Sibling Frustrations and Joys

Isabelle loves her brother. A LOT. She is always trying to help with baby Michael. ALWAYS. Michael loves his sister. A LOT. He has to always see her and see what she's doing. Isabelle just doesn't understand when he cries, STOP whatever she is doing to him. She thinks she is helping. However, Michael is also figuring out how to manipulate me. He loves me. He's a momma's boy. He knows that if Isabelle is in a 10 ft. radius and he starts to cry, I come running. I used to always come to the scene and there was definite need for mother intervention. Now sometimes she's not even touching him! Sometimes, he will see her coming and immediately look at me with a concerned face and I can just see him saying, "Mom, she's coming! HELP!!! Please do something!" What to do?

Isabelle is helpful and actually very helpful supervised. She helps with EVERY aspect of Michael's life. Dressing, diapers, stories, playtime, bedtime, etc. She can feed him. It's a big help when she feeds him. I'm ok with her feeding him as long as I get it ready and tell her what to feed him. The other day she put him in his high chair, and gave him some crackers and started mixing up rice cereal and a jar of baby food at like 3:00 (that's his dinner). You wonder where I was while this is happening? How long does it take to fold a small load of laundry? Long enough for ALL of this to happen. She's quick. She has dropped him on his head I don't even know how many times from moving him from getting into the dog food, or trying to climb up the stairs etc. She's being helpful, BUT...what to do?! Any ideas?! I'm running out.

However, all this be said. They LOVE each other. He will tackle her, and she will tackle back nicely as they laugh. He will not nurse while she is in hearing or seeing distance because he just has to be able to see her (as long as mom has him). Isabelle takes Michael on rides in the little red car and drives him around while they laugh hysterically. They snuggle in the grocery cart in the little seat part meant for one kid. Isabelle loves to get in Michael's crib in the morning and play with him. Bath time is just a hoot and you can't help but laugh as they splash around. I love when they just laugh and giggle and growl, and are so silly and it is the cutest thing on the planet! I just wouldn't trade it for the world. In fact I would even love to add another one to the madness. At the end of the day I love being a mom, but there are usually a couple of times during the day I just don't know what to try next with these two! It gives me yet another new respect for my mother. I'm so grateful for Mike and all the hard work he's putting forth for me to be able to stay home with these little sillies. All the little frustrations are so worth it for all the joy that comes with it!!!!