Eli stood on tiptoes, peering into the crib where his baby sister lay. "Hi, Maya. I'm your big brother," he whispered, fascinated by her tiny fingers curling around his.
Eli tugged on Mom's sleeve, holding up his favorite stuffed bear. "Can Maya play with Mr. Fuzzy?" he asked, his eyes wide with sincerity.
"Of course, sweetheart. You can both play together," Mom replied, smiling down at him. Dad nodded in agreement, ruffling Eli's hair affectionately.
Eli frowned, clutching his toy truck tightly as Mom laid Maya on a blanket beside him. "Why does she always get to sit with you?" he asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Maya is too little to move around by herself yet, but you can help her learn," Mom explained gently, encouraging him to join them on the blanket.
Eli hesitated, then placed his truck on the blanket, watching as Maya reached out a tiny hand towards it. "Here, you can have a turn," he said, his voice softening with newfound understanding.
Dad chuckled from the garden bench, observing their growing bond. "You're doing a great job, Eli. Sharing is part of being a big brother," he praised.
Eli lay beside Maya on the blanket, pointing at the fireflies. "Look, Maya, little lights," he exclaimed, his eyes alight with wonder.
Mom and Dad watched their children, hearts full of joy. "This garden is magical," Mom murmured, leaning her head on Dad's shoulder.
In the nursery, Eli stood by the crib, whispering softly to his sister. "Goodnight, Maya. Tomorrow, we can play again," he promised, his heart warm with the joy of newfound sibling love.
