Well today is a very special day. Today is my baby brother’s birthday. He is officially 19 today – we’re fast approaching his 20s and I can hardly believe it. (Especially since when he hits 20 – I’ll be 30 and that seems unreal to me too.) I was 10 when this kid was born so I helped change diapers and feed him bottles and babysat and all that fun stuff. I remember playing games with him, like teddy bear – where I’d pretend he was my teddy bear and make him cuddly with me and take a nap.

It’s been crazy watching him grow up, seeing his dedication to school work and of course to basketball. A couple weeks ago, Jeremy and I had a really nice conversation. We were both hanging out at my parents’ house – no one else was home – so we just sat and talked for a good long while. It was absolutely awesome. I was truly gobsmacked to hear him talk about his life, his choices, things he was thinking about – it was like all the sudden he was a grown up. I mean, yes, it hadn’t happened over night, but he will forever be my baby brother so to hear him discuss topics with such wisdom and careful thought – well it was just amazing to me.

He has grown into such an intelligent, kind, wise, dedicated, awesome young man. He is putting far more thought into his choices than I see many young people his age do, which is wonderful. And he’s standing behind his convictions – not bowing to peer pressure – which is even more awesome. Words cannot fully express how insanely proud of him I am, but I truly am proud to be Jeremy’s big sister (even if he is taller than me- haha). So here’s to my baby brother, who is another year older today. May each year be better than the last and filled with baby steps towards a bright future!