Brothers

I love learning about brothers.  I knew almost nothing about boys growing up.  I have 4 boy cousins, but they are all substantially younger so they were so much fun, but they did what Linde and I convinced them to do.  So, I really didn't learn about boys until I was an adult.
I learned to truly love little boys from our buddy David.  I got to play with he and his sister every Wednesday for a whole school year and I loved it.  Being with Katie and David meant they will both always hold a very special place in my heart.   I had always said when I had kids I wanted to have boys and girls but David made me mean it.
I was so nervous when then doctor announced that Avery was a boy, ask any NICU nurse about 36 week wimpy white boys.  But, my little wimpy white boy was a spitfire and did great!  I loved learning to be a mom with my sweet baby boy.  And, I was thrilled when Dr. Hagood announced Avery had a baby brother and Hank forever changed our world.
Brothers are so fun to watch together.  They are fun to watch explore the world.  They love to discover and go on treasure hunts together.  Every rock and stick are worth exploration, inspection and to be shown (but not necessarily shared) with your brother.

With a brother life is a team sport.  I can get the boys to do almost anything by asking Team Womble to do it.  Cleaning, playing, taking a bath, making a craft, brushing teeth.  Anything is better with your brother on your team!  The boys love to play sports together and accomplish a goal together.  I love the shared look of pride when they know they have done a great job.

Eating, or not eating as is often the case at our house, is so much better with your brother at a table just your size!  As soon as Hank was in a high chair we had to make the rule that brothers stay at the table with each other.  The buddies love to be together and I quickly learned that removing one from the equation meant the other would not be finishing his meal.  While it sometimes makes them crazy to wait for each other, I love that they always wait and leave the table together.  I also really love the breakfast and snack conversations, and the persuading that takes place when one brother is ready to go before the other.    

Roomies!  I love, love, love that our boys share a room.  I am sure one day they will come to feel that it is cruel and unusual punishment, but right now it is pure joy.  I love that they have total confidence going to bed with a brother by their side.  I love that they listen to each others prayers every night.  I love that they chat for just the right amount of time before they go to sleep at night.  I love that they come get mamma or daddy for each other when something isn't going the way they feel it should for each other.  I love that this room brings out a tenderness for each other that can go missing all day long!

I love my sister so much and have been blessed beyond measure by our relationship.  I was so worried about how to create something similar for my boys.  Lately I am learning that brothers are their own animal.  I can't imagine just walking by my sister and punching her for no good reason, but somehow among brothers that is no big deal.  I can't imagine sitting with my sister and saying poop and then dying laughing, but for brothers it is a love language I will never understand, or condone.  I can't imagine yelling Avery with the special tone Hank uses to convey extreme fury, or the precious way he can say thank you avery that makes me melt every, single time.  I wouldn't have thought to teach Hank to buckle his own carseat today, I thought he was too little, but Avery knew he was ready and took the time to do it.  I love that even though Avery can be the most cut throat, race to the finish line kid he also knows when Hank can't take it one more time and gives up his turn to help Hank out of a melt down.  I pray that somehow this extra special love hate relationship will stand the test of time and that my boys will always know they have each other!