Good Intentions

That's what brothers are for! Whenever Sebastian spits up, Misha is quick to run for a rag to help mop up the milk. And you should hear how parental he sounds when he coos to Sebastian, "Oh, that was a good burp!"


So far, Misha's only fault in brothering is his overzealousness in everything - trying hold Sebastian by himself, trying to pick him up or move him, rocking him in his swing too fast, shaking rattles and other toys right in his face, and kissing him so vigorously that it startles him out of deep sleep. (That last one happens a lot, despite our pleas of "Don't wake the baby!") It's not that he doesn't have good intentions, at least ...



What I find amazing is Misha's innate sense that he is no longer by himself - he's playing "with" his brother. Yesterday morning I found him giving Sebastian a check-up with the play doctor kit, chattering the whole time about his procedures. A few days ago, Misha set up the Sorry board for four players - Mommy, Daddy, Sebastian, and himself. When we brought up the fact that Sebastian doesn't know how to play yet, Misha said he would help Sebastian move his pieces. I facetiously suggested that "You and Sebastian can play a game first, while Daddy and I finish cleaning." To my surprise, Misha agreed and started playing, drawing a card for him, then for Sebastian. At one point, Misha announced, "Uh oh! Baby brother landed in a dangerous spot, Mommy!" - because Sebastian's piece had landed on the doorstep of another color (risking the chance that the other player could get a guy out, thus bumping Sebastian off the board and back to Start. You know how Sorry goes.) Misha also likes to be "in charge" of Sebastian at times. When Sebastian is napping, Misha likes to lay down beside him and tell me, "You can go now, Mommy."


Recently I asked Misha if he wanted to help me give Sebastian a bath. Of course, his answer was an immediate, "Oh, sure!" (his current affirmative answer to everything).



Beautiful wild flowers thrive just down the block from my parents' house. Sunflowers, Cosmos, Black-eyed Susans, Cone flowers, etc.



Misha at the park with his PBJ:
Some more classy smiles:
Misha's amazing Lego creation (he said it was a remote-control airplane)
Our plants are thriving! If you compare this photo to the one I posted on Aug. 5, you'll see a huge difference, especially in the Lilly. The Lilly is on the right with the large leaves (grown from a bulb from Wal-Mart, amazingly enough). The lucky fish to inhabit this tank are 8 neon tetras, 3 dwarf gouramis, 2 bettas, 3 yo-yo loaches, 4 zebra danios, 1 black Molly, and some algae eaters.

And this is our adorable youngest child smiling and cooing on camera: