Visions of Vivacious Sisterhood

At this stage of having two children there is always something to do. Some one has peed, some one is hungry, some one needs to be bounced on your knee. Never a dull moment. Never really a moment. Just a few days ago, I was laying on the couch. Almost like a scary dream I sat up gasping for air suddenly my mind racing, my heart pounding as if I had forgotten one of the kids somewhere when a peace came over me as I remembered they were both napping in their own beds. As my body relaxed back into the couch I heard, "Mooooooooooooooooooooooom!" Lydia was awake.

Vivian and Lydia are certainly getting into their own appropriate birth order rhythm. Lydia tells Vivian to take things out of her mouth. Vivian grabs Lydia's hair and pulls. Lydia pushes Vivian's hand away and says no no! She also tells me that Vivian is hungry or tired, just like any big sister would. There is very little that Lydia does that Vivian isn't completely enthralled with, she watches her every move and laughs. There are those moments like in the middle of Vivian's baptism where Lydia wanted to be held only by mommy. Or when she goes to bed at night and doesn't quite understand why she has to sleep in her own bed when she really wants to sleep in Vivian's bed and Vivian sleeps in another bed across the house in the mommy and daddy's room.

I can't wait to see how they will interact when Vivian is crawling or better yet walking or talking. What will their young conversations be about? My visions are of them holding hands skipping through fields of daisies together only to arrive at a tea party filled with their dolls and stuffed animals. They take turns sharing the imaginary tea pot and make idol chitchat with their playful guests. Or working together on the soccer field to score the winning point, headlines of sisters triumph in the Tampa Bay Times. Or the building of sand castles on the beach on a pleasant summer day that finishes off with a strong high five as they admire their work.

 I imagine the morning when Vivian arrives at the breakfast table wearing Lydia's sweater and Lydia saying, "Oh beloved sister of mine, it gives me the deepest pleasure that you look sensational in my sweater! I am so glad you took it without asking." Vivian will pass the juice and say "Thank you! And thank you for being kind and letting me wear it. I knew you were in the bath so I didn't get the chance to ask." Another gentle exchange of smiles will happen and off to school they will go.

Suddenly, I wake up on the couch gasping for air. Again.