What Are Big Brothers For?

Meet Alex (aka Dynamite). Alex is a wonderful six-year-old boy who loves his baby brother. We like to think Avery came to our family because Alex "prayed him here". For six or eight months prior to my pregnancy, Alex prayed that Heavenly Father would send our family a new baby.

There are some things in life that cannot be experienced if a boy doesn't have a brother or a girl doesn't have a sister; for this and other reasons, I'm grateful we ended up with two of each!

Alex likes to take Avery on jet rides. Luckily Avery hasn't sustained any injuries from these rides!
Alex, helping Avery learn to walk...
How would one-year-old Avery learn to brush his teeth without a big brother to show him?Alex also sometimes takes Avery out of his bed and plays with him until I get upstairs. He entertains him in the car when Avery's ornery and he plays peek-a-boo and makes funny faces for him to laugh at. It has been nice this past year to see Alex learning to care for others and be a caretaker rather than always being taken care of. It's such a blessing as a parent to watch your children nurture each other.

Don't be deceived - Alex does his share of teasing and roughhousing and other such brotherly behaviors (including frequently waking Avery up), but I'm sure all that will help toughen Avery up, right?

My hope for Alex and Avery is that they will become the best of friends, that they will have a special relationship, where Avery will look up to Alex and Alex will look after Avery and that they will have the bond of brotherhood to strengthen them both.