Big Brother

Josh is a really great big brother! Aidan is a good big brother too, he just has not been at it quite as long as Joshua. Colin is not a big brother but he will perfect the part of baby brother, he steals hearts with one sly little smile!
I watch these boys and it amazes me to see how the three of them have such investment in each other, how they love each other and do for each other. True brothers! I am so happy when I get to peek into their brotherhood and see the devotion is there.
Now, who can't love a baby? That is just a given... it was the same as when Aidan came home... he was absolutely adored for doing pretty much nothing! But there is much more history with Josh and Aidan and this is where my story begins!!
They fight. They play. They fight. They bicker, do things to get under each other's skin and they fight some more. They play again, they share and they love each other! That is any given day.
Josh forgets some days that Aidan is only six years old. He forgets that he is still a little kid and his expectations of Aidan are quite high. This is what leads to many of their disputes. But he is still the big brother and the other night he stepped up and took care of his little brother. I was delighted!!
Aidan had just retired to bed and after only about five minutes he was crying in his room. Now, Aidan does not put up a fuss at bedtime, never has, so something was up... I was feeding Colin and so Josh ran up to check (without even needing to be asked) Here is what went down:

Josh: Why are you crying Aidan?
Aidan: (crying) I cannot get to sleep because there is an alien in my closet.
Josh: Well, why don't you go to the bathroom and I'll take a look.
Aidan leaves the room, Josh creates a ruckus while he is gone.
Josh: You can come back to bed, the alien is out cold.
Aidan: What if he gets up when I am sleeping?
Josh, goes to his room and retrieves a big, hardcover book.
Josh: Hit him over the head with this and you can knock him back out, okay buddy.
Aidan: Thanks Josh.

When I went upstairs to put Colin in his crib, there was little Aidan asleep hugging the book. He has taken it to bed for the past two nights.