MY AFTERNOON WITH MAEVE

Mimi came to Lanier at 2:00 today to bring Maeve to me. She loves her Mimi. When I took her from her car seat, she hugged Mimi and said “I wuv you!” with the biggest grin on her face. While Maeve was at Lanier, she was greeted by many teachers who asked her about Martin’s near arrival. She looked at them and shyly said, “I’m a big sister” and “Mahtin’s not weady yet.” When we left school, I told Maeve that we were going to the store to buy a teddy bear for her to give Martin.

Once in the car, we began a precious conversation and it went like this:

Nana: Would you like to buy a teddy bear so you can give it to Martin when he comes to your house?

Maeve: OK. He’s not weady yet.

Nana: Mama’s almost ready to go to the doctor so he can help Martin come out of Mama’s tummy.

Maeve: UhHuh…and I gonna be a big sister. I gonna help my Mommy wash Mahtin’s cwothes, and I’m gonna change his diapers… He gonna have poopy diapers and I gonna wipe his bottom…he’s gonna be shuuu (giggling)! I gonna help Mommy put is cwothes on and his shoes on, like me (holding up her foot).

Nana: He can’t wear shoes now… he can only wear socks. He’s a baby and can’t walk right now.

Maeve: I will help him… he can hold my hand.

Maeve: And I gonna wear pj’s and we will sit on my bed and wead books to him.

Nana: Will Martin have on his pj’s?

Maeve: UhHuh… I will put on his pj’s and will sit on my bed weading books. I will wead to Mahtin.

Nana: Here’s the store. Do you want to find Martin a teddy bear?

Maeve: And a dog? A bunny wabbit! Uh, a tootle! (Giggling!)

After 15 minutes of perusing the stuffed animals at Target, Maeve selects a brown teddy bear. She never selected ANYTHING for herself; everything was about Mahtin! So Nana asked if she would like some play dough for her and she beamed! We walked to the checkout with a teddy bear under one arm and play dough under the other.

Nana: You need to put these on the table so we can buy them (as the cashier scans them, Maeve surprisingly speaks to her).

Maeve: I pway wif pwaydough at my Nana’s on the table, but not on the floor. That’s for Mahtin. I wap it for him.

Needless to say, Nana is desperately holding back tears. When we arrive home, Maeve informs me she needs wapping paper and tape. She beautifully waps his teddy bear “I do it myself!” with more tape then paper. She was so proud!

As soon as the car pulled in the driveway, Maeve was yelling for Papa to open her playdough. I watched and giggled as Papa taught Maeve how to roll the dough to make a snake, a snowman, pancakes and a smiley face. (I actually remembered to capture it on video!)(See Video)

After playdough time, Maeve proceeded to open the refrigerator door and say, “Nana, I want a snack. I want to cook somefing. I cook these eggs!” She hands me the carton and drags her stool over to the counter. Papa proceeded to get her a bowl and a whisk and then watched in awe as the master chef proceeded to perfectly crack 2 eggs! But scrambled eggs were not enough… my pantry and fridge are pretty bare right now but she managed to find a container of sliced peaches and a jar of mini pickles… YUM!!! By now she has managed to fill every compartment of her plate and eats every bite!

I spent the afternoon listening to a 2 and a half year old talk about her baby brother and her role as a big sister. She gets it… she knows what her role is… She knows what Martin’s role is… Leah and Britt have prepared her. She is ready to teach Martin all about life; reading, walking, dressing. Life in the Hulsey house will be a better place…Maeve is ready to be the big sister… and Martin will experience the blessing of having a big sister, just as Tyler was blessed to have Leah and Lindsey pave his way.

Watching and listening to Leah and Britt as they prepare Maeve for the changes ahead brings a lump to my throat and a knot to my stomach. Memories flood my mind of yesteryear when Brad and I prepared Leah for the upcoming arrival for Lindsey, and when we learned of Tyler’s arrival, talking to Leah and Lindsey about being big sisters!

I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed…