Sibling Love

Remember these cute kids???  

Well, they have had quite the life change with little Carson being added to the Payne mix.  

 

 

At first Olivia was much the same way with Carson as she was with Callen, didn't really even acknowledge he was there.  She was a bit jealous though and acted out by being very naughty.  She would argue and wine and fight about everything we asked her.  But after a few days, she has really stepped to the big sis role and the jealousy died down a bit.  She loves to watch everything Carson does (which isn't much) and even held him the other day.  She is such a little mother and it seems like she has taken it upon herself to take care of Callen since I am kinda busy with Carson.  She still has her jealousy moments so I have been really trying to give her one-on-one attention which is helping.  She is my first born and only girl... I love her.

Callen is a different story.  He was the one I was expecting to have the really bad jealousy issues but he hasn't been too bad.  He LOVES having a brother.  He loves to hold him and give him kisses and hold his hand.  Every time I change Carson, I have to make sure he is all the way at the end because Callen now has to scale the changing table and sit by Carson's head and "help" me change Carson.  He still needs snuggles from Mommy which is fine with me.  I love him.

Carson is great.  He is so sweet and, so far, a great baby.  Between me struggling to have a good milk supply and him not the most aggressive eater, nursing has been a bit of a challenge.  We decided to bottle feed him the milk I can pump and also supplement with formula.  He eats better from a bottle so I decided to stop fighting it and just use one.  It is bittersweet for me.  It is nice that I won't have to be constantly siting there with my shirt up and having him so dependent on me but now I actually have to start watching what I eat and, well, he won't be so dependent on me.  I really dislike pumping but at least he is getting some breast milk.  Bittersweet.  He is a pretty good sleeper too.  I can get him to bed around 10 then he wakes up around 1:30 AM and then again at 4:30 AM, then sleeps in until about 8.  I know this will all change but for a newborn it isn't too bad.  He likes to snuggle and burrow his little face into my neck.  He is so handsome and we are so happy to have him.  I love him. 

Big changes but our little family has adjusted pretty well.  My children love each other and I love each of them.  Timewise, I feel a bit stretched thin to meet the demands of each of my children.  My house is a wreck and I rarely get out of sweats but my heart is very full.  Before I had Callen I was nervous that I wouldn't have enough love to give multiple children.  Now I realize that for your children, your heart is like the Grinch's.  It doesn't just break into smaller pieces to give to each child, it grows.  And like the Grinch, mine has now grown three times.  I am a blessed mommy.