One of the things that has simultaneously surprised and delighted me most since MckFlurry was born has been how Nuggey has reacted to the whole thing. He is absolutely head over muddy little heels in love with his new baby brother! Why does this tickle me so? Perhaps because I far from expected this.
Don’t get me wrong. Nuggey is a lover and a social butterfly. (He’s also a butterfly catcher. Using my husband’s fishing net, he has singlehandedly caught no fewer than ten in the last day and a half.) He loves interacting with people even moreso than our other children. And he likes babies. It’s just that, I don’t know, all of his spider catching, fly smacking, snake chasing and toad nurturing ways had me putting him in a little box, I guess. A box that didn’t exactly include stroking a newborn’s forehead, begging to hold a baby or bursting out in a lullaby when a tiny one cries. And he wasn’t all too enamored with Stellan when he was a baby, so I assumed this time would be similar.
Boy, was I delightfully misguided!
It has been such a thrill, filling me with indescribable pride, to see Nuggey show his sweet, tender side so beautifully with MckFlurry. Almost as often as Small Fry, he asks to hold his new brother. (And then, without missing a beat, asks for me to take his picture and then wants to see the resulting photograph.) WIthout being asked, I’ll often find Nuggey singing our littlest one a lullaby or hunting for his pacifier. He peeks at him in the car and keeps tabs on what he’s doing. “His eyes are closed, Mama!” “Oh, I think he’s about to wake up, Mama!” “The sun is in his eyes, Mama!”
For sure, he’s a bit of an actual help to me as I care for MckFlurry, the babe who was quite nearly born on Nuggey’s fourth birthday. But I really just love to see Nuggey use his charm on more than just lizards and mice. The surprising delight that our rugged outdoorsman also has the makings to be such a tender father fills me up better than a tall glass of cold lemonade.
He’s going to be just like his daddy.
The black and white picture of the brothers is so sweet. You are a very blessed wife and momma. Kep on praising the One who made it all!
Oh man this post made me cry!! He is soo freakin adorable. I mean Seriously?!?! Could he be sweeter!! I look forward to having my Torin (who reminds me alot of Nuggey) hold and love on our newborn! Just praying to be able to concieve
Love your photos as always 
You are awesome! have a fabulous weekend!!
Love ya~
Tara
Love it! What priceless photos!
I heart Nuggey! (I really do think that needs to be a bumper sticker or something!) He is such an amazing little guy and it’s sweet to see how much he loves his little brother. Thank you for posting this.
Nuggey is the hunkiest!!! My only son turned 4 in June, so I have a soft spot in my heart for your sweet Nuggey! LOVE how he has embraced his baby brother! You are an inspiration to all of us mothers!
That boy’s eyes are amazing! So deep and beautiful.
And the picture of the two of them just makes my belly warm.
That is just really sweet and cute!
When you linked to the pic of Nuggey in the sweater outfit the other day, I could not believe how much Big Mac looked like current Stellan and Nuggey looked like current MckFlurry. Wow…
So sweet. That pic of him in color is just so sweet! Captures his personality, I think (even though I don’t know him–seems to match how you’ve described him). Flurry is so blessed to have 4 older siblings to love him.
Man!! I just love Nuggey so much! I have always had something special for him, he is so incredibly precious! =)
I have 3 boys spread the same as your youngest 3 boys (minus Small Fry) – just turned 4, almost 2, and 3 months. My oldest also has such a tender side for his baby brother that he did not have with our middle boy. It just warms my heart to hear him sing a little lullaby to him in the car and see him hold his hand to help him fall asleep
While all of your children are sweet and photogenic there has always been something about Nuggey that stole my heart…the all boy with a tender side. When he was showing critters to his siblings you could see how he was gearing his lecture to Stellan’s level. He slowly crept up on that mouse and gently picked it up by the tail…didn’t hurt it, didn’t squeal or run.
McNugget McKinney is going to be a fabulous Dad! I am and you should be, so thankful that he has a positive Dad to emulate!
What a wonderful comment! Thank you!! Lots of readers say they hold a soft place in their heart for our sweet little MckNugget. That sure makes this mama very proud, indeed!
So adorable! Loved this post! This makes me think my oldest would have reacted better and took on a more eager-to-help role with his new brother if he had been a little older himself. He was only 13.5 months when his brother was born, so he was still just a baby himself! There are definite advantages and disadvantages to the varying age differences.
So sweet and adorable. The pictures are beautiful!
He’s such a cutie with his gorgeous eyes and spikey hair. What a kind and loving litlle spirit he has! Lucky Lachlan to be surrounded by so many people who are completely enamoured of him!
Ahhh, brother love! So sweet.
I have to tell you, after the MckFlurry pictures you posted yesterday, Letha and I did a little baby shopping at WallyWorld last night just dreaming and wishing we had another baby in our future. We don’t, so we didn’t buy, but it was all inspired by that completely edible baby you have!
Precious! Another heart-melting picture. And do you actually have a child with green eyes? You know, it makes sense that Nuggey would be like his dad. He’s a daddy’s boy, right? Following his daddy around, growing his hair like daddy? Well, he’s watching the tenderness too. And that is a special gift! Enjoy!
That picture is priceless!!
Does Nuggey have green eyes? Where did he get those from? They are beautiful!
My middle son shocked us in this way. You see my boy, Cayden, is a huge attention lover and needer but he totally forgot about himself and fell head over heels over our little Landon. With our oldest, Colton, it didn’t surprise me. He is a total patient caretaker, but Cayden? WOW! Anyway, kids are unpredictable!
Hey Jen, How are you? Love the pics. Your new little addition is sooooo adorable! I am a bit suprised of all the flack that you are getting for adding to your broad. REALLY! My mom was 1 of 5 kids and that was considered small back in the 40′s. My grandpa had 10 siblings. I don’t get it. Why people think children helping children and being a family unit is such a bad thing. Gosh! Anyway, Wanted to also mention that some people have talked about having a get together here in H and I wanted to mention it to you. Wouldn’t that be amazing! EEK! And you could bring lil MckFlurry. I’d love to get my hands on that lil cutie pie (hope doesn’t sound creepy) I couldn’t find where to email you but I think that you are able to see my email address with my comment and if not let me know. We could talk about possible options. Let me know. Talk soon, Michelle G from MckCruise
Love it. Nuggey is a sweetie.
Hopefully all this “brotherly love” will carry over well into their teenage years!!!
It looks like MckFlurry loves snuggling with Nuggey too = )
Looove Nuggeys spikey hair!!!
Nuggey is SO CUTE..and McFlurry too, of course. Love the pictures of him holding his little brother!
What a sweetie you have there.
BTW when is MckDaddy gonna post again?? It’s been a while. He can’t be THAT busy with five kids, a wife and a job and a life. 
We miss him.
So cute! Is that a smile I see on Flurry’s face!
SOOO cute! (And I LOVE his hair!)
I love the picture of your boys snuggling! Absolutely precious! Kids constantly surprise us, don’t they?
Aww, Nuggey, he is so sweet.
It feels my heart so to see my oldest daughter take such pride her “big sister” role. And I have been so proud that my oldest has welcomed her sister with such a loving heart. Being an only child myself, there is nothing that can make my heart swell more than to witness them interact together. I look forward to watching them love on each other for many, many years.
Maybe he feel a special relation with this special little brother born one day after his 4 year old day.
He’s a special big bro for Flurry, and Flurry is a special birthday gift, ( a healty little brother) maybe with the same personalities.
Wait and see
Flurry is definitely very precious for each member of your family.
My Yummy One took one look at Nuggy and said…”I wanna meet him. Mom”. So, I promised I’d tell you. Great story and super sweet photos. ~Jessica
So Very Sweet !
so sweet!
My 4 year old is the same way! In fact, our daughter was born in the same month as our son turned 4 (August) Isn’t it so sweet? It melts my heart to see the love he has for his baby sister! I actually learned a lot from him in these short 4 weeks about love and how such a little child can love someone else he just met so much! It’s great to see nuggey do the same
Enjoy your babies!!
That picture of the together is just charming. I always love to see how each of the olders responds to a new baby in the house, each in their own way, always with love… eventually… (there was that time when Liberty burst out in dramatic tears the moment we came home with the baby and set the carseat down, but she did quickly warm up to her baby sister!)
sibling love is the best!! cute pictures of your two august babes!
Where as before Nuggey may squished a bug or two in excitement, now he handles them with care…I think that gentleness of things small and vulnerable has just transfer over to Flurry.
Such pride in his smile…I love it.
God bless!
What BEAUTIFUL eyes your son has! My goodness, those will for sure melt a girl’s heart one day.
It’s so amazing that you have all these children that will be AMAZING friends one day.
I was worried about my older daughter when her sister was born mainly because it had took longe than expected to haver our second. But I was pleasatyly surprised too. Sure, the argue like any siblings but hse is VERY protective of her little sister. It seems Nuggey loves to care for ALL living things!
He is a natural. This just melts my heart. You gotta frame this one too.
Oh my giddy aunt, he’s a delicious little monkey! And the tender side of boys just makes them that much more delightful, doesn’t it?
Soak it up, mama!
Nuggey! I think it makes total sense, actually. Nuggey loves to be a caretaker. <3
True! I just didn’t see it coming in this way, but you’re totally spot on!!