Moments + connections like this.

What sweet moments! So cute that he calls you all "the girls" and so wonderful that he is transitioning so well. What a blessing. I have a 5 year old daughter and she wants to be a big sister so terribly badly. I keep hoping she will get the chance. Congrats to Jessica and Jeffrey! Gabrielle is a such a sweet and beautiful name.

What a wonderful thing that the cousins will be so close in age! It sounds like your family is cherishing these days.

Thanks for sharing these sweet moments with us.

Beautiful. What a touching story.

Oh, Ali. That's so darling. "The girls". Melt my heart. It's so nice that he's taken to her so well. You've got a good kiddo there. Great post!

Oh Ali, thanks for sharing the news of Gabrielle...I have been thinking about Jessica so much these past few days & now I know why! Happy day :o)

melt.

Aw-- what a sweet precious pic! So glad things are going well :)

This is sooo adorable!! It is bringing back so many memories. Our boys are 5 years apart. I always call our two boys and my husband "the men," or "the menskies." The other day I dropped off my youngest, now 15, at karate with his friend and said, "Bye men." His friend stopped and kind of giggled, "men? more like young men or ...." then he just trailed off smiling.

I love hearing about all of the little moments between Simon and Anna--what a special bond!
And, congrats to your sister and her family on their new addition!

Thank you for sharing Ali...on a day that was less than awesome you helped me reflect on the small precious moments in my own life that make it ALL worth while.
❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁
Bloom and Grow little Anna, Bloom and Grow!
Cheers
Jewelz

Oh, Ali - it gets even sweeter.
I have two boys, ages 8 and 6 and a daughter who is 18 mos. They were over the moon when she came along and even now - maybe especially now - they care for her in a way that I cannot. I, as her mother, am not meant to care for her in the special way that a big brother does - and she has two!
They do things for her - read, tie her shoes, comb her hair, kiss her nose 1,467 times, and help feed her breakfast when I am running behind. They giggle for her.
They do things to her - shut her in the closet (lol), put her socks on, and include her in games (she's usually Princess Leia or an ewok at our house)
Overall, giving my boys a baby sister was maybe the best thing I could have done for them. The best gift for their souls. It has added a layer of comforting, of gentleness (so hard for boys!), of maturity and empathy that they so needed. I never knew it was missing until it was there.
Amazing.
Keep enjoying (and sharing with us, because I'm eating it up with a spoon!).
Thanks so much.
God bless,
Rachel
www.rachelcox.blogspot.com
Mountain Baby Blankets
(please click on my blog link to learn how to help provide baby blankets to teen moms in Appalachian Kentucky)

So sweet! What a precious bond they have.

What a beautiful photo of Simon and Anna, so glad the transition to having a sibling from being an only child is going so smoothly. This photo and your words brought tears to my eyes with how much love and affection you share with your readers by sharing your family. So glad to hear your new niece and her family are safe and sound, and here! Much love!

Its so nice to see that bond, isn't it? I think its more evident when there is more of an age difference. The older child appreciates that tiny baby so much more. My two girls are 7 yrs apart and I was nervous about that, but to see them, especially my oldest and how she looks at her little sister, she practically breathes her in. And my little one, she wants to be just like Megan : ) Oh yeah...the fighting has begun, but they do have their moments and its awesome!
Just my thoughts
Congratulations

I am so happy for you!!
Enjoy every moments...

SWEET! The transition from three to four is such a tribute to the thoughtfulness of all of you in including Simon so much. He is so precious and he and Anna will have such a great relationship - thanks to all of the groundwork you are laying for them now. Thank you for sharing your life with us all.

I also have a newborn, (2 1/2 months) My 5 year old son can often be found reading a book to his baby brother. It's a very sweet thing to see the love between siblings!!

this is beautiful. thank you for sharing these moments here...i feel very blessed to read them.

That is so precious! It brought tears to my eyes reading that. That was a great idea having Simon be a part of you leaving the hospital! I love how Simon calls you two "the girls"! Congrats on the newest member of your family!

So sweet! Simon is melting my heart. He's making me remember when my boys were little and our 3 became 4. Enjoy these moments to the fullest!

I love how you capture all these beautiful and memorable moments. I love the "conscious" decisions that you and all your family is making...it is really special...and it has obviously been passed onto Simon...such a caring and sweet "little man".
Congrats to baby Gabrielle too...how exciting.

that is so sweet that you are having such a positive experience - those of use with more than one child know that it can easily go either way! :)
thank you for posting about your sister, i read her blog and was wondering how things turned out - how fun that there will be two little girls so close in age - that will make for some fun future tea parties and dress-up dates when you have family gatherings.

How brilliant, Ali, to come home from the hospital as a FAMILY! I wish I would have thought of that when my kids were tiny. Love you blog. You're great.

I smiled when I saw Anna's giraffe blanket. My daughter has a pink lamb made my the same company. She picked out a monkey for my son when he was born. They love their "bobos". I am happy I bought extras when I saw them falling in love with their blankies. At the end of the day, a new one comes out and the old one goes in the laundry. Hope Anna loves hers as much as my children love their blankies.