Saturday, January 8, 2011

If I can't think of a name I definitely can't think of a blog post title


So this is Diddly. I can't quite decide what to call him on this blog. Diddlydoo is too long to type. Diddly reminds me of P Diddy. And his real name, Everett (which we chose because he arrived so close to Christmas Eve), seems stuffy next to "Junior."

Maybe I'll just call him Nipple Whipper.

Or Diddly.

I've been feeling kind of funky this week. It's part breastfeeding disappointment. Part cabin fever. Snow shock. Sleep deprivation. It's also part melancholy. I find myself staring wistfully at Junior. Diddly's arrival suddenly has made something about him glaringly obvious: He's not a little kid anymore. I mean, he's three-and-a-half so theoretically he's a kid, but when he walked into my hospital room last week I was struck by how big he is.

We talk about growing big. We use the word big to mark milestones and to encourage Junior to eat his vegetables, but until I'd held a newborn again, I didn't understand how big Junior had actually grown. He's smart and complex and independent. He's stubborn and bossy and clever. He's his own little person.

He isn't too juiced about his new brother.

Yesterday, when I asked him how he was doing he said, "As good as I can be." He told me babies are the worst thing in the world. He's wanted to spend time alone in his bedroom, watching his train go around

and around

and around

the track.

Last night he burst into tears and told us he wanted to spend the night at his Grammie's. That's where he is right now. Being fawned over and coddled while I sit here blubbering into my spit-up covered sleeve about how quickly it all goes by. I thought I'd spend the first week home from the hospital adjusting to the baby. Instead I find myself holding on to Junior, asking him not to grow anymore, adjusting to the different ways I see him.

And asking him not to put his feet on his brother's head.

It's going to be an interesting winter.

24 comments:

Jenni said...

He's so gorgeous. I hope the baby blues pass you by quickly. Hang in there.

kyooty said...

I remember when I first brought home #2 and #1 was almost 2.5 and I laid the two of them side by side on the bed, both were in diapers and onsies. It was a shock to the heart.

Keely said...

That would be a bit of a shocker, huh? Both for you AND for Junior. I hope you both adjust soon.

(How about Junior II? Or just...#2? No, wait, that sounds like poop. I'm bad at this too.)

Whitney said...

I'm having the same problem with my second nephew (Husband's sister's first baby). My first nephew (my sister's son) is Boog, and his sister is The Princess...lemme know when you figure out a name for Diddly. LOL.

Lori said...

My daughter coped with my son's arrival by the realization that she'd have to "show him how all his toys worked". Oh, and the ever so fun game, "jump the baby" which consisted of jumping over the baby.

Nothing gets rid of post partum like yelling.

Oh, and your beautiful baby man would be a great P. Diddly.

Gretchen said...

Oh, sweetie, that must be so tough. I'm so sorry. I know what you mean about them growing up. I just discovered my oldest (11yo) is growing UNDERARM HAIR. hold me.

Lorry said...

Yes. Yes, Yes! Bean, my two-year-old, suddenly looked like Godzilla after Bug arrived. And kinda acted like Godzilla, towering into Bug's world and ripping everything apart. climbing into her crib, dismantling her mobile, seeing how far a Bean finger can fit up a Bug nose…. And that's with Bean liking her sister. Fun times ahead for us both. Fun, fun times.

Unknown said...

congrats...love his name!

VandyJ said...

A nickname will present itself after he grows a bit more personality. As for Junior--he'll get used to the changes. Turbo did and he was five, almost six when Bruiser came around. Talk up the positives of being big and able to do things the baby can't, worked for us.

Mama Badger said...

Yet again, no advice. There's only 19 months between LG and o, and LG still seems HUGE at times. Enjoy the baby moments, though. Junior will adjust. Oh, I do have a suggestion! Have you read the book "Pocket full of Kisses"? LG liked that one a lot when o came home. Now he hardly ever tries to give him away to the ladies at the store.

Grand Pooba said...

P Diddy, er Diddly is adorable!

Katherine said...

Don't comment much, but this one really got to me. We've been thinking about adding another to the mix....my son would be close to three or four by then. He already seems so big. It must be so hard, too, with Junior not exactly jumping into the big brother role. I'm sure that after a few weeks (or months) everything will even itself out.

Mrs. Tuna said...

Gotta feel for Junior but he'll adjust given time.

SmartBear said...

Oh girl...I only have one. He will be 4 in March. And I have been so overcome with how big he is lately. I know it will all be fine and one day when they are crackin' each other up with poop jokes you will feel better.
But I love Everett. Love it. The Family Stone is one of my favorite movies and Dermot Mulroney's character is Everett.
I vote for Tad as a nickname. As in tadpole. I suck at this...
Best,
Tina

FoN said...

Just wait until he comes home with an eyebrow ring and bright orange hair. You’ll be nostalgic for the days when he was 3.

Diddly is beautiful. I'm not sure you'll be able to call him anything else here, however.

Nanc Twop said...

Maybe I'll just call him Nipple Whipper

Oh, how 'bout 'Nipper',
or lil' Nipper then?

Or just Whip - then when he's a teen he can be Cool Whip. ;-)

Stephanie said...

Awe, he is adorable.

The Captain's Wife said...

He is perfect, I love his profile. Thanks for sharing a little piece og him with us, I know you are not a Picture poster by nature.

I like "Diddly" I think that just how we all think of him in general...after 10 long months.

I am awarding you today on my blog, swing over to check it out later~ http://thejeweledcaptainswife.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

The hardest thing about the second baby is often the alteration of your relationship with the first. It'll a few month for everyone to get into their new groove. Diddly won't be an infant forever, and will so demand less of mom's time.

(How about Rugrat, Half-Pint,Sonny, Sprout, Youngster, Small Fry, or Little Guy?)

Judy said...

When my new grand daughter was born, a few days later, when asked by his mother what her son thought of the baby, replied, "She's okay, but when can we take her back?"

The Mother said...

I'd love to tell you that the older sibs get over the jealousy, but I have a 20 yo who still resents his younger brothers.

Frogs in my formula said...

I love Lil Nip. I carry nips in my purse/diaper bag. Yay for nips!

Also, the Family Stone is my all-time favorite movie and it's where I got the name from. Still can't believe Chuck agreed to it.

brokenteepee said...

He is adorable.
Brothers try to kill each other. It's just the way it is. I sometimes wonder how all three of my brothers survived their childhoods.

He will adjust. All of us with siblings ultimately did, well except Cain and Able but that's all parable, right?

Just call him Two

rachel... said...

Oh, thank you for sharing the photo! He's just perfect!

Junior will be fine, you will be fine... Diddly or Nip or whatever you're calling him will be fine. I know it's hard in these first few weeks (I KNOW.) but you will ease into it and Junior will adjust, too.

He will eventually stop putting his feet on the baby's head, too. I'm pretty sure.

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