Big Sisters and New Additions
Haylie stepped on the edge of the crib, pulled herself up, and peered over the railing, frowning a little.
Her newest little sister was, well… little. And so far, not too interesting – Ellie wasn't like Ada, with whom she could run around and play with Barbies and stuffed animals. All Ellie had done since she came out of mommy's belly (the how Haylie couldn't imagine) was sleeping and eating and crying. So she was somewhat boring.
But, Haylie thought, tilting her head to the side, Ellie was somewhat… cute. She was small and chubby and her eyes were a little too big for her face. She liked that. And that she crunched her nose like a puppy when she didn't like something.
But still, she couldn't really decide whether she liked having Ellie here or not.
And Ellie was waking up now – her eyelids fluttering, she yawned (yep, she was cute), then tightening and relaxing her tiny fists, she looked at Haylie.
Glancing around the room – after all, she had a stromg feeling that she was doing things she wasn't supposed to –, Haylie stood on her tiptoes and reached into the crib, trying to hold Ellie's hand. But before she could have reached the tiny baby fist, two strong hands grabbed her waist and lifted her to the air. Haylie squealed as her father twirled her around.
"What are you doing, Haylie-belle, huh?" he asked, setting her down, in a tone that told her she wasn't really in trouble. "You know you aren't supposed to climb onto the furniture," he scolded her gently.
She caste her gaze down, clasped her hands behind her back, and tried to look as innocent as possible.
"I was just watching Ellie, daddy."
Her daddy's face softened right away.
"Do you want to hold her?"
Haylie blinked at him uncertainly; then she stood on her tip toes, trying to look into the crib again without climbing on it (it didn't work), then, just as uncertainly, she nodded.
Daddy bent down and ruffled her hair (she so didn't like that).
"Go, sit on the couch!" he told her, and Haylie turned around right away, sprinting towards it (although on her way to it she briefly considered how the couch and armchairs, and chairs in general were exception from the "no climbing on furniture"-rule). Just as she settled against the cushions, Ada peeked into the room; seeing her sister inside, she walked to the couch (in a much slower pace than Haylie), and climbed up to sit next to her.
"What are we doing?" she asked, whispering into her older sister's ear.
"We are going to hold Ellie," Haylie answered – also whispering –, having no problem with involving Ada.
"Okay," the smaller girl nodded solemnly. "Then I'm staying."
In the meantime daddy leaned over the crib and reached into it with both hands, gently lifting the baby; Haylie excitedly perked up. Holding Ellie to his chest, daddy walked to the couch, then kneeled in front of it.
"Hold out your hand!" he told Haylie, helping to get her arm into position, then he was lifting the baby again, this time placing her in Haylie lap. "Be careful with her head!"
And Haylie was careful, slipping her arms gingerly under Ellie's round head, covered with soft, tiny hairs. Ellie really was small, but this close, not that small – she was bigger than Haylie's lap, her little legs lying on Ada's thighs as she rested her chin on Haylie shoulder. Also, this close, Ellie was warm and soft and had some really sweet baby smell. And she was looking up at her, her dark blue eyes big and round.
Mesmerized, Haylie reached out with her free hand, and brushed her fingertips along Ellie's little hand, drawing them into her palm; Ellie's fingers clasped around her index finger right away (she could hear Ada gasp and then giggle). Haylie was startled for a moment, ready to pull her hand from Ellie's grasp, but then the baby grinned, showing Haylie her toothless gums.
She was funny in a strange, adorable way.
Well, maybe it won't be that bad with her, she thought.
Haylie then suddenly raised her head, looking up at her daddy.
"I like her," she told him with total conviction. "We can keep her."