Quotation Mark: Kings

After Lynne told Mark to put away his toys.
"I don't want to do that! You are being as mean as King Herod."
After that outburst, Matt walked Mark upstairs and had a discussion about how we talk to people, and how it's not nice to call people 'mean'. (Even if you make historical reference.) To which Mark replies:
"I'll make a better decision, Dad. I'll tell mom she's being as nice as King David."

One Month Anne-iversary

Best friends:  Mom, Dad, big brother Mark.  My grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and anyone else who likes to snuggle me.

Enemies: Anyone who wants to change my diaper.  It's cold out!  Why would they want to do that?  I am equally offended by people who bundle me up to take me outside.

Favorite place: In dad's arms.

Things I like: Eating (the first few ounces of the bottle, anyway), sleeping, being walked around the room.  Bright lights.  I also enjoy when my brother teaches me things--my letters, numbers (Spanish and English), the planets in the solar system.  I just look at him and pretend I know what he's talking about.

Things I don't like: Being burped (takes away from eating time), block towers.  They're very colorful, but they always seem to crash down.  Very startling.

Major accomplishments: One-upped my brother in terms of length and width at birth (by one ounce and one inch--sweet!)  Disconnected from my umbilical cord. Can lift and turn my head.  Sleep in my crib, on my back.  Once dirtied three diapers in ten minutes.

Mark of Fridays: Big Bruyyer

Mark has spent most of the last few weeks adjusting to being a Big Bruyyer (his pronunciation).  So far, he's learned that he has to share mom and dad's attention.  This has been a big big adjustment for a kid who's grown used to being the center of everyone's universe.

"What if Anne and I need something at the same time?"  he asks.

We tell him that whoever's needs are more important will come first.  If Anne has a dirty diaper and you want to hear a story, Anne is first.  If you are hungry and Anne wants a snuggle, then you're first.

As a result of this conversation, Mark has become quite good at turning every request into an impending crisis.  Suddenly, there is a lot of yelling and crying in our house.

But, he has also learned to share willingly with his new little sister.  Although the picture on the right  sort-of looks like Mommy Elmo is giving Anne a surprise tackle, Mark actually put her there to give Anne a lovie at bedtime.  Quite a gesture from the little guy, we thought.... as long as Mommy Elmo's crusted-on dirt didn't get too close to Anne's mouth.

Mark has also learned that big brothers also have to help mom and dad a lot.  He fetches diapers, binkies, and even tries to instruct our guests in what Anne might need.

The other night, we even convinced Mark that he is SUCH a good big brother that he could even try holding his new sister.  He handled her like a champ, and she didn't even cry.

The result:  what Matt says is his new best-ever lifetime moment.

Look Alikes?

Almost everyone in our family expected Anne to be a redhead.  Even Lynne and Matt thought it was likely they'd end up with a curly redheaded kid named Annie.

Then she was born with all that dark hair and skin that looks like it will be olive.  If we hadn't been the only ones in the operating room when she was born, Lynne would have questioned whether they'd mixed her up with somebody else's baby.

Now everyone who comes to meet Anne asks us who we think she looks like.  Our best answer:  We think she looks a little bit like Mark.  Not carbon copies, of course, but at least close enough to be siblings.  What do you think?