I can’t believe that I have been a mom to two boys for almost a year now. Hayes will celebrate his first birthday on May 5. The day before he was born, I wrote a letter to sweet Hayes and blogged that letter. In it, I told him that I was so excited for he and Hudson to have each other. One of my biggest joys was that I was giving them this enormous gift by giving them each other.
And the year has been really great. In the beginning Hudson wasn’t really interested in Hayes. Hayes didn’t really do much. Hudson would just kind of look at him and then go on with his business.
As Hayes has gotten bigger, he just is so obvious about how much he loves and admires his big brother. Hudson will have the occasional tender moment with Hayes where he wants to kiss his head or give him a hug. But the jealousy is totally there, too.
Our biggest “issue” has been Hudson being territorial. Hudson is aware of which toys belong to Hayes. But he also knows which toys belong to him. And when Hayes crawls toward Hudson’s toys, Hudson screams. High-pitched, make-my-ears-bleed, screaming. Hayes doesn’t know what’s going on, but the screaming is awful.
I can usually redirect Hayes and find something that he is content to play with. We have the talks with Hudson about sharing with his brother. But I know how he must feel. He doesn’t want his toys to be slobbered on. I can’t blame him.
But the moments when they do just sit and play together and laugh? Are so wonderful. I can see how much Hudson loves Hayes and loves having a play mate. Hudson will do anything to get Hayes to laugh at him.
Sometimes I think they are speaking their own little secret language. They’ll imitate each other and just crack themselves up. I know that as time goes on, the fights will get worse before they get better. But I also know that they will be so thankful for each other.
I think about my own brother and the fights we had growing up. He has been there for my whole life. We are connected in a way that neither of us have with anyone else.
So despite the loud screams and the jealousy, I’m encouraged at just how sweet they can be with each other. The admiration that Hayes has for Hudson and how much Hudson so obviously loves having a brother in his life.
The first video was taken when Hudson climbed up in Hayes’s crib so they could both play with the mobile. Hayes got so tickled at Hudson.
Hudson typically gets jealous when I have to sit down to feed Hayes a bottle. One morning when my mom was in town, Hudson woke up and said he wanted to go “check on Hayes and feed Hayes a bottle.” So we agreed that he should do it. He’s so bossy!
Erin,
You are so right. You did give your boys enormous gifts by giving them each other! Maybe it is because I am preggo, but this post really had me crying. I have 5 brothers & sisters and am so blessed to have amazing, loving, funny & unique relationships with each one of them! Yes, sometimes our fights got worse before they got better, but mostly I am so overwhelmed with gratitude towards my parents. I am SO happy they entrusted their family planning to God and gave me an incredible built-in best friends and support systems. There is no greater gift than a sibling! God bless you, mama! You are so selfless & so pleasing to the Lord!
So precious. They will absolutely love having an always-there playmate as they grow older.
I don’t know if it’s my pregnancy hormones, or just your writing–but this is another post that “got me”! I am so looking forward to Charlotte having a sibling to love and fight with…my two will be about the same distance in age as your boys, and this post just made me so happy! Also, I love when Hudson says–“Hold still Hayes!” HAHA! So cute.
Oh my WORD! Those videos are about the sweetest things I have ever seen! So precious! What great memories for you to share with your boys as they grow up. ADORABLE!
What a precious post & even more precious boys!! I will be delivering our 2nd boy tomorrow & this just has me even more excited! I love your honesty about the challenges, but agree that it is such a gift for the boys to have each other. They will surely have a bond for a lifetime!
Aww! And those boys are so lucky to have a mom like you! 🙂
Those moments are priceless!
Today is national sibling day! What an appropriate post.
So stinking precious!! U are one lucky momma! The video of Hudson feedings Hayes melts my heart! I love the picture of you and Todd on the Easter post. You look gorgeous! miss you sweet friend!
Gosh, I am not pregnant but I do worry alot about how if would affect my 2 year old IF we were to have another baby! It doesn’t look like a problem a your house. Such sweet boys!
off the charts sweet!
What sweet videos, especially the one where Hudson insisted on feeding Hayes. 🙂
Maybe Hudson could select some of his toys that he is allowed to not share, but which he must keep in his room to play with alone, perhaps such as at time you are feeding Hayes. Just a thought. Sibling jealousy is obviously normal, but it is very hard for the parents!!
SO SO SO Sweet. Hudson’s IN charge. My brother and I got along great till about 4th grade then down hill from there until after college and now, I have not only a brother but a really great friend who “gets” me.
My brother stopped talking when I was born, went from his huge vocabulary to about 15 words….. Being a preemie, colic and constant ear infections, I was a handful (still am :)). Kevin’s voice came back with a vengeance. He even spoke his first full sentence….. “SHUT HER DOOR, MY EARS HURT” 5 days after I came home.
Those are such fun memories! The videos are adorable, especially that laugh! 🙂
Sweet boys! I’m also currently having issues with toys. When one of the girls has one, regardless of all of the other toys available, her sister wants the one toy she has. I am constantly redirecting! How is Hayes doing with the helmet? Has there been any improvement yet? We get ours next week.
Oh Erin this is such a sweet post and how blessed your boys are to be brothers! I’m so very thankful that God chose me to be parents to my two and although Brynley is 4 months younger than Hayes, I can already see the loving bond she and Ryder have for one another! I know it must be hard for the older child, and I too have a brother and im the baby 2 yrs younger.
Love the videos and in the first one I heard Hudson say “it’s okay” just as I hear Ryder tell his baby sister (from hearing us soothe I’m sure). So precious! I’m learning to be thankful of all these moments, even the hard moments in chaos as I settle my kids for bed!
Laura
Those videos melt my heart and make me want to have another baby (boy) STAT