Best Brother

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I'm crazy about my sisters. Maybe it's because I'm the youngest and they're used to looking out for me while I look up to their style, humor, and talent. I decided that if #2 was a girl, that we would just have to have one more girl so they could be sisters.

Maybe it's the recent trauma of giving birth for me or having to miss his over-tired wife for Brian that has us quite comfortable with two kids.

When they wheeled me up to the car outside the hospital with Esme in my arms, I got all teary when I saw Eli and had him meet his sister for the first time. It will be one of their most important relationships ever, forever.

I couldn't have pictured a more perfect big brother. Eli's not mean to this new little attention hog, he's not even aloof of her boring blobbiness. He's interested and helpful. He always wants her around and misses her when she is gone.

(He always wants her to join him in the bath)

(She went with me Saturday for a few hours and when we came home he greeted her lovingly and talked her ear off before I could even get her out of her seat.)

She's treated like an equal, being asked if she wants to play trains or dinosaurs. Eli always talks to her with a gentle voice and pats her when she's sad.

When its time to put her to bed he follows close behind, quiet while she nurses and helps sing to calm her down. Later, when we hear her wake over the monitor he dashes out of the play room and while climbing the stairs yells "E-I-Uh bummin' (coming) Emay!" like he's going to save her. When she gets up he insists on the 3 of us cuddling in my bed.

Their interactions are the most joyful part of my life. Watching Eli's sweetness with his little sister makes me think that they can have the same admiration for eachother as I have for my sisters.