Sister act.

There is 13 months between Number 1 and Number 2. Sometimes it's lovely and often, it's an absolute nightmare.

We get asked if they are twins, as there isn't much between them in height. They stick together and often are inseparable, even at Nursery! They asked to share a room and we got them bunk beds, but we shouldn't have bothered. They often top and tail, rather than sleep in their own beds!!

They play really well together but they also fight well together.
Number two is feicely independent. She will not let you help her do anything. Unfortunately, she thinks she the same age as Number 1 and can do the things she does. Again, some times this works in our favour.
She was fully potty trained, night and day, by 2 1/2. In fact, she beat Number 1 to being fully trained, by a few months.
We had no intention of starting her but because her sister was doing it, she was too!! She walked early, very early because she wanted to be like her sister. She talked early and her speech is pretty good, considering she's only 3 (Even if she does have a broad Black Country accent!!) She was having conversations, albeit brief ones, at 18months.
She's flying through learning numbers and colours and writing her name, as she's learning, alongside Number 1, because she didn't want to be left out. I often forget she is only just, 3 years old.

It's hard when Number 2 wants to do something Number 1 is, because when she can't do it, she gets upset.
Today, we decided to let them go on trikes. I want to get them bikes for Xmas but don't want to waste money, if they can't figure out pedals!! They are happy on scooters, so we've let them enjoy them, rather than try to push them onto bikes etc. They like nothing more than scootering round the skate park but unfortunately for Number 2,  her coordination is not the same as her sisters. She has had many faceplant moments but refused to give up because if Number 1 is on a Scooter and flying down a ramp, then so is she!

The trikes were another story. Number 1 got on and slowly pedalled off. She could do it, brilliant. It was slow but she was moving.
Number 2 however, just couldn't get to grips with it. Her feet were slipping and she couldnt work out the steering She was all over the place. She was in tears, screaming "I want to get off!" but she wouldn't budge, all because her sister was pedalling off into the distance!!
Such a stubborn child, I have no idea where she gets it from....
She was in tears but refused to stop. In the end we slyly pushed her and she thought she'd cracked it.
She will learn but she doesn't understand why she can't do it, but her sister can.

Number 1 starts school in September and. Number 2 thinks shes going too. I can't wait for the meltdown at the school gates, when she realises she has to come home with me and Number 3!!

As close as they can be, they also fight horrendously. Normally because 2 is coping Number 1 and then she is getting frustrated (Number 1 hates it and we hear the phase "Stop coping me!" several times a day) or because they both want the same toy, as they are into they are into the same stuff. (Paw Patrol... We have all the trucks and the tower and the lorry, but my god, if I have to break up another fight over Rockys truck, its going in the canal!!)

We had lots of warnings about how hard 2 under 2 was going to be and we were a bit apprehensive, about how we were going to cope. In fact, the first 12 months were easy. The eldest got on with learning to walk and being an arsey toddler and the baby, sat and observed. It got so much harder after 12 months. 2 under 3, both walking/running and they soon realised that Mummy couldn't run in two directions at once, so they'd run off in opposite directions. Then the fighting started, when Number 2 started talking. Shouting, screaming, crying all day long. I longed for the early days!! Now, at 3 & 4, they are so much harder than the 10 week old!! Baby's are easy and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
The older they get, the bigger the arsehole, they become. (it's not illegal to call your child an arsehole, just frowned upon).

An example of arseholyness from today - my oldest human has spent all day telling my belly is fat and wobbly. All. Day. Apparently my belly, is as big as a mountain. Cheers Kid!! She is clearly oblivious to the fact that, my belly looks like that because I've grown and kept safe, her and her sisters!! And as the first to inhabit my womb, she did most of the damage!! I don't hear her telling Daddy, his belly is as big as a mountain and all his belly has held is KFC and crisps!!! Meanwhile, the lovely baby awoke at 6am, smiled at me for about an hour and has been sleeping soundly ever since. See, baby's are so much nicer and easier!! She hasn't made me want to cry into my Gin and Lemonade!!

I have no idea if most of this, is normal sibling behaviour or if its because they are so close in age. I'm guessing we will see how it pans out, between Number 2 and 3. There is just under 3 years between them, so a much more sensible age gap!!

I wonder how Number 3 will fit into this equation. Will she be pulled side to side, occasionally ganging up on one with the other or will she bring them all close together? At the moment, they just can't wait for her to play. I'm dreading it. I don't want her to move. I don't want to have her screaming at me that "Number 2 took my Zuma!" for now I'll just be greatful she's quiet and immobile and go and break up WW3, which I think has started upstairs, over plastic phone that came free in a comic...!!