I'll never forget the day that my mom told me that I was going to have a younger sibling. Mainly because I was 13 years old, and that's just not something you forget at that age. I was pretty excited, to say the least. A baby brother or sister at that age meant I got to participate in all of the joys of an infant, but I didn't have to help with any of the actual "work" that came with it. My little brother Conlan, aka smalls, now 7 years old, has become more than just my little brother. He is my best friend.

Actually, he is better than a best friend. Why? Because we get to do things that best friends do, except we never come across any real disagreements, well none that last very long at least. Anything that I want to do, he is always game. It's literally like having a "mini me" and it's awesome.

As smalls has started to grow up I have realized that these are the years that I have to soak in. Right now I can vent to him about anything and I never have to worry about getting criticism in return. The way he handles it is by countering with some snide remark he probably heard on Netflix whether he knows what it means or not.

I can’t even begin to explain the things he says on a daily basis, and I look forward to embarrassing him with stories about some of them when he is older.

Although, he will probably be happy to hear about all of the times I've had girls say, "Colby your little brother is so cute," He might not be too happy when he's old enough to realize how many times I tricked him into doing something for me by telling him it was a “top secret mission,” but we will cross that bridge when it gets here.

I could write all day about how awesome Smalls is but I should get back to the point of writing this. I moved into my apartment which is over two hours away from home this weekend. While cleaning out my closet I found some artwork Smalls had done for me over the years. After thinking back on all the times he brought me drawings from school where my name was spelled wrong or I was merely a stick figure I decided I should explain to him that things were about to change. I sat down with him and began to explain that I was moving out and would not be here every day anymore. Taken back by slight panic, he didn’t understand. I began to tell him about finishing college and going to grad school and his face lit up immediately. He said he understood because I need to finish college so I could win "Americas got talent" (When I asked what talent I would win with, he said being the most annoying brother), I am so thankful he gets it. He then began to drill me on whether or not he could call every day and if he was allowed to come stay. Despite the fact that he thinks it is cool I will have my own “lair” (in his own words), it has been a hard transition not being aggravated by him everyday.

What I cherish the most though is that no matter how old he is, I know that I will always enjoy the time I spend with him. Whether it is fishing, playing pie face, going to the arcade, or just hanging out at the house, I cannot think of a day I spent with my little brother that was not an absolute good time.