Lets be real though, this is a REALLY hard concept for kids to grasp. They don't quite recall when they were that size, but they have seen babies enough to know that they are small and cute (Clari's words). We have read books about babies, watched Doc McStuffins become a big sister, and involved her in every piece of baby arrival. It's still a big concept for a 3 year old to grasp.
She's very excited for the arrival of her baby sister and it warms our hearts, but we have to stop sometimes and take a deep breath when she lets us know of what she's going to do with the baby. The other day with a face full of excitement she said "Mommy when she wakes up at night and cries, I will just pick her up out of her crib and feed her! I can pour her some milk out of the fridge." The image in my head of her carrying this little newborn across the wood floors was enough to wake me up more than my cup of coffee. We take these times as learning moments to talk about how much of a helper you can be with the baby, but you just always have to check with mommy and daddy about what you can help with. Clari and her baby sister are also going to play with Play-Doh when she comes home from the hospital and then she's going to teach her how to hop down the stairs. All of this is innocence as she just knows she's getting a playmate. She just hasn't figured out that her playmate isn't going to be her size for awhile.
The innocence in her little heart during this time makes me even more excited to give her a sister. She lights up when she talks about all the snacks they are going to eat together and how she will let her pick the "bedtime show", sometimes. I'm sure that we are going to have quite a few learning moments ahead, but the excitement level in her heart is worth all of them. Here's to hoping the fruit snacks and Play-Doh stay in the big kids hands for now!
Taylor
I tried to give my sister cough syrup when she was a newborn! Clari seems better prepared than I was :)
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