Ethan and Graydon - Caily's knights in shining armour

I’ll say it again and again – I’m so grateful to Miranda and Dana for allowing the boys to come on this journey.   They have been the most amazing support and reality check for me.  Caily is constantly looking at them or for them.   Yesterday she quietly walked over to Graydon, took his hand and walked him down the hall.  Yeah – I cried…  Whenever Ethan appears in the room, her eyes light up and she wants down so she can follow him.  I remember having a “honey bear” cousin/friend about Ethan’s age who I adored as a little one - I can see the same emotions when Caily see’s Ethan.  

 

Yesterday the two boys were playing in the pool and she kept pointing at them end making this adorable grunting sound that we all mimic with her.  It was so cute.  Of course as soon as she was put down she started over to them.   I hazard to say that the bond that has already been formed is one that will last a lifetime.  Since Caily will most likely not have brothers, having these two kind, generous and loving “surrogates” does my heart good.  Now here’s another coincidence:  Ethan and Graydon are the same ages as my brother’s Steve and Rod were when I was born…  I’m sure if my brothers are reading this they are laughing and thinking, yeah – but Ethan and Graydon don’t have to live with her,  listen to her screaming 24/7 and all the other stuff my brothers remind me about baby sisters…  Well, that’s true - they get all the good stuff…  ha ha… .  Miranda and I laughed yesterday thinking of the poor boy that tries to date her though.  After all the years of cursing my brothers for being so protective,  I finally get it.

 

It is so amazing to watch the three of them play together.  We bought a little remote control car and thought it might scare her, but nope!  Graydon gets it going and she has a blast following it around and pushing it away when he attacks her with it (see, he is already in big brother mode).  Ethan is trying to be cool about all this, but his smile is giving him away.   I’ve caught him peaking over at her with an ear to ear grin and it melts my heart. And, oh my goodness, that boy’s giggle could melt the polar ice-caps.      It’s also fun to hear them tell their mom the neat things Caily did when she misses something (which is rare, but she does need to go to the bathroom alone once in a while).