The BLFC

Before Luke was born I wasn't sure what to expect from the big kids.  If you'd asked me to predict how they would react to Luke, I would have said the following:

Cat will adore the little guy and want to help take care of him.  Jack will be excited to have a brother but not be so interested in being with the baby all the time.  Eliza will vacillate between adoration and jealousy, probably exhibiting a lot of babyish behaviors and even regressing in some ways.

I would have been right about Cat, but not so much with Jack and Eliza.

Since Luke came home 3 weeks ago, Ben and I have been proud to see the formation of a serious Baby Luke Fan Club, or BLFC for short.

Founders:
Mom & Dad

Responsibilities:

• Provide for the physical and emotional well-being of Baby Luke
• Select members and officers of the BLFC
• Plan BLFC activities and events

President:
Eliza

Responsibilities:

• Provide a warm welcome when Baby Luke arrives home from the hospital

• Rename standard baby items (pacifier becomes fire pass, car seat becomes seat car, etc.)
• Ensure Baby Luke has constant access to his fire pass

• Be ready and waiting when Baby Luke wakes up in the morning

• Take super-up-close pictures of Baby Luke

• Share your gender-specific toys and accessories with Baby Luke

 

• Anticipate Baby Luke's needs before anyone else

• Give everyone within earshot a play-by-play of Baby Luke's every movement.  "The Baby moved his arm!  The Baby touched his face!  The Baby kicked his leg!"
• Attribute actions and intentions to Baby Luke which are far beyond his capacity, such as "The Baby pulled my hair!" "The Baby tried to get my teeth!"  "The Baby took my lip gloss!" "The Baby said I could sit in his chair!"
• Test seat car and bouncy seat safety by fastening the buckles whenever possible.
• Personally supervise diaper changes.
• Tell everyone you meet that you have a baby named Luke.
• Push the limits of Baby Luke's need for personal space by watching him from 3 inches away.  This is particularly useful when on wake-up watch.  If he wakes up when you are nearby (3 inches), alert Mom and Dad immediately by yelling loudly.
• Request that Baby Luke accompany you when you go out.
• Show your affection frequently by giving Baby Luke lots of hugs and kisses, and asking to hold him as often as possible.
• Grow up, and refer to yourself as a grown up.  Occasionally complain about how hard it is to be a grown up.

VP & Historian:
Cat

Responsibilities:

• Assist President with all of her duties, particularly holding Baby Luke as often as possible and giving him lots of hugs and kisses.
• Take lots of pictures of Baby Luke whenever Mom grants access to her camera.  Set up your own photo shoot, if possible.

Member:
Jack

Responsibilities:

• Assist the President and Vice President as needed
• Hold Baby Luke frequently
• Eagerly anticipate the day when he will be able to share a room with you

I am excited to announce that we are currently accepting new members of the BLFC!  This weekend we recruited many new members from the ranks of my extended family and other wedding guests while we attended my brother's wedding in California.  I regret that I don't have photographic evidence of his many fans, but he was quite the celebrity and family, friends, with strangers oohing and ahhing over him and eager for the chance to hold him.  I don't blame them.  I'm quite a fan myself.  Sometimes I even write his name in chalk and decorate it with stars and a spiral.