12 weeks along in our pregnancy with a new baby
We see a baby on TV. I say, "that baby sure is cute, eh?" to which Sawyer replies "yep—really cute." "Do you like babies?" I continue to prod. "Sure!" I delve deeper, with a big eager grin on my face: "Say, would you like to HAVE a baby?" Without hesitation, he responds, "No thank you, Mama!" and hops off the couch and toddles into the other room.
16 weeks along
Out of the blue, Sawyer tugs on my arm to get my attention. “I don’t need a sibwing, Mama.”
17 weeks along
We’re having dinner, and Sawyer is asking about the baby. Mike tells him that the doctor will take the baby out when it’s time. Sawyer seems concerned. “Dr. Huffman [never mind that she’s our dentist!] can’t take our baby! It’s our baby!” Mike and I smile at each other, feeling swell about his finally wanting the new baby. “Oh, don’t worry—she’ll give the baby to us to bring home,” I assure him. “Won’t that be neat?” I ask. “Nah.”
18 weeks along
I’m wearing only undergarments as I get ready for the day, and Sawyer comes into the room. “Mama, your belly is BIG!” he exclaims. “Well, there’s a baby in there, remember?” I respond. “Yeah,” he says. After a long pause while he surveys the belly, he looks up at me. “I think the baby is done!”
Later that day, at my OB appointment, Sawyer gets to hear the heartbeat for the first time. Mike says, “Sawyer, what’s that?” Sawyer gets really wide-eyed and responds, “it’s the BABY!” But as we’re driving home, he panics. “Wait! The doctor forgot to take the baby out!”
21 weeks along
Sawyer is petting Ben, the cat, on my lap. He gently covers him with the blanket beside us. I say, “Oh, that’s nice, Sawyer! You’re taking good care of your kitty. Are you going to take good care of your baby?” “Sure!” he says, jubilantly. “Will you help us bathe the baby?” “Yep!” “Feed the baby?” “Yep!” “Change the baby’s diapers?” “Yep!” Immediately, he reconsiders. “Um, nah, that’s too yucky for me. That can be your job, Mama.”
23 weeks along
Sawyer suggests we name the baby either Porsche or Spiderman.
24 weeks along
“Mama, your belly is really full today. I think you ate too much.”
25 weeks along
Papa: “Sawyer, can you please put your Legos away in the basket?”
Sawyer: “I can’t right now, Papa—I’m having a contraction.”
(Yes, preterm labor has been firmly established for many weeks now!)
26 weeks along
Sawyer understands that he’s getting a baby sister, and he’ll be able to teach her things. “I’m going to show my baby sister how to build Lego cars and submarines!” he promises. “I’ll teach her to read books and blow bubbles and make cookies.” I tell him how happy she’ll be to have a big brother like him. “Yeah,” he replies confidently, “and I’m going to teach my baby sister to hold her penis down when she pees.”
(Okay, so maybe he doesn’t exactly understand that he’s getting a baby sister.)
27 weeks along
We explain to Sawyer that he’ll be a big brother to his baby sister, just like Papa is to Auntie Kim. “No!” he cries out. “I don’t want to be a big brother like Papa. My clothes won’t fit me anymore!”
Sadie 7 months old
Sawyer is in the doctor’s office for an ear infection. Doc asks Sawyer if he thinks anyone needs a shot...he says, "not for me, please! And not Mama, either." Then he thinks a minute, and his face lights up: "Hey, how about SADIE?"
Sadie 7-1/2 months
Sadie is flashing her brother big, goofy smiles. “I love Sadie," he remarks. "She’s very grinulous today. She’s my favorite children.”
Sadie 29 months
Sadie cries when I put her to bed—turns out she didn't get her usual goodnight hug and kiss from Sawyer. I call to his room to see whether he’d come give her one. He jumps out of bed and runs in, saying, “I like this so much my tears are falling!” “Like what?” I ask. “That she wants me.”
Sadie 3-1/2 years
Sadie camps out on the floor of Sawyer’s room every night. Sawyer beams with pride and sets up blankets for her.
Sadie 4 years
Sadie tries to camp out on the floor of Sawyer’s room every night. Sawyer shouts at her to leave him alone already and throws her beloved stuffed kitty out the door.
7 weeks along in our pregnancy with another new baby
We let Sawyer—and only Sawyer—in on our secret today. This evening, when I put him to bed, I ask him if he is happy about our news. He breaks into a huge smile and a contented, "yeah. We're really lucky."
9 weeks along
It didn't occur to us that Sawyer might want a genuine say in naming this baby. So far he's thrown out: Marcoon (apparently this works for either boy or girl) and Trune (boy). This could be a long nine months—and I fear he's gonna be gravely disappointed in the end!
Sadie almost 5 years
During a spurt of energy past bedtime, Sawyer writes a note to Sadie and leaves it in her room while she sleeps:
Dear Sadie,
You may take these stickers as a gift for being a nice, kind, and thoughtful person.
From: Sawyer
(Stickers on back)
By morning, she is immediately on his nerves, so he makes some edits to the note before she finds it:
Dear Sadie,
You may take nothing as a gift for being a mean person.
From: Sawyer
(NO stickers)
It's a love-hate thing.
Scarlett 19 months
While clearing the dinner table, Sawyer is amused by Scarlett's goofy smile and outstretched hand offering him the last bite of her meal. As he follows me into the kitchen, he says, "I can tell Scarlett is going to be a great person someday. I can totally see her being generous and stuff like that."
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