New {and perfect}

Welcome to the family, Tyler Marie Davis.

6 lbs 12 oz, 19", born on November 1, 2012

With a new niece just added to the family, there's been a lot that's new going on around here.

• It's new to be the big sister of the mom.  I've only ever been little-sister-in-law or the mom.  It's a bit of a challenge to shut my big mouth and let Michelle do it her way.
• It's new to have a little girl around.  I actually heard Michelle refer to her as a him for a second yesterday.  I think it's like when you've had a dog for eight years that was a boy, and sentences about dogs used the pronouns "he" and "him," and then you're around a girl dog, but to you all dogs are he's and him's.  We've been awfully short on the pronouns "she" and "her" in our family, and using them is a bit of an adjustment.
• It's new to get to hand a crying child back to its mother.  New.  And awesome.



Yes, that is a look of relative disinterest.  And when I asked him
to hold her head, he palmed her face with the opposite hand.
"No worries, Mom.  This head isn't going anywhere!"

• It's new to have Dylan jealous of a baby.  If I try to hold her, I soon have my baby at my side, pulling on my hand and saying, "Mom... mom... mom..." because suddenly he is in dire need of something. 

Alex snuck in forbidden kisses to Tyler's forehead when no one
was looking.  He thinks she's pretty awesome - for about
5 seconds, then he loses interest.

• Tyler's toys are all new to the boys, and it's new to constantly have to remind them not to turn on her swing every second.  And new to frequently remind Dylan that the rotating fish mobile does not go backward, no matter how many times he requests it or tries to force it

Adam is 100% doting cousin.  He holds her as much as possible,
but likes to walk around the room, gently bouncing her.  He
laid her next to him on the couch to watch a movie during
yesterday's visit, and whenever she is near, his face lights up in
a pretty silly grin.

• It's new to get all the fun of a baby without all the work.  
• It's new for my boys to have a cousin on the Casdorph side.
• It's new to see Skye and Michelle taking on the roles of parents.  But they are so great at it!  

Yes, I think this little dose of new is just right!