The merriment of Kate and Tess' fourth birthday was overshadowed by the early arrival of their little sister. The baby girl, who Doug and Carol named Addison, was born nearly a month early and had to spend several weeks in the NICU. As such, the parents spent many hours in the hospital, not at work, but sitting by their daughter's bedside as the tiny girl grew stronger.

Tess and Kate, excited as they were to tell everyone about their new sister any chance they got, only knew of her through glass windows and grainy photographs.

November 25th arrives cold and rainy, and, after their traditional birthday breakfast of cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate, and seeing their dad off to work with lots of extra kisses, Carol bundles her four-year-olds in coats and hats and mittens and takes them to finally meet their sister in person.

"You have to be really gentle with her, okay?" Carol reminds her daughters as she walks with them down the hallway to the nursery. "She's really little and not as strong as you two are."

"Okay," the twins reply.

After the nurse buzzes them through the locked doors, Carol washes her hands at the sink and then helps her daughters wash theirs. After throwing away their trash, Carol squats down and takes Tess and Kate's hands in her. "You two have to be very quiet while we're in here, okay? There are lots of babies in here that are sleeping and it would be sad to wake them up. Okay?"

"Okay, mommy," Tess says.

"We'll be quiet," Kate nods, tugging at her mom's hand, eager to meet her sister.

"Okay," Carol says, standing, still holding the twins hands. She leads them on a winding path in and around many cots with many sleeping babies in them until they reach one particular cot with a tiny baby inside. Carol watches Addison's monitors intently, making sure everything is still alright. Then she flips open Addy's chart, going to that day's page and studies it.

She's still keeping up her body temperature. Good. Good.

It's the last hurdle Addison has to get over before finally being allowed to go home; something the tiny girl has had constant trouble with.

"You're having a good day, huh, baby girl," Carol whispers to the baby as she picks her up. "Your big sisters are here. They are really excited to meet you." Carol heads to one of the rocking chairs in the room, the twins right on her heels. She sits down, adjusting her hold on the baby, watching as the two big sister crowd around their mom to finally meet their sister.

"Be gentle, Kate," Carol whispers as the girl reaches out to touch the baby. Kate pulls back for a second, suddenly scared, but finally runs a finger over Addison's cheek, a wide smile crossing her face. Tess is studying her sister's hand, studying each finger before flipping it over to touch her palm. When Addy's hand reflexively closes over her sister's finger, Tess squeals, quickly looking at her mom.

"Mommy! She's holding my finger!"

Carol laughs at her daughter's excitement. "She is. She must like you, Bear."

"Me, too! See, mommy?" Kate asks, holding Addy's hand like her twin.

"I see," Carol says.

"Look at you, Bean! What do you think of your sister?" All three girls heads snap up when Doug speaks. The younger two are quick to drop their sister's hands and run to him for a hug, even though they had seen him not an hour before.

"Daddy! Baby Addison held my hand!"

"-and she's really little and her whole face is as big as my finger!" Both girls were talking at once, totally excited to tell their dad everything they had noticed about their sister.

"She did? Wow! That's so cool," Doug says, getting down to their level. "Kate, go sit where mommy is. You can hold the baby if you want." Kate is quick to go back to her mom and climb into the chair, and when Tess starts to protest, Doug is quick to quiet her. "Then it will be your turn. Be patient, Tess." The girl pouts against him but doesn't continue fighting her sister.

"Okay, be very still, Kate," Carol says, laying Addison across the preschooler's lap, helping to hold the newborn's head. She's suddenly choked up at the awed expression on her, now middle, daughter's face; watching as Kate studies her sister, the normally very squirmy girl not moving a bit as she holds her sister. Another minute passes before the decision is made for the twins to switch. Tess doesn't sit quietly studying the baby like Kate did, instead, she keeps us a constant stream of words, telling her baby sister about everything. Finally, she leans down and gently kisses her sister's forehead.

"I'll see you soon," she whispers.

And that's what makes Carol start crying. How sweet her babies are. She scoops Addison up as Tess stands and quickly turns away so the twins don't see her crying. As she's laying the baby back in her cot, she feels his hand come to the small of her back. He doesn't say anything; doesn't have to. Instead, he gives the baby a kiss and leaves to handle their other two daughters who are playing politician and making nice with everyone around.

After a moment, Carol rejoins her family and when Doug catches her eyes, he takes that as their cue to leave.

"Come on, you two. Let's go have some lunch before you have to go to school, huh?"