Oliver is 1 Month

A couple weeks ago I visited my newborn nephew, Oliver, in Atlanta. He is exactly what a nephew should be. He never made eye contact with me intentionally. He cried a bit. He sucked on my bicep. He did not laugh at any of my jokes. He never asked me how I was doing. He did not learn my name. But, the connection was deep. Very deep.

Also profound in the visit was watching my big brother Ben and sister-in-law Katy be parents. Ben is six years older than me, and while we are mostly equals now, throughout my life I have looked to Ben for guidance, protection, and love. Ben is the one I call when deciding what new bike to buy because I know he will actually take the time to thoroughly think through ever angle of the purchase. Or a more recent example, Ben was the one I called after a late night back pain-initiated panic attack because I knew Ben wouldn't panic with me. He is cool and steady and clearheaded almost always. Watching him father, I saw everything I have ever known my brother to be plus something. A giggle at Oliver's weird twisty faces. A concern for the well-being of his child and wife. A tenderness as he simultaneously baked bread and changed diapers.

Ben and Katy amaze me. They brought this damn cute new child into the world and all of our lives, and while they are making him their number one priority, they are also not giving up who they are. Everyday I spent there we ate gourmet breakfasts of pancakes with fruit, frittatas, and homemade bread with almond butter and apples. We went out for craft beer. We went on a long bike ride (just Ben and I, no baby....yet). We ate delicious dinners and desserts. Katy breastfed Oliver with joy, never once complaining of being tired despite the fact she had been up every two hours to feed him. I am so very impressed with them. In honor of all their hard work in Oliver's first month of life, I put together a video highlighting all of his tricks.