Big Brother - Part 1: Bragging on Him

From the time we told Jaden that I had a baby in my womb, he seemed to have this super sweet connection to the unborn child. I showed Jaden the first ultrasound picture we had of the newest member of our family and asked him who it was. Without hesitation, and almost with this "Duh? Who else would it be, Mom?" look on his face, he said Squirrel! So that became the baby's nickname - Baby Squirrel.

When Baby Squirrel was born we named him Chase and Jaden was finally able to hold his little brother. He did such a great job of holding him (with assistance of course) within the first two hours of Chase's life outside the womb. He seemed to be so amazed at this new little person. He just kept trying to touch Chase's nose and cheeks and mouth and eyes. We could just tell that he'd do so great as big bro. 

And he did.

From the beginning, Jaden never seemed to be jealous of Chase, or the attention that Chase was getting from me or Ted.  We don't have stories of Jaden ripping toys out of Chase's hand, or acting out for attention.  Now, when Chase was about 3 weeks old, Jaden clawed him in the face.  It left a mark on Chase's face for a while.  But I don't think Jaden was being malicious, I think he was trying to just figure out more about this new little moving thing - "Is he a toy or a person like me?" was the question we thought Jaden was trying to answer in those first few weeks.  But he soon figured out that Chase was a little boy just like him.

As Chase grew older, Jaden's love and concern for him deepened, and his ability to play more rough with him grew as well.  Jaden would hold Chase's hands and sing him songs, clapping Chase's hands together before he was able to. He'd throw balls at his face, so excited to play catch, and then be kinda sad when Chase couldn't catch the ball.

Jaden would push Chase over and wrestle with him - they both would laugh.  He'd lay on top of Chase, grab him, and then roll over so that Chase was now on top.  Chase loved it.  He would smile so big.  When Chase started to crawl at 9 months, Jaden would pick him up and carry him (usually by standing behind him and picking him up near his neck) away from things that he thought would be dangerous.  He'd tell him "No, no Chase. That's dangerous."  (I was always close by to rescue Chase from this almost-headlock)

Jaden would rap to Chase and try to make him dance. When we went out and he saw random people, or if someone came over, he'd tell them, "Hi. I'm Jaden. Say hi to my brother Chasey Chase."

Jaden was of course rough, though he was growing in gentleness.  But all things he did were just out of this sincere love for his brother.  He kissed and hugged Chase all the time. He'd get in his face and laugh, and you could tell that sometimes Chase was annoyed by this.  

But that didn't stop Jaden.

Jaden would blow kisses on Chase's tummy and his back until Chase smiled.  Without being asked, when Chase dropped his toy in his car seat and couldn't reach it, Jaden would pick it up and put it back in his hand.  When Jaden came in my room when he woke up in the morning, as soon as he saw Chase sitting with me, he'd smile real big and say "Hey Buddy!"

He loved his brother. 

And he still does.