Interactions between brother and sister

I get such a kick out of the way Kaylee interacts with Levi and how she perceives his likes/dislikes/abilities:

When Kaylee first wakes up a lot of times she's in a real bad mood. Yesterday she woke up crying and screaming for me (almost like a tantrum upon waking) and then I put Levi down on her pillow and she immediately was a different child. Laughing, happy and in good spirits. She said "Hello Levi! Oh Levi?' She kissed and hugs him and I told her this was very nice and she said, "I love Lebi (sometimes she pronouces his name this way) and he is my best friend."

Kaylee's been helping me cook a bit lately. It's really fun. She helps me make rice and cookies and whatever else involves her dumping dry mixtures into a bowl. She also has been helping me fill the dishwasher. I just have to figure out how to delegate safe and age-appropriate stuff for her to do, and she is the ultimate happy helper. She also wants to change her brother's diaper. I have told her this is mommy's job only and have only allowed her to do the "sticker tabs" at the end. The other day when I was busy, I turned a was surprised to find he is sleeper all the way open and his diaper off and he had peed all over the bed requiring a total change of bedding for the bedroom. I learned my lesson. Just because you can hear them and they sound fine, you always have to have your eyes on them 100% of the time they're together. Also I learned that she can pick him up. This was scary to discover. I can't believe she can do that as he is over half her weight. She's a strong big sister...and determined. Levi, if you can't tell from the above stories, is a very mellow and tolerant baby to his big sister's attempts to "mother" him.

Many of you know that we had a couple of boughts of flu in our household which affected everyone in the family. It was a very bad case of the flu. Kaylee was sick the night before Thanksgiving so we stayed home from the family get-together, which was very sad for us but necessary. We didn't want to get everybody else sick. I think for the most part everyone is better, I have a big of a sour stomach today but feel otherwise ok.

Levi starts daycare tomorrow. I am very nervous for this and called our daycare provider to tell her I would stop by early and tell her all about him. I hope it goes okay. I want her eyes on him 100% of the time. If she needs to leave the room, she needs to take him with her. That is what I'm going to tell her, as if she doesn't already know...I am just feeling protective. It wouldn't be until like month 8 or so when they are much more strong and mobile that I would ideally feel like he's ready for daycare. But alas this is how things work for me to maintain my position at the firm. I went back to work last week. Things were good. It was a quiet week to be back and only 3 five-hour days to work. I surprised myself by being excited to be back. Also Levi was sick with his first cold and slept most of the time I was away, so I felt like he didn't even really notice my departure. Eric, my mom and my sister took turns taking him and they enjoyed that.

Kaylee is very excited for him to go to daycare with her and has been asking when this is going to happen. She will be delighted to help keep an eye on him.

Levi's starting to drool all the time from teething and if he's like Kaylee, he will get his first tooth next month. Lately Kaylee's been thinking that he shouldn't be sucking on his hands and pulling them out of his mouth. I keep telling her that he needs to be able to suck on his hands and that it helps with the pain he feels as his teeth are about to pop out. She's very entertained that his teeth are going to pop out and thinks it's about to happen any moment. She tried to feed him some string cheese yesterday and we have to keep reminding her that he only drinks mommy's milk and that's it. She thought that since his teeth are about to pop out that it was time for him to eat.

Eric and I enjoyed a very romantic dinner date together last night. It had been about two years since I saw his face in the candlelight. I am still as much in love with Eric, maybe more, as when I married him. Parenthood has made me realize what a wonderful partner and father he is, and I feel very thankful and lucky.