You've Come A Long Way, Baby

Samson has never been completely in love with Emma. In fact, the day we brought her home from the hospital, and about every week or so after that for close to a year, he threw up on the rug in our foyer. Literally. Every week. Entire year. We tried our best to make sure he didn't feel that he was being replaced, and tried to make sure he was a part of anything that we did with Emma. But every time we would come into a room with his new little sister, he would leave the room. He eventually came around and now I know that he would lay down his life for her (well, maybe, you know, as long as he isn't napping). We were worried sick about how he would take it when Mary Wade was born, but he has really surprised us.
Both of our girls love Samson more than anything, but Mary Wade has a very deep attachment to him. When she wakes up in the morning, she has to go to his bed and kiss him good morning before she will start her day. She makes us hold his snout so she can kiss his nose. She holds the bowl when we put his dog food in it, then she stands beside him with her hand on his back while he eats. She gets treats from the pantry for him and sits beside him while he eats them. She lovingly prepares imaginary meals for him, such as chocolate cake, hamburgers with cheese (she refuses to call it a "cheeseburger"), and macaroni and cheese. (Samson absolutely does NOT appreciate the imaginary meals, as they are served in an EMPTY BOWL with a spoon, but we don't have the heart to tell Mary Wade that.) She lays on his bed and snuggles with him, and always invites him to her room while we rock and read stories before bedtime. When she lays in our bed to watch TV, she always wants him in the bed with her.
This morning, she wanted to watch TV in our room, so I turned on her favorite show and tucked her in. Before we even had time to ask Samson if he'd like to join her, he hopped right up on the bed and settled himself in right beside her. It made Mary Wade's day, and mine too.