Brotherly Love

When they took us up to our room and got us settled, Karl brought Cooper in to meet his baby brother!  Cooper wasn't as interested in the baby as I thought he would be because my little observant child immediately noticed the present in the room and somehow knew it was for him.  We had gotten him some toys and candy to entertain him while he was at the hospital.  It worked!  Every now and then he would come to look at the baby and talk to him or rub my leg (my little sweetheart was worried about his mama), but mostly, he was more than happy to just play with his new stuff!

We always knew that Cooper would be a great big brother.  There truly was never a single doubt in my mind about that.  Since that first day, he has tended to him with such care, patience, and concern.  Every time he came to visit us in the hospital, he immediately checked on his brother before he did anything else, but he didn't want to hold him at first.  He loved looking at him and touching him, but he didn't want to be too close to him!

The last night we were in the hospital, Cooper came to visit for dinner, and he decided he was ready to hold his baby brother!  Karl was sitting on the sofa in the room with the baby, and Cooper had been admiring when he suddenly announced that he wanted to hold him.  I couldn't grab the camera fast enough!

Thankfully, the tenderness and love has only grown since we've been home from the hospital.  Although Cooper is going through an "adjustment" stage right now and not being the normal obedient child we're used to, he has been nothing but perfect with the baby.  He loves to help change diapers and bring me anything I need.  If Jake cries, Cooper is there with a paci.  Cooper loves to give sweet kisses and rub Jake's hair (which I do too...I had forgotten how soft newborn hair is!).  

One of the reasons I was most excited about having a second son was because of the bond that would form between the boys.  I just didn't expect it to start forming quite so quickly!  One of my heart's greatest prayers is that it will only grow throughout their lives.