28: The Sibling Talk

                                    

                                          
Lizzie watched as Ella and her two best friends, Lily and Mia, chased each other around the backyard, giggling and shrieking in delight. It was a warm Saturday afternoon, and the sun bathed their small garden in a golden glow. Lizzie loved moments like this, watching her little girl revel in her childhood innocence, her brown curls bouncing with each jump and her green eyes sparkling with pure joy. Robbie sat beside her on the porch steps, strumming his guitar softly, occasionally glancing up to make sure none of the kids were running too close to the garden beds.
Lizzie's hand subconsciously drifted to her belly, just beginning to show signs of their second baby. It was still early—only a few months—but they had decided it was time to tell Ella about the big change that was coming. They had been waiting for the perfect moment, and today felt right.
Robbie stopped strumming and looked at her, sensing her nerves. "You ready?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Lizzie nodded, though a part of her was still worried about how Ella would react. Ella had been their whole world for the past four years. She loved being the center of attention, and Lizzie couldn't help but wonder how their bright, bubbly little girl would feel about sharing that spotlight with a baby brother or sister.
"Ella, sweetie!" Robbie called out, standing up and setting his guitar against the porch railing. "Come here for a second. We want to talk to you."
Ella stopped mid-chase and trotted over, her cheeks flushed from running around, her eyes curious. Lily and Mia watched, whispering to each other as if they sensed something important was about to happen.
"Am I in trouble?" Ella asked, looking between her parents with wide eyes.
"No, no, not at all!" Lizzie laughed, scooping her up and settling her on her lap. Ella was still so tiny, her little hands gripping Lizzie's shirt for balance. Lizzie pressed a kiss to the top of Ella's head, breathing in the familiar scent of bubblegum shampoo and fresh grass.
Robbie crouched down to be at eye level with Ella. "We have some really exciting news, kiddo," he began, his voice warm and encouraging. "You remember when Mommy had you in her belly, right?"
Ella nodded, even though she probably didn't remember much. But she loved hearing the story of when she was a baby.
"Yeah! I was in there, and then I came out and made you a mommy and daddy!" Ella recited, clearly proud of her grasp of the story.
"That's right!" Lizzie said, smiling at her daughter's enthusiasm. "Well, guess what? Mommy has another baby in her belly now. You're going to be a big sister!"
Ella blinked at them, her expression unreadable for a moment. She glanced down at Lizzie's belly, then back up at her parents. "A baby? Like... a real one?"
"Yes, a real one," Robbie confirmed, laughing softly. "A little brother or sister for you to play with."
Ella's eyes widened. "But... but I'm the baby!" she said, her voice rising with a mix of confusion and indignation. Lizzie could see the wheels turning in Ella's head, trying to piece together how this would change her world.
"You'll always be our first baby, sweet pea," Lizzie reassured her, hugging Ella a little tighter. "But this new baby is going to need your help. You get to teach them all the cool things you know, like how to color, how to play with your dolls, and how to jump in puddles. You'll be the best big sister."
Ella's frown deepened, and Lizzie's heart squeezed. She could tell her daughter wasn't entirely convinced. Robbie sat beside them, reaching out to take one of Ella's tiny hands in his.
"You know how much fun you have with Lily and Mia?" Robbie asked gently. "It's kind of like that. You'll have someone to play with all the time."
Ella looked over at her friends, who were now examining the dandelions in the grass. "But Lily and Mia are my friends," she said thoughtfully. "The baby won't be my friend... will they?"
Lizzie smiled softly. "The baby will be your best friend, Ella. It might not feel like it right away, but as you both grow up, you'll have someone who's always there for you. And the best part is, you'll always be the big sister."
Ella was silent for a moment, clearly processing this new information. Then, her face brightened slightly. "Will the baby be a girl? Can we call her Sparkle?"
Robbie chuckled, glancing at Lizzie. They hadn't found out the baby's gender yet, and Ella's insistence on naming everything—from her toys to her goldfish—'Sparkle' never failed to amuse them.
"We don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, honey," Lizzie said carefully. "But we'll all pick a name together, just like we did for you."
Ella seemed to consider this, her expression still a mixture of excitement and hesitation. She squirmed off Lizzie's lap and walked back over to Lily and Mia, who were now watching with unabashed interest.
"Guess what?" Ella said, her hands on her hips in a very grown-up manner. "I'm going to be a big sister. There's a baby in my mommy's tummy."
Lily gasped, clapping her hands. "Wow! A real baby?"
"Yep," Ella said, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "But it's not here yet."
Mia, the more quiet and observant of the trio, tilted her head. "Do you get to keep it?"
"Yes!" Ella replied with a sigh, her four-year-old exasperation palpable. "It's our baby. I don't know if it's gonna be a girl or if we can call it Sparkle yet."
Mia nodded thoughtfully, and Lily immediately launched into a list of suggestions for baby names that were far more creative than practical. Lizzie and Robbie exchanged amused glances as they listened, feeling a small sense of relief that Ella was at least sharing the news.
Later, after the girls had gone home, Ella sat between Lizzie and Robbie on the couch, drawing a picture of their family. She drew herself in the center, with Lizzie and Robbie on either side. Then, with great concentration, she added a small, round figure next to herself—a baby.
"That's the baby?" Robbie asked, leaning over to look.
Ella nodded. "Yep. It's little, so I made it little. But it's here."
Lizzie felt tears sting her eyes as she watched Ella carefully color in the baby, giving it a yellow blanket and, of course, a small pink crown.
Robbie hugged Ella close, his chin resting on her head. "You're going to be the best big sister ever, Ella. I can already tell."
Ella looked up, her eyes shining. "I think I'm going to teach it how to do big jumps," she said seriously. "But only when it gets bigger."
Lizzie and Robbie laughed, and Lizzie kissed the top of Ella's head. "I think that sounds perfect."
As bedtime rolled around, Ella snuggled into her bed with her favorite stuffed unicorn, still clutching her drawing. Lizzie tucked her in and sat beside her, smoothing back her curls.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Lizzie asked softly, brushing her fingers gently over Ella's cheek. "I know this is a big change."
Ella looked up at her, eyes wide and earnest. "I think it's okay, Mommy. I'll be the best big sister ever... but can you still call me your baby sometimes?"
Lizzie's heart melted, and she nodded, tears pricking at her eyes. "Always, Ella Grace. You'll always be my baby."
As she turned off the light and closed the door, Lizzie felt a wave of warmth and hope. The road ahead was uncharted, filled with unknowns and new dynamics, but they would figure it out together—Ella, Lizzie, Robbie, and soon, the new little one.
It wasn't just a new chapter for their family; it was the start of something beautiful and unpredictable, much like the journey they had been on since the moment they found out Ella was on her way. And as Lizzie stood in the hallway, her hand resting on her growing belly, she knew they were ready to take on whatever came next—together.