When pork chop met pea

Every day, Pea anxiously waits for Pork Chop to get home from school.  If we go to the grocery store, she picks out a little treat for him too.

The only thing quelling her instinctual terror of going to kindergarten in August is knowing that her big brother will be there.  They are so sweet and loving towards each other, especially when they are apart.  But–the sibling rivalry and bickering is a part of our life too.

Pork Chop draws a picture.  I tell him how awesome it is (because he can draw far better than I) and Pea bawls.  “He does EVERYTHING PERFECT,” she wails at least once a day.  “He’s older and has had more practice,” I tell her.  He’s also very particular about how things should look, I tell myself.

Pea makes up an adorable dance.  I laugh and clap.  Pork Chop pushes himself in front of her, imitating a dance that doesn’t look quite as rhythmic or natural on his much taller frame.  He cries and says Pea “gets more attention.”  I tell him that I love watching him dance just as much.  She constantly seeks attention while you are content playing, coloring, or doing homework on your own, I tell myself.

Two very different children with equally strong personalities.

When Pea was born, someone asked who she looked like.  Without hesitation, the reply from both of us was the same.  She looks like Pork Chop, just girlier. 

We brought her home and Pork Chop met her.  She was interesting but didn’t hold his 15 month old attention very long and he went about his toddling…that is until it was time to nurse her.  I sat with her cradled in my arms while she nursed.  The Hubs sat beside us.  Pork Chop toddled past and looked at us.  He wriggled in between us on the couch, looked from his Daddy to me to the little 5 lb newborn cradled in my arms, and cried like his heart was broken.  This little girl eventually wound his little heart up in her fist like she has the rest of us.

Though he may leave her in the dust when his buddies are around to play with, when she falls off her scooter and scrapes her knee, he runs to her side to help her hobble to me.

And though she was a surprise to us all, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  They are constant companions and best friends.  Back to back is best! Sure–I say that now when I can go to the store or a movie with my kids.  We’ll also forget the three years of no sleep because they didn’t like to nap at the same time and one or the other always woke up at night.