The Two Big Sisters: their reactions

Loving older sister!

Trying to climb up the glider to see her new sister

Our little lady!

Upon the baby's birth, I sent a photo to my sister, who in turn showed it to my toddler. She cried, and declared " I don't want another baby!"

Two days after her arrival, our newborn baby met her two older sisters. Much to my surprise, our toddler was very affectionate. She welcomed her new sister, asked to hold her, and has since been a very helpful older sister. She regularly helps with diaper changes, and additionally enjoys burping her new sister.

I was initially worried that our toddler would be displeased with her new sibling. About a month prior to her birth, we explained to our toddler that she would soon have a new sister. She countered that NO, it would be a brother! We found it almost impossible to explain that she could not simply choose the gender. She had even named her "brother" and told anyone willing to listen...but as soon as she met her new sibling, she seemed to accept her unconditionally!

Baby # 2's reaction was very different. When she spotted her new sister for the first time, I believe she thought of her as a doll. She tried to take her from me, and would not take no for an answer!. Since then, she has mostly been intrigued by her new sibling. She points to her different body parts, asking us to name them...And she no longer thinks of her sister as a doll; when asked to point out her new little sister, she appropriately points to baby #3.  She has even started to "nurse"her dolls.

Hopefully all this sisterly love will continue...

She is NOT a boy!

CC enjoys a swim with her papa

I recently read an interesting article (http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/babiespregnancy/babies/article/995112--parents-keep-child-s-gender-secret) about a Toronto couple who had decided to raise their third child genderless.  They have kept the gender of their now 4-month old baby a secret from everyone (except the baby's older brothers and the midwives that delivered the baby) in an attempt to limit "the constraints of gender stereotypes". After publication of the article, the parents found themselves in a firestorm;  they were criticized by parents and experts alike.

My first thought was that they must be very hands-on parents; they would be handling all of the diaper changes themselves!  My second thought was that regardless of what they were told, people would have their own ideas about the baby's gender.  Case in point, our 15-month old daughter.  At least once a day, I hear "oh, what a cute boy".  Initially,  I would correct them, and also point out the pink flowery clothing that she was donning.  I have come to the conclusion that their opinion is based on our baby's hair, or lack thereof.  She currently has what some refer to as a mullet; long in the back and short in the front.  I find it very interesting that although I dress her in girl's clothing, and mention her (very feminine) name, people still think she is a boy. Perhaps I should stop correcting them, and run a little experiment of my own.  Would those who thought she was a boy speak to her less in that "googoo-gaga" tone that so many tend to adopt when speaking to infants?  Because if that were the case, I would be all for it!