No baby's assimilation to our family is complete without the adoption of a standard nickname. With Tom, the weeks went by and he became first, Tommy Tupalo and then Tommy T. Toop, and finally, The Toop. With Lucy, she was, fairly naturally, Lucy Goose. It's hard to predict how nicknames will develop, and you certainly can't attempt to define one pre-birth. For Jimmy, time has yet to tell...but for now, he is my Jimster.
Tom and Luce are both proud of and affectionate towards their brother. At first, it seemed their love would be Jimmy's demise. During Jimmy's first days, I almost had a heart attack when Lucy tried to claw her way on top of both Jimmy and me while he nursed. Jimmy's getting older, though, and I'm getting slightly wiser. Now, whenever the kids want to see Jimmy, I encourage them to give him a good 'ol kiss. This peck of affection seems to be all they really need; they just want to be allowed to touch Jim and to show him he's in the club.
