Georgia, Georgia, The Whole Day Through

The dynamics of my relationship with our youngest child have changed over the last couple weeks.  She has always been a daddy's girl and has always preferred him to me (except at bedtime).  Lately, though, she has pretty much attached herself to my side and rarely leaves.  It has gotten so bad that she won't even let her dad do things for her, like pour her juice, give her meals, help her down the stairs.  She has fallen down the stairs twice in the last couple months and is now afraid to walk down them, so guess who gets the joy of carrying her down the stairs whenever she needs.  That's right, yours truly gets to haul that girl wherever she needs to go. 

Yesterday, when she woke up from her nap, Steve went upstairs to get her and she cried so hard (because I didn't go) that she made herself sick.  The thing that gets me is this kind of crying.  She's not really throwing a fit because she's mad or not getting her way, she's throwing a fit because she's sad.  I mean, the way she cries is so filled with sadness that it kills me.  It's almost like she thinks I'm gone forever.  I know how to deal with temper tantrums, but this is something I've never dealt with before.  I don't know how to deal with it. 

I know that new babies affect kids differently.  I believe this is the result of expecting a new baby.  She loves the fact that there is a baby in my belly.  She puts her face to my stomach and says "hello, baby sister.  i love you".  When I say to Steve that my back hurts, George will rub it and say "it's OK, mom. I'll take care of you".  I don't think what we're dealing with is a jealousy issue.  I'm not sure what it is and am not sure if I'm handling it the right way or not. 

George is really so different from the other girls.  She has such a strong personality.  I don't want to change her.  I try to just go with whatever she's feeling and help her when I can.  The fact is, though, that I have 2 other children also who are starting to feel a little jilted, I think.  Also, I am 7 months pregnant.  It is getting difficult for me to cart her around.  How is she going to react when I actually have to be gone to have the baby?