Front row seats

I think looking back on this summer, aside from our big trip to Disney and our trip Up North for the fourth of July, my favorite thing was watching my boys really bond.  Bond to the point that they hug each other and say they missed each other if they've been apart longer than a few hours.  I certainly can't predict the future to see whether they'll stay close as they grow up, but watching them this summer has truly fulfilled my wish when we knew we were having two boys close in age.

They love to hide from "mommy and daddy monster" together.  I hear them playing together in one of their rooms and as I climb the steps or hit the squeaky spot in the hallway, suddenly their whispering "hide" while trying to hide their giggles.  It's too cute.

My big bug, Sean, is usually the mastermind behind all of their "operations".  He can be bossy with Evan at times, but man, does he have quite the imagination.  Their latest and greatest is pretending to be doctor and patient.  They'll ride around the basement on the PlasmaCar, fall off, and say they broke their leg or arm.  Of course, I get stuck being the nurse that has to carry the patient to the bed and do the wrapping of the broken limb with a towel.  But, it's fun watching them come up with different imaginative scenes.

Sean has really stepped into the big brother role too this summer.  From helping Evan with his shoes to going downstairs to get something that Evan needs at bedtime, he loves getting to be the "hero".  And he does it well.

He has gotten over a lot of his aggression issues we used to worry ourselves with.  I can relax when we're at the park and around other kids.  Now, I just watch his temper with Evan.  To some degree, that has to be normal to fight with a sibling and be physical.  Our biggest challenge now is controlling his emotions.  He's a sensitive little guy!  Scott loves to tease Sean just to get a reaction out of him and see his face change from one emotion to the next.  Like pretending to feed him to T-rex!  Sean handled that like a champion, but lost it when we left the gift shop as he realized he wasn't getting anything.

My little Evie, on the other hand, is a ball of energy!  I can't get him to sit still long enough to even take a picture.  He's busy, he's curious, and he's expressive as all get out!  I love watching his facial expressions and hearing him exclaim things like, "That's wonderful!"  or "No way!  Get out of here!"

The beginning of the summer he was gobbling up Sean's words and mimicking everything Sean was saying or doing and now, I can see him fighting to be an individual.  There's times he'll ignore Sean's pleas and requests to do something!  He'll be off in his own world, doing what he wants to do.  I try to sit back and watch how they'll work through that.

He has the most dramatic pout face I've ever seen!  And I was actually lucky enough to catch it on camera.  He tends to throw himself on the ground and sulk, hoping that he'll get his way.  It was funny watching him get out of the pool we were at, walk all the way around the pool to where I was standing, holding a friend's 6 month old baby, and sulk.  He didn't say a word.  Didn't cry, didn't ask me who the baby was.  He just stood there and gave me the look.  The look that said, "I'm your baby."

And yes, he is my baby.  My baby who will be turning 3 in a few days.  Sometimes that seems impossible that he's 3 already.  Other times, it feels like he's been 3 for a while with the attitude and reputation that comes with being 3.

I asked Scott earlier today what will happen when Evan stops being so snuggly.  Sean doesn't have much time in his day for snuggles.  I will be devastated when Evan gets to that point.  So, tonight, I made sure to get in all the snuggles he was willing to dish out.  Time is going by too fast.  My babies are growing up so fast!

Just last night we had a meet and greet with Sean's soccer team this fall.  He'll be on his first team with "real" games.  He has open house next week at his elementary school.  Evan will be moving up to the preschool classroom.  It's a lot for this mama to handle at once.

Yeah, it's scary alright.

So, as our summer comes to an end this upcoming week and my boys experience all the new things that come with being almost 3 and 5, I will look back on this summer feeling blessed that I had front row seats to watching two brothers become best friends.  I know they'll have a hard time being apart this school year, but it will make for some enjoyable evenings when they're together again, plotting all their schemes, playing all their games, and off in their imaginative lands.  Ahhhh to be the mother of two boys.  It's an amazing blessing!