Big Brother

One thing that I haven't talked about much is Weston, Colton's fabulous big brother. Weston was only 3.5 years old when Colton was born. His grandparents brought him up to the hospital soon after Colton was born. We introduced Weston to his little brother and of course, he loved him. However, Weston acted a little funny that day. Maybe he was jealous? Maybe he didn't like seeing Mommy hooked up to a bunch of wires? Or maybe he was scared because the grown-ups were crying? We tried so hard not to let him see us cry...but it was really hard. It was such an emotional day. We sent him home with grandparents so that we could have time to process the diagnosis. But by Day 2, we were ready to see our big boy again...and the initial shock had worn off (a little)...and it was time for Weston to love on his baby brother...







Weston absolutely adores his baby "buther." We decided that we weren't going to directly tell Weston about Colton's diagnosis until he started asking questions on his own. We wanted Weston to just see Colton as his baby brother. We didn't think he was mentally ready to comprehend something like Down Syndrome. We don't hide it from him, though. We talk about Down Syndrome in front of him. He knows that brother goes to a different school and he has teachers that help him learn to walk and talk and play. He thinks brother's school is awesome because of the gym. It has a trampoline, rock climbing wall, lots of swings and bikes, balance beam, ball pit, and foam pit. He has asked me if he went to brother's school when he was a little baby and I tell him, "No." But he doesn't dig deeper so I just let it go.

It's been 1.5 years since Colton joined our family and Weston still has not asked about it. I do think a part of him knows that something is different about his brother. Not in a bad way, but sometimes I can see the wheels turning in his head. For example, Weston has seen several little kids that are walking who look smaller than Colton. He will ask how old they are. When he hears they are 1, like his little brother, he says, "Our baby can't walk yet." I think he knows that Colton is behind a little...but only when we are out and about and he sees other babies. Weston is such a great big brother to Colton. He is very patient with him. He shares with him. He hugs and kisses him and helps him put his glasses back on when Colton takes them off. He will grab a walker and say, "Colton, look at me. This is how you walk." Or "Colton, look, this is how you crawl." He claps for Colton if he sees him self-feed. He will yell, "Mom, Colton just said Da-Da!!!!" Weston is so sweet to him...and it completely melts my heart. I can't wait to watch their relationship grow. I think it's gonna be so special. Nobody makes Weston laugh harder than Colton....and vice versa.

So now, I'm still waiting for Weston to ask about Colton. I think we are getting closer because Weston is about to turn 5. He's very smart and curious. I've spent lots of hours thinking about what I want to say to him...how I'm going to explain Down Syndrome. And I think I'm just going to be extremely straight-forward. Weston loves numbers, so I'm going to explain to him that we all have these little things in our bodies called chromosomes. Mommy, Daddy, and Weston have 46...but brother has 47. One extra chromosome that makes it harder for brother to walk, talk, and learn...but it makes brother extra special. God made brother special. And we are so very lucky to have such a special little boy in our family. A little boy who needs us to teach him how to do lots of new things. And God knew that you (Weston) would be the best big brother for Colton.

I keep praying that God will give me the words to say when Weston asks about his brother. But I know it won't change the way he feels about him. Colton hit the jackpot in the brother department. He is so lucky to have such a smart, sweet, patient, and funny big brother. In this picture, you can just see the adoration...