Since Nick's birth, one of my favorite parts of our visits is watching Nicholas and the Munchkin interact. It wasn't until our beach vacation last summer that the two really had any moments of actual interaction. Prior to that, they had only been exposed when Nicholas was two months old; not very fun for a two year old to play with, you know!

It was important to me that the two of them spend time together on that visit (and in all subsequent visits). Not only for my benefit (because watching them does warm my heart to no end) but for their own benefit. They will be raised knowing that they are siblings. They will be raised in different households. While it's confusing for adults, the Munchkin already calls Nicholas, rightly so, her brother and tells people that he lives in "Buhio," which is how she says Ohio.

Some of my favorite moments in the past few visits have included a shared moment in the morning sunlight in which I snapped this picture, reading books with both of the kids on my lap, watching them laugh with one another as the Munchkin stomped around the living room and laughing as the Munchkin swiped icing off of Nick's first birthday cake. Being the photo bug that I am, I have snapshots of almost all of these moments (and more).

Simply watching them play together, as children do, is a hoot. D has a ball pit for the kids at her house and we broke it out during a visit. The Munchkin went wild, throwing balls amok and laughing. Nick thought this was hilarious, as did JD, and there was so much laughing, Mommies included, that it stands out in my mind. (And yes, there are pictures!)

On the day that Nick turned one, he was just beginning to wobble across the room on his own. That day, the Munchkin took his hand and lead him across the room, patiently and kindly offering support ("You can do it, Nick,"), like any big sister would do for a younger sibling. My heart melted, watching my two children interact in such a "normal" fashion. It was good for them, to have that moment (which they can look back on because, yes, I took pictures). It was good for me to see them have that moment.

In short, these little moments of interaction have become the highlight of our visits. I long to watch them interact, even the grumpy stuff where Nick pulls her hair and she screams, "NO, NICHOLAS JOSHUA!" Because when she kisses him goodnight? I melt. I melt.