Ava, the boys’ mother, beams with excitement as she holds her warm mug of tea. Her belly, gently rounded, hints at the promise of new life. Ben, the older of the two brothers, squints curiously, while Ollie, his younger sibling, swings his feet, barely touching the floor. "Boys, I have a surprise," Ava announces, her eyes sparkling. "You’re going to have a little sister in a few months." The boys stare, wide-eyed, as the idea tumbles through their thoughts, filling the kitchen with a tingling new energy.
Ben leans in, his hand gently resting on Ava's belly. "How big is she now, Mom?" he asks, eyes round with wonder. "Right now, she’s about the size of a plum. Tiny, but growing every day," Ava explains, her voice soft and reassuring. Ollie giggles, imagining a baby plum inside his mother, and the room fills with laughter.
Ben whispers to Ollie, "Do you think she can hear us already?" "Maybe she’s listening to our stories," Ollie replies, his face pressed to Ava's belly as she tucks them in. "She can hear your voices a little now. She likes it when you talk and sing," Ava assures them, watching their eyes widen with amazement at the thought of their sister listening from the warmth inside.
Ollie plucks a dandelion and holds it up, "Is her hair as soft as this, Mom?" "Not yet. Right now, she’s growing fuzzy little hairs, like a peach," Ava says, kneeling beside him. Ben looks thoughtful, "What color are her eyes going to be?" "We’ll have to wait and see. Sometimes babies surprise us," she answers, her hands cradling her belly with a gentle smile.
Ben proudly displays his picture of a smiling baby wrapped in a pink blanket, while Ollie's drawing features a tiny figure surrounded by hearts and stars. "Do you think she’ll like my drawing?" "I’m going to show her mine when she comes out," Ollie declares. "She’ll love them both," Ava says, fighting happy tears as she gathers the boys into a warm embrace.
Ava gently strokes her belly, "Soon, you’ll be able to hold your sister in your arms. For now, she’s growing stronger every day, just waiting to meet you," she whispers. Ben and Ollie squeeze her tighter, their hearts full of excitement and wonder, dreaming of the day their family will grow by one tiny, miraculous girl.
