Olivia had brought over the play-mat from Sarah's house so Emmy could start doing tummy time, but Emmy usually laid her head down after a few minutes. "It's hard work, isn't it, Emmy?" Liv murmured. Olivia turned Emmy over onto her back and she stretched her arms and legs out.
Sarah came back into the room and after propping her crutches against the couch, she sat down on the floor next to the play mat with Olivia. "All done with tummy time, Emmy?" Sarah asked, smiling at her. Emmy smiled back. Sarah looked at Emmy with shining eyes. "Oh, Emmy, your very first real smile!" She exclaimed. Liv grabbed her phone.
"Here," she said, "I'm all ready if she smiles again."
Sarah tickled Emmy's tummy gently, and she smiled again, and Liv took several pictures. Sarah scooped Emmy into her arms and kissed her head. "You are so precious," she said. "I love you, Emmeline Rose."
Olivia took more pictures and then put her phone down, looking lovingly at Sarah and Emmy. "What a special moment to be able to share with you," she said.
Noah, Eli and Elliot were all excited to hear about Emmy's smiles when they got home. "I hope I get to see her smile too," Noah said.
"Now that she has started to smile, she'll smile more often, so I'm sure you'll see her smile soon," Sarah told him. "Your mom took pictures of her. Do you want to see?" There was one picture in particular that Sarah loved, which captured Emmy's face and smile perfectly. Everyone exclaimed over the pictures and Emmy.
When Sarah settled on the couch after dinner, Elliot brought Emmy over after changing her diaper. As Emmy settled into her mom's arms, she smiled again.
Noah, who was sitting next to Sarah, lit up.
"I got to see her smile," he said to Sarah, wide-eyed.
"She smiles for her mommy," Liv said lovingly.
"You do, don't you Emmy?" Sarah remarked. "Thank you darling. What a special gift."
"Thank you for letting me see your smile too Emmy," Noah said, gently.
"Noah, if you put your finger in her hand, she'll probably try to grasp it," Sarah suggested. "Really?" Noah asked. He put his finger gently in Emmy's hand. "Look, she's doing it," Noah said. Liv took some more pictures of Sarah and Emmy with Noah. "Her hands are strong for how tiny they are," Noah said.
"It's a reflex babies are born with," Sarah explained, "but as they get older and learn to hold things better, they stop doing it."
"It's fun to watch her grow and learn about babies," Noah said. "It's nice having you stay with us. I hope your foot gets better soon though."
"Thank you, Noah," Sarah answered. "I'm glad we're staying here too. You've all been so much help taking care of Emmy."
"Even Tiger helped take care of her," Noah said. Tiger looked up expectantly.
"You are such a big help, Tiger," Sarah exclaimed. Olivia scratched behind Tiger's ears and he curled contently at her feet.
