big has been an awesome kid and I have a thousand great stories to tell.  Instead of totally backtracking, perhaps I will touch on them in reflection as I blog along.  Today I feel the need to tell the story of when Big became Big because Little came into our world.

Big was eight when we became pregnant with Little.  Big knew even before Les Paul.  Summer vacation had just begun and I didn't feel great... we had been trying to have a baby, it hadn't panned out for some time, so we had kind of accepted being a one child family... a little flicker said why not?  I decided to take a pregnancy test.  I checked the results window and sent Big into the bathroom to see for himself.  We called Les Paul at work and Big blurted into the phone, "Mom is pregnant."  He looked like he would burst.  We were frank with him- it was very early, and anything could happen... so we waited out a few weeks, a bleeding scare, a day at the air show with Les' family - where Big asked every time a jet passed by "can we tell them now?" until the day came in late August - it was time to go public and we let him do the telling.  How proud he was that he was "Finally" going to be a big brother.

Big read the books. He would tell me how big the baby was any given week and we would discuss the comparable fruit or veggie sizes.  He attended ultra-sound appointments and was in the room to learn if it was a boy or a girl.  The Doctor was sort of drawing out the suspense "here is the baby's leg." "here is the baby's arm."  "here is the baby's heart."  Big walked over and said, "Yeah, I see the femur, now please tell me if it is a boy or a girl."  Not normally rude or impatient - he just couldn't take it anymore.  "It looks like Jenni is going to be even more out numbered - it is a boy."  To which Big quickly responded, "Oh, my Mom?  She will be just fine!"  The Dr. looked over his shoulder at the witty boy on the stool "how old are you?" he inquired. 

Everyone would ask how we thought Big would react to Little being born.  He had been an only child nearly 9 years.  I knew he would be just fine.

Flashing forward 42 weeks of waiting... and waiting...  Big's teachers wife even had her baby - who was due a full 3 weeks after us - we were planning to let Big be in the room for his brother's birth - but Little arrived quickly (after much a'do).  Les Paul left a few minutes after Little's first breaths to bring Big into the room.  He walked in and smiled a million dollar smile - "He is here!"  Big gave Little his first bath - so awesome.  When it came for saying good-bye that night Big asked if he could stay at the hospital, "I waited 42 weeks for him to be born.  I don't want to leave now."  How sweet is that?  Big stayed both nights at the hospital with us.

We brought Little home on St. Patrick's Day.  We had family for dinner and as an unseasonably warm breeze blew in Big piped up and said, "I know he was only born three days ago, but I can hardly remember my life without him."

I knew Big would be better than just fine - he was going to be a great big brother to Little.

Interview with Big Age 8

 This is an old interview I had with him... but it seemed if oneMKEmom is to get her start... it should be with some great kid stories, after all the kids make the mom, right?

Interview with Big, 8.
1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Killing games are NOT appropriate, ever.”

2. What makes mom happy?
Family and your good good friends. Being all together.

3. What makes mom sad?
Violence.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When you do “static cat” with Beatrice.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You had a lot of friends and did gymnastics and played some soccer.

6. How old is your mom?
29, going to be thirty.

7. How tall is your mom?
About five feet high.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Finding a great sale while shopping.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
You hang out with Halle sometimes, or you go to meetings.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
I would say you would be a number one at PTO and volunteering in the city.

11. What is your mom really good at?
You are really good a cooking for us and picking take out places. (A true Gemini!)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
There are not many things that I don’t think you are good at. But I’d say, guitar.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
You take good care of me, dad, the cats and the other pets.

14. What's your mom's favorite food?
You like a lot of food. But you love coffee and chicken fingers.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
You are very fun and I like how you plan events and helps out at my school. You like the kids in my class and they like you.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The mom on Johnny Test or Wonder-woman.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Ooh, we that’s easy we go for long walks, homework, she takes me to my friends birthday parties. We like to go to movies together or snuggle.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like to read and we both like cats. We have the same eyes.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Well, you are a different gender… what? It is the first thing that popped into my head!

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She hugs and kisses on me everyday.

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
I’d say you like to go to big cities and take pictures and teach me stuff.
You like when you go home to put on comfy pants… write that, it is funny.