When you have 3 brothers...

... reading can be a full-contact sport.

In addition to his long-time love of books, Davy has become even more talkative lately (even rivaling our chatty Thomas) and it is hilarious to listen to his word combinations. This week's new combination was"NO LIKE!!" to his brothers when they were bothering him. He says it with quite a bit of authority, too! He also has said "This is BIG truck!" and "It is FUN!" and it's neat to hear him using more and more words in their correct context. He does appreciate a quick response, though, and tends to repeat himself louder and louder until he gets the response he's looking for. So my daily conversations with him often sound like "Mama? FUN!!" (... wait a few seconds) "Mama?!? FUN! LIKE!!" (....wait a few more seconds) "Mama?!? LIKE! TEE-TEEN!" then I'll ask "Oh, are you having fun on the trampoline?" and he replies "YEAH!!". He likes to use top volume for emphasis whenever possible. :)

Anyway, he is a riot to have around! He loves to tackle his brothers whenever he gets the opportunity; he just plows right into them, sits on them, and pretty much acts like he's on par with their strength and ability. Jack, Peter, and Thomas adore him, even if he sometimes messes up a carefully built Lego creation. They are teaching him to say "May I please be excused" when he is done eating, instead of "AlldoneAlldoneAlldone!!!" ... and Jack is carefully instructing him in the art of belching, which Davy finds hilarious.

I knew that we would of course celebrate each kid's milestones and developments equally, because even though we have been through 4 kids learning to walk, talk, etc., it is always new for each child, but I don't think I have fully appreciated, until now, how great it is to celebrate the growth of a little person with a gaggle of his older siblings. They cheer him along with even more gusto than David and I sometimes, and I am really grateful for this aspect of larger family dynamics. I look forward to starting over again with The Girl's milestones and her 4 big brothers cheering her on!