As the due date of the baby got closer, John and I tried to prepare Rhett for having a baby and a new brother in the house. We showed him his old baby pictures and talked about the baby in mommy's tummy. He would kiss my tummy and say, "I love you baby" (since we didn't know the gender or have a set name, this is how we referred to the baby). But the moment of truth would be when they met each other. Rhett got use to mommy always going to some doctor or another and even the hospital (as I had been three times before I was admitted for labor). So when Rhett fell asleep at the hospital and John carried him out to meet Monica, we were worried how he would react when he woke up to find neither of his parents around (which he has never experienced before). He did great and had a blast at "auntie Monica's" and played with Monica's girls (it helped that it was summer).
So the moment of truth came... after Ethan was born and I was settled into the postpartum family suite, I called Monica and told her that I was up for visitors and that I thought it would be fun to watch Rhett's reaction to mommy holding a new baby. We planned to video tape the meeting.
When Rhett first walked into the room, I think he was a little timid seeing mommy in a hospital gown in bed. I told him it was okay and asked if he wanted to meet his brother. He said yes and when I invited him over, he came and kissed Ethan on the cheek. What was so amazing to me is that though he was a bit timid to approach me, he did not seem shocked or surprised that there was a new baby. He immediately repeated Ethan's name when I told him and a smile spread across his face. I asked if he wanted to hold Ethan and he said yes (he calls him "Ephan"). He got up in a chair and we placed Ethan in his lap and told him that if he wanted to move he needed to tell us so we could pick up Ethan from his arms. He held Ethan, and kissed him and just stared at him. In fact, we had problems getting Rhett to look at the camera as he was so mesmerized by baby Ethan in his lap!
When we all got home and settled in, Rhett appeared to do well with accepting a new family member in the home. There were times you could see a hint of jealousy in his eyes, but it passed just as soon as it came. He's three and far from perfect, but I was EXTREMELY impress by his attitude and hope the transition continues to go well!
