Our Other Child

Many people have asked how Molly has done with the transition from being the only child (dog) to being a big sister. Weeeeell, let's see. Her totally annoying barking at anything that passes by the window does not seem to bother Jeremiah much at all, which is very surprising. Honestly, Molly startles ME with her barking more often that she startles Jeremiah. We think maybe Jeremiah got used to it while he was in the womb? Maybe. Anyway, we're just glad that Jeremiah doesn't wake up crying every time Molly barks (because she barks a lot lately, especially since the weather is nicer and more people are out and about). She also tends to bark like crazy at anything that is new or hasn't been there before. Example: The neighbors who live behind us just put up a new playset. To Molly, this playset is extremely threatening! She spent a good while this morning barking at it. To Molly's dismay, the playset has not yet responded to her barking. I'm sure she'll try again later.

Wherever Jeremiah is, Molly is sure to be close by. Whoever is holding Jeremiah also must expect to hold Molly as well. Here's an example:



I think it's cute, and maybe a little annoying. Especially when I am trying to feed Jeremiah and I have 20 lb Cockapoo sprawled across my lap.

We've had issues with Molly wanting to play with Jeremiah's toys. Even before Jeremiah was born, any toys that came as baby gifts had to be put up high on a shelf so that Molly could not get them. I learned this lesson after finding her several times laying on the rug chewing on Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" toy.



See Molly eyeing Jeremiah's bracelet toy? She wants it bad. But after hearing "NO" about a billion times, she does eventually give up.



Molly would like nothing more than to chew Jeremiah's pacifiers, too. On more than one occasion I have found one in her mouth (with the nipple in her mouth, like a baby. It looks pretty funny!).



Now on this occasion, I was not sure if Molly was looking guilty because she had just been licking the pacifier, or if she was just about to attack the pacifier. Either way, I figured we better wash and sterilize the pacifier.

I am sure that once Jeremiah gets older, he and Molly will have lots of fun playing together. Molly already tries, but Jeremiah just doesn't quite get it yet!


Molly has no idea why Jeremiah refuses to throw her toy.


So she tries another time with a different toy. Still nothing.

Overall, I'd say that Molly has done well with the transition. She's not a huge fan of Jeremiah's crying at night, but who can blame her? It's no fun to be woken up multiple times during the night!