Tattle Tail

Davey is talking much more lately, and a lot of it goes like this:

Mama, AJ hit me!
Mama, AJ push me!
Mama, AJ kick me!

And on and on from there. The boys are each other's best friend and biggest rival at the same time. Each wants to be where the other is, doing exactly what his brother is doing until someone wants a toy that the other has, and then it is "Mama, I don't want Davey touching my Spiderman!" or "Mama, no AJ!"

Being the big brother, AJ is happy to have his shadow, his peanut gallery and his biggest admirer all in one little brother. If AJ does something silly at bath time, Davey is the first to guffaw like a tiny Ed McMahon. The other night, AJ threw a glass of water directly in Davey's face at bath time, and before I could reprimand AJ, Davey started giggling, egging AJ on. If AJ wants to initiate a game of chase cats, Davey is the first to get on the bandwagon and will run behind AJ, both of them squealing happily as they try to get close enough to the terrified cats to pet them. Occasionally AJ is willing to follow along with something Davey has initiated, but being the big brother, he typically insists that Davey go along with whatever AJ wants to do.

Being the little brother, Davey thinks AJ is the best thing that ever came into his life. If AJ is getting ready to leave for an hour or two to a birthday party or activity that does not involve Davey, mighty Davey runs to get his shoes, coat and hat and tries to shove his little body out the door behind his brother, wailing "Davey go, too! Davey go, too!" He once did this when he was not dressed yet, so in his haste not to get left behind, Davey had on a diaper, a coat, shoes and a hat and was trying to talk his way into going out the door with AJ. When he returns, AJ is greeted at the door by a little brother who is so genuinely delighted to see his long-lost buddy that I cannot help but smile. "AJ! AJ home!" Davey will say with a happy grin. He will sidle up to his big brother and offer him an update on the news of what happened around the home front in AJ's absence. "AJ, Davey watch George!" or "AJ, Davey play with trains!" AJ sometimes will not give Davey the time of day, as all big brothers do, and other times will be jealous of whatever Davey got to do in his absence.

I will be curious to see how having a little sister adds to or changes this dynamic. So far, sissy laughs whenever her brothers look her way, but they often do not want to give her the time of day. I can see her being a little daredevil someday in an effort to win the respect and get the attention of her big brothers. Time will tell.