Mariana and Clara babble and wave their little fists around, Ricardo and Andre watching them closely. "I did this when I was a baby too?" Andre asks incredulously.
Ricardo chuckles. "Every baby does, yeah. It's called tummy time, and it helps them grow stronger, so they can crawl, and eventually walk."
"Babies are so weird," Andre says, despite the enamored look on his face as he peers at his baby sisters.
"Yes," Ricardo says soberly. "You were at the peak of baby weirdness."
Andre looks aghast and Ricardo laughs, ruffling his hair. "Not fair," he whines, shaking his head fruitlessly.
Ricardo smiles at him and eventually leans over, resting a hand on Clara's back, the little girl nodding off under his touch. "I think it's nap time," he says softly, shifting forward to lift her up. She whines but nods back off once she's settled on his shoulder. "Andre, watch Mariana for a moment, I'll be right over there."
Andre glances over at the cribs on the other side of the room before facing his father once more. "Yeah, daddy, she'll be ok. Won't you?" he asks his little sister, who is still working to lift her upper body. She whines but settles as Andre smiles down at her, stretching out on the floor in front of her and waving his fingers at her.
She coos and grips his hand, squeezing with all of her strength.
Once Ricardo has Clara settled and comfortably asleep in her crib, he turns to collect Mariana and pauses for a moment, watching Andre with her. "You're such a good brother," he murmurs, not wanting to break the moment between the siblings.
"Do you think they'll like me when they're older?" Andre wonders, glancing up at Ricardo.
"Oh, mi hijo," Ricardo sighs. "They're going to adore you." He smiles as Andre brightens, remembering his own childhood- the years of happiness he had with his little sister, how dedicated they were and still are to each other. He hopes his three children have the same sort of relationship for the rest of their lives as well.