I love this image. I've been photographing these girls for years and they are as sweet as they look. I don't have a big sister but I am a big sister. I was the first born and my brother and I are about 3 years apart. I never really thought about birth order until I had my second son. Even as a tiny baby, he would look at his older brother with complete love. He adored him and would smile when he saw him. For the first child there was a life without a sibling. For the little sisters and brothers, life was always shared.

Finnian is fiercely protective over all of us and especially his big brother. I'll never forget the day he raced across a playground at Disney and, with a swift one arm move, grabbed a big kid off of Sayer who was pushing him down. I wish Sayer could see what I see. The looks of admiration and the tender hurt look when Sayer is insensitive or critical. When I see that, I think back to my days as the big sister to a younger little brother and I wonder if I was sensitive or nurturing. Did I make him feel bad? I wish I knew then what I know and see so clearly now.

On this Love Thursday, I am loving my brother and appreciating him in new ways. I am loving my sons. I'm hoping that my boys will be close friends as adults and that Sayer will one day appreciate how much his little brother loves him.

Happy Love Thursday my friends!