The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the living room. Emma sat on the rug, toys scattered around her like a small kingdom of colors and shapes. She babbled and giggled, her dark eyes following a small wooden block as it rolled across the floor.
Lily knelt nearby, watching intently. “Emma, look! This one goes here,” she said gently, guiding the block into a small tower they had been building together.
Ethan sat cross-legged beside them, holding another block. “Careful, princess,” he teased softly. “It’s a big one, but you’re strong enough.”
Emma’s lips quivered into a small grin, and she reached for the block in Ethan’s hand. She leaned forward, wobbling slightly on her tiny knees, and for the first time, she spoke.
“Da-da,” she said, h
