Big Sister and Little Kunkster

Aubrey and Shelby, pre-smother

As her big sister, Aubrey is absolutely in love with Shelby. She has recently discovered that she can not only lift Shelby up (at least a couple inches off the ground), but is also able to walk her around while doing so. It's been funny (and scary) to see where this discovery has led. We've found Shelby being lifted onto beds, couches, out of carseats and, most often, in situations where no lifting is necessary at all. Aubrey takes her "big sister" role very seriously!

Anyways, last night, as Jeremy and I were in bed, we started talking about all the nicknames Aubrey has for Shelby...Sissy, Sissy Bissy, Bister, which all make some sort of sense. However, lately, she has taken to calling her whatever random name or sound comes to her mind, one of which is Tunkston. So our conversation goes like this:

J: Where did Tunkston come from anyways?

V: (laughing) I have no idea. She also calls her Kunkster!

J: I know, (pause) ...but that's only when she's squeezing the sh** out of her!

I couldn't stop laughing because this is so true. As I started replaying my days in my mind and in each scenario where the name 'Kunkster' was used, it was always when Aubrey was trying to hug, kiss or hold Shelby. And by 'hold,' I mean holding onto any body part of Shelby, so long as she's holding it. All of this drives Shelby crazy, of course, and we joke about the day Shelby will be strong enough to defend herself.

I guess, having been the baby of the family, I know how frustrating it can be to be so vulnerable to the strength of the older siblings. Yet now, as a parent, I can't help but laugh when I watch the two of them interact - Aubrey trying to give this enormous amount of love away, while Shelby pushes her off with all her might. I guess that's why, within reason, I let it continue. In a way, I can see the whole picture now, which is that Aubrey is sometimes so overcome with love for her baby sister that she shows it in the only way that her 3 year old mind knows how -- by smothering, tackling, grabbing, holding, and best of all, making up names like Kunkster.

Aubrey mid-tackle, probably saying something like, "Oh, my little Kunkster. I just love you little Kunkster!"