Daddy in the making...

Parker has discovered the baby doll we got for Colby years ago to help prepare him for the arrival of his baby brother.  I have on occasion passed by the toy room to witness him (Parker) feeding the baby his bottle or wrapping him up in his blanket.  Whenever asked his relation to the little bundle it is always "the babysitter".  Well today was no exception as he joined me in the kitchen with his swaddled charge.  He came in acting so domestic yet somewhat embarrassed.  I asked him if he was the daddy, the brother or the babysitter and he enthusiastically assured me he was the baby sitter.  Okay, well now that that was settled, I invited him to bring the little rocking chair in to sooth the baby while I baked.  He liked the idea and settled right in.

 We talked about what baby's like and he decided the baby was awake now and needed to change out of his pajama's.  I sat down and helped him to undress and redress the baby.  He giggled and said the baby's butt was gross and quickly helped to get his little arms and legs into a new outfit and then swaddle him back up in the blanket.  This whole time I sat there feeling a warm glow in my heart, imagining him with a little baby of his own someday.  Watching him be so gentle and sensitive, a side to him that is so rarely seen.  I relished in the baby doll play that I had always envisioned I would have with my children (I was thinking daughters but hey, this was working).  So he settles back into the rocker and as I now have the camera out and am hitting him up like the mama paparazzi that I am I shoot for a suggestion with "hey, why don't you give the baby a kiss" and he replies with an embarrassed laugh "Mom, he's NOT real!!!"

 "Okay, okay" I replied not wanting to ruin the moment.  So, he rocked him and he fed the baby his bottle.  We then talked about how to burp the baby.  Well, at this point the testosterone took hold of his little brain and he say's "No Mom, you do it like this... (demonstrating)  You pull the baby's finger and ppphhhrrrat, he burps!!!"  This being the endearing game his own daddy taught him (at the dinner table mind you) just recently.  Awwww, yes I can see that my little Parker is a "Daddy" in the making for sure!