Growing up with Jake as my older brother is truly one of the biggest blessings in my life. I’ve always seen him as someone that I need to strive to be like. Whether he knew it or not everything was a competition for me. It didn’t matter how serious it was, I wanted to win and be better than him. However, he had a three year age gap on me so beating him was a rare event. Even though we always had competitions that usually ended in some sort of argument or fight he always took care of me no matter the circumstance. I still remember the day I fell in the 110 meter hurdles in the 7th grade championship. As heartbreaking as it was falling, my older brother helping me up and telling me to push on gave me the boost I needed. Jake has given me lots of great things in life. Such as, someone to look up to, someone to compete with, an all time great big brother, and someone I can strive to be like each and every day. As great as that all is, my favorite thing he has ever gifted me with is the title uncle.
I want to start off by saying I like to think I don't get tricked very often but Jake and Parker got me good during the early stages of pregnancy. Both of them doubled down on convincing me that Parker had worked up a stomach ulcer. My honest opinion during the nights that Jake had to get off of Fortnite to check on her wasn’t a good one. I kept thinking to myself “she just needs to get tougher”. But when the day finally came that they told me they were pregnant I was super excited. Not only for Jake and Parker who get to build their family but for everyone who gets to love their son Bleu.
The first time I saw Bleu I knew there wasn't a thing I wouldn’t do for him. I’ve sat and thought a long time about the type of uncle that I want to be. I think there are many different directions I could go in terms of the relationship I can build with Bleu. The one that I have landed on is the same one that Jake had with me. I want to be fun, a role model, partner in crime, advice giver, adventure seeker, but most of all I want to be someone that Bleu can come to with any problem no matter how big or small it is. I am incredibly thankful I get to be a part of Bleu, Jake, and Parker’s life and I can’t wait to watch Bleu grow up into the man he is supposed to be.