Sissy, tell me about bubba...

Your brother, Bruster, was born in June of 2001. I was six and a half years old and the only thing I can remember is how excited I was to have a new sibling until I found out how much he cried and how much work babies were for mom and dad.

My favorite thing to do with Bruster was talk to him because when he was getting his first bath, dad told me that Bruster could recognize my voice after Bruster turned and looked at me when I was talking.

I remember how swollen and sore mom was after her surgery (a c-section). She always gets infections after any type of sickness or surgery. This time, she got an infection in the incision they had made just below her belly. I remember how bad she hurt for a long time.

Bruster was a colic-y baby. Mom had to be put on a special diet while she was breastfeeding him because he was allergic to almost everything! He was also very fussy because of his colic. The only thing that would make him happy was to be in his swing. Most of his life was spent there.

Dirt was the best thing in the world when Bruster started to become mobile. He would stick almost anything in his mouth, but dirt was his favorite. There was almost never a time when he wouldn't have dirt caked around his mouth and underneath his fingernails. I remember that he was always a very messy kid.

We all loved Bruster very much and not only because of his fat rolls. He looked like the Michelin tire man because of how many fat rolls were on his arms and legs. During the first months of his life, it was very hot outside and when he would sweat, it would get stuck in his fat rolls. Bruster had really bad rashes not only from his diaper, but from his skin rubbing together in the sweltering heat. I always thought it was hilarious.

Bruster has always been a very athletic boy. Give your brother a ball and he can find a way to be the best at that sport. He plays basketball, soccer, baseball, and football. One day, he'll go to college because of how good he is. He may even go on to the pros. We are all crossing our fingers that he'll be something great one day.