My Sandwich Babies

I call them my “Sandwich Babies.” Grace and Quinn, my oldest and my youngest. They have the sweetest relationship, these two. It is a relationship that has grown and developed into more than I could have ever asked for them.

 Looking back to the beginning of their relationship, it’s amazing to see how far they have come. I will never forget how, during my entire pregnancy with Quinn, Grace insisted that I was having a girl.  We had decided not to find out the sex of the baby, which we had done with our other pregnancies, and yet Grace remained certain and steadfast during those nine months that, with the birth of this baby, she would meet her sister. She was adamant about it.

Grace came to visit us in the hospital on the day of Quinn’s birth. As she walked into the room, Justin and I exclaimed, “Say hello to your new baby brother!” The look on her face was absolutely priceless. She remained cool and collected, and put forth a slightly forced smile as she walked toward the baby in my arms. I will never forget the look on her face as she gazed at Quinn up close, cooing, “Ohhhh.” She stared at him and watched his movements, and intently whispered, “Oh, she’s so beautiful.” We gently corrected her, stating that she probably meant, “He’s so beautiful.” She looked perplexed at our correction, and replied, “That’s what I said.” We laughed it off, but only a few minutes later she chimed in again, “Oh, she’s looking at me!” Again, we gently corrected her with“Grace, you mean he is looking at you?” She responded a little more indignant this time., “That’s what I said, Mom!” 

Clearly, Grace had girl baby on the brain.

It didn’t take long for Grace to embrace being a Big Sister yet again. But this time the circumstances were different, and she found herself connecting to a new baby much younger than her. She was old enough to really take it all in, and had so much fun showing Quinn off to her friends, talking to him, telling him stories, holding and feeding him, and even playing with him like a doll. None of us will ever forget her putting him in her American Girl Doll bed to see if he fit!

As they’ve both grown, so, too, has their relationship. They are both fiercely protective of each other, and they are always aware of where each other, both physically, and especially emotionally. No one can get through to Quinn like Grace can when he is having a hard time. They call each other “share buddies,” perhaps because they know they have little competition with one another given their age gap, but it’s sweet nonetheless. They love to snuggle each other, and at bedtime we often find Quinn nestled next to Grace in bed. 

When Quinn was born, I feared Grace was heartbroken over the fact that she would not have the “sister” that she had hoped for. The slight disappointment from that initial meeting has given way to a  relationship that has become so steadfast and life-giving, and a bond that will be there for each of them as they navigate the twists and turns of life that are sure to be ahead. It’s amazing how, once again, life has continued to unfold in surprising and unexpected ways.

I have no doubt that my “Sandwich Babies” will always, always stick together.

 

Hello There!

My name is Allison! Nurturer Of 4 Remarkable Littles / Married To My Own Modern Day Prince Charming / California Born And Raised / Adventure Seeker / Nature Enthusiast / Memory Maker / Food / Wine / Fashion / Sleep

Join me in the Choicelunch Blog takeover

Categories

Latest Posts