The Middles.

I have often joked that H would make a great case study on birth order.

Only I'm really not joking.

He was a youngest for nearly three years. Half the week that is.

An only child the other half of the week.

Now he's an oldest half of the week when it's just him and E and then he's stuck smack dab in the middle the rest of the week.

Such is the life of a blended family.

I've written before of T and H's brotherly relationship but it seems as time goes on H and M also have developed quite the bond and have become quite the playmates and friends.

Our middles.

The middles, you ask?

Well T is the oldest, E is the baby, that leaves H and M sharing the not-so-coveted spot in the middle.

I've got quite the soft spot for middles since I am one myself.

Faces painted at the Children's Museum this week. M is a cat and H is a 'scary guy'.

Our middles stick together like peanut butter and jelly.

M has always been very inclusive with H and makes sure he's never left out. She includes him with her neighborhood friends (even when she gets a tad bit jealous when they seem a little too interested in him than her). Helps him with things like getting dressed or picking up.

She's been excited with him (and us, as his parents) for every milestone he's accomplished. Cheering him on each and every step of the way.

H is her favorite student and the first one she goes to when she decides to play school.

They're partners in crime, always ready to team up and tattle together. No kidding around. Their favorite victim just happens to be their big brother. Poor T!

And there are those days where H is driving M crazy. In her things. In her way. Just the way a little brother should be.

But I have just started to notice the way that the two of them gravitate towards each other when we're out and about from M helping and protecting H to playing with him.

I will always be thankful for our bigs and our littles and the relationships that they all share. Each one special in it's own way. But there is something about the middles right now. Though a five year age difference would seem leap years apart, some days it doesn't mean anything.

I am so glad that they have each other.