happy birthday baby brother

my youngest brother was born on the first day of spring in the year that i was nine years old. i remember being so infatuated with him.....those tiny fingers and toes.....what a joy that i was actually allowed to give him his bottle and help care for him. well.........the shiny wore off pretty quick.....not that i didn't love him......i'd just always had the freedom to roam the woods and creeks around our home and now i was getting more and more "chores" that had to do with this little person. one of my "jobs" when he was a toddler was to lay down with him until he fell asleep for his nap...........i hated being still that long! i used to blow on his eye lids so he'd keep his eyes closed. when i finally thought he was asleep i'd ever so slowly ease off the bed.....inch by inch....and UP would pop that little head! then we'd start all over again. and then..........when he was old enough to be out and about........he had to go everywhere i went.......everywhere! we lived on a huge hill...........my best friend had a little sister the same age as my brother......see where this is going? yep........we entertained ourselves by putting the two little ones in the wagon and rolling them down the hill. seriously.........it's a wonder we didn't kill them! when i hit those teen years my mom appointed him to be my chaperon...........picture yourself out and about with your friends or a date..... with your little brother.....donned in a bath towel cape (batman) and cowboy boots...........i was always buying his silence! i wasn't always happy to have him around.......but i always loved him........and thinking back now.......i wouldn't change a thing except being a kinder big sister. happy birthday "tookie".