A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 54 New Life Surprise

The afternoon sun lazily spilled into the courtyard. Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin, like two cheerful little birds, chirped as they returned home from school. As soon as they entered the house, their eyes were drawn to the brand-new crib in the living room.

Liu Yixin's eyes sparkled as she ran over curiously, gently touching the crib's railings with her little hands. Turning her head, she asked, "Mommy and Daddy, where did this come from? Why is there a new crib in the house?"

Li Shiqing also came over. Although she didn't say anything, her eyes were full of doubt and expectation.

Li Yuan and Liu Xuan exchanged a smile. Liu Xuan stepped forward, picked up Liu Yixin, and gently patted Li Shiqing's head, saying with a smile, "Babies, this is for your soon-to-be-born younger brother or sister."

"A younger brother or sister?" Li Shiqing's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Mom, do you mean you're having a baby?"

Li Yuan nodded gently, pulled her two daughters to sit on the sofa, and began to tell this beautiful story. "Yes, my darlings. There's a new life in Mommy's tummy, and you'll have a cute little brother or sister to grow up with."

Liu Yixin clapped her hands excitedly in Liu Xuan's arms, "Wow, this is great! I've always wanted a younger brother or sister!"

Li Shiqing frowned slightly, as if she was thinking about something. After a while, she asked, "But, if we have a younger brother or sister, will you still love us the same as before?"

Li Yuan hugged Li Shiqing tightly and whispered, "Silly child, of course we will. You will always be your parents' most beloved babies. No matter if we have younger siblings or not, this love will never change. Like a river, it will keep flowing, only getting wider and wider, accommodating more and more love."

Liu Xuan nodded quickly, put Liu Yixin down, sat down next to Li Shiqing, and said earnestly, "That's right, Shiqing. Look, now you and Yixin are good sisters, and in the future, your younger brother or sister will also join our big family, and we will be even happier."

Liu Yixin jumped off the sofa, ran to the crib, picked up a small teddy bear placed next to it, and imagined the future scene: "When my younger brother and sister are born, I will give them all my favorite toys to play with. I will also tell them stories and play games with them."

A smile gradually appeared on Li Shiqing's face. "Then I can teach him to draw and write."

Looking at her two adorable daughters, Li Yuan felt a surge of joy. "My darlings, it's wonderful that you think this way. However, taking care of babies isn't easy; it requires our collective effort."

Liu Xuan said in a deliberately serious tone, "That's right. From now on, we all need to learn some knowledge about taking care of the baby. For example, how to change the baby's diaper and how to coax the baby to sleep."

Liu Yixin asked curiously, "Daddy, why do we need to change baby's diapers?"

Liu Xuan explained with a smile, "Because the baby is still small and can't control his urination and defecation, we need to change his diapers frequently so that he will be comfortable."

"So, should we sing to the baby to put him to sleep?" Li Shiqing then asked.

Li Yuan replied, "Yes, the baby likes to hear soft sounds. Singing or telling stories can help him fall asleep. Just like when you were little, your mother often sang to you to lull you to sleep."

Liu Xuan cleared his throat and began seriously, "Babies, taking care of a baby is a very important and meticulous task. First of all, as I just mentioned, changing diapers is of utmost importance. A baby's skin is extremely delicate, like the softest flower petals; even the slightest carelessness can make them uncomfortable. Therefore, when changing a baby's diaper, we must first gently place the baby in a safe and comfortable place, such as a dedicated diaper changing table. Then, we must carefully unfasten the fasteners on the soiled diaper, making sure our movements are gentle..." Gently, as if handling the most precious treasure in the world. Oh, you are our most precious treasures, but babies need extra care at this time. After removing the soiled diaper, gently wipe your baby's bottom with soft wet wipes or a warm, damp towel, wiping from front to back to prevent bacterial infection. After cleaning, apply a layer of diaper rash cream, like putting a protective armor on your baby's bottom. Finally, put on a clean diaper, fastening the edges to ensure it doesn't constrict your baby's tummy.

Li Yuan continued, "Besides changing diapers, putting a baby to sleep is also a skill. Babies' world is simple; they like quiet, warm, and loving environments. Sometimes, we can gently hold the baby in our arms, like this." As she spoke, Li Yuan gently pulled Liu Yixin into her arms, mimicking the posture of holding a baby. "Then, while gently rocking, hum a soft lullaby. 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' is very nice, 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are...'" Li Yuan hummed softly, her voice melodious and gentle. "With this song and rocking, the baby will gradually feel secure, and their eyelids will start to droop. Also, the room light shouldn't be too bright; it should be dim, like the night sky with only a faint glow. The temperature should also be suitable, not too cold or too hot, otherwise the baby won't sleep soundly."

Liu Xuan added, "Also, babies cry when they're hungry, and that's when we need to feed them. If it's breastfeeding, it's very tiring for the mother, but it's also a wonderful time for close contact with the baby. If it's formula feeding, we need to prepare the formula according to the correct ratio—not too diluted and not too thick—just like a chef preparing a delicate dish, every step must be just right. Then, tilt the bottle so that the nipple is full of milk, so the baby won't swallow air, otherwise they'll get a stomachache."

Li Shiqing listened attentively, occasionally asking questions: "If the baby cries, besides being hungry or needing a diaper change, are there any other reasons?"

Li Yuan smiled and replied, "Of course! The baby might also be feeling lonely or uncomfortable. In this case, we need to check carefully to see if the baby is being squeezed by clothing or if any noise around him has startled him. If the baby just wants company, we can talk to him. Although he may not understand, he can feel our voices and love. Just like when you were little, you would quiet down as soon as your mother spoke."

Liu Yixin asked curiously, "When will the baby grow up and play with us?"

Liu Xuan smiled and said, "The baby will grow up quickly, but when he is still small, we need to take good care of him. When he is a few months old, he will start to try to lift his head and roll over. At this time, we need to carefully protect him, like guarding a little explorer. When he gets a little older, he can sit up and then slowly learn to crawl and walk. At that time, you can play with toys with him and tell him about the fun things that happened at school."

Looking at her two daughters, Li Yuan said earnestly, "My darlings, taking care of a baby is not easy, but it's also a very happy experience. We are a family, and we must help each other, welcome this new life together, and raise him/her together. Can you do it?"

Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin exchanged a glance, then nodded firmly and said in unison, "Yes!"

Liu Yixin ran back to the sofa and snuggled up to Li Yuan, her eyes fixed on Li Yuan's belly. "Mommy, when will the baby be born?"

"It will take a while, probably a few months. During this time, the baby will grow slowly in the mother's belly," Li Yuan said patiently.

Li Shiqing suddenly asked with some concern, "Mom, won't it be very hard for you to be pregnant?"

Li Yuan gently stroked Li Shiqing's face, "It will be a little tiring, but as long as I think about the baby coming soon, I feel that everything is worth it. And with you and Daddy by my side taking care of me, I won't feel tired."

Liu Xuan held Li Yuan's hand and said to his two daughters, "So, my darlings, from now on we should care for Mom more and help her with whatever we can, okay?"

“Okay!” Liu Yixin and Li Shiqing answered in unison.

As if remembering something, Liu Yixin took out a drawing from her schoolbag. "Mom, this is a drawing I made at school today. I originally wanted to give it to you, but now I want to give it to my younger brother and sister."

Li Yuan took the painting. It depicted a family holding hands, standing in front of a large house, with a sun and many flowers beside them. "This painting is so beautiful, Yixin. Your younger brother and sister will definitely love it."

Not to be outdone, Li Shiqing took out a short essay she had written from her schoolbag. "Mom, I wrote an essay about our family, and I want to read it to my younger brother and sister."

Li Yuan smiled and nodded, and Li Shiqing began to read carefully: "My home is a place full of love, with my mom and dad, and my best friend Liu Yixin. Now, I'm about to welcome a new family member. I'm so happy, and I will take good care of him and share my joy with him..."

As Liu Xuan listened, his eyes welled up with tears. He said with emotion, "Our daughters have all grown up and become so sensible."

Li Yuan also said with emotion, "Yes, having such a daughter is our greatest happiness."

As time went on, the two daughters grew increasingly excited about the impending arrival of their new baby. Every day after school, they would gather around the crib, discussing all sorts of things about the baby.

One day, Liu Yixin suddenly asked, "Mom and Dad, what name should we give our baby?"

Liu Xuan scratched his head and said, "This is a big problem. We need to think about it carefully. You can also give us some suggestions."

Li Shiqing's eyes lit up. "If it's a younger brother, how about Liu Yang? Yang means sunshine, and I hope he'll be as warm as the sunshine."

Liu Yixin shook her head. "I think Liu Chen is a better name. The morning is full of hope."

Li Yuan smiled and said, "Your ideas are all very good. What if it's a younger sister?"

Liu Yixin thought for a moment, "Let's call her Liu Yue, the Yue of joy. I hope she'll be happy every day."

Li Shiqing also said, "Or you could call her Liu Meng, which means cute and adorable."

And so, the family began a lively discussion about the baby's name, with laughter echoing throughout the room.

The family was filled with warmth and anticipation as they awaited the baby's arrival. Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin learned about love and responsibility during this time, while Li Yuan and Liu Xuan cherished their time together even more. They knew that the arrival of the new life would bring more love and happiness to the family, like a seed taking root and sprouting in spring, slowly growing into a lush tree that shelters them from the wind and rain, giving them endless joy and comfort.