By early afternoon, the sound of a car door shutting in the driveway signaled that the wait was over. Ethan and Noah dashed toward the front entrance, stopping just short of the door as their grandmother reminded them to be gentle.
The front door opened, and their parents walked in. Their mother looked tired but radiated pure happiness, holding a small bundle swaddled in a soft white blanket with pink and gray hearts. Their father walked beside her, carrying the diaper bag with a proud, beaming smile.
“Come say hello to your new brother,” their mother whispered softly, inviting them toward the sofa.
The two boys stepped forward on tiptoes, hardly breathing. As their mother gently folded back the corner of the blanket, they caught their very first glimpse of the little boy. He was impossibly small, with delicate features, tiny reddish cheeks, and a faint tuft of dark hair resting on his forehead. His eyes were closed in a deep, peaceful sleep, and his tiny hands were curled into tight little fists near his chin.
Noah gasped softly. “He’s so tiny, Ethan… he looks like a little man.”
Ethan sat down next to his mother on the couch, and with extreme care, she supported his arms as she transferred the warm, lightweight bundle into his lap. Ethan braced himself, holding his breath as he cradled his tiny brother for the first time. The baby let out a tiny, soft sigh and shifted slightly, leaning into Ethan’s chest.
“Hey there, little guy,” Ethan murmured, his heart swelling with an overwhelming sense of responsibility and warmth. “I’m Ethan. I’m your big brother.”
“A Little Man Joins the Family and His Brothers Welcome Him”
