While Robbi and I were busy at the hospital, Alden spent a few days with her good friends Donald and Ann, who live across the street, and who are practically members of our family. After leaving the hospital yesterday early afternoon, Kato spent a few hours getting used to his grandparents’ house, where Robbi and I will be staying for the next week or so.

This basically meant we held and admired him in various chairs.

Bob seems particularly smitten with the little dude.

Around 5:30, Donald and Anne brought Alden over to meet her little brother. It was the first time I’d seen her in two days.

Seeing her and holding her, I was astonished at how huge and heavy she was, how fully-formed and complete. The difference between two days old and 22 months suddenly became clear. Alden has grown up, and I didn’t even know it. She’s no longer a baby. She’s a little girl.

Alden spent few minutes reacquainting with Robbi and me. We discussed politics and her views on diaper rash. A few minutes later, Seiko brought Kato in for introductions. Alden’s reaction is best summed up in three simple letters: WTF!?

She took a close look at the sleeping bundle, pointed, and said “Baby.” We affirmed that she was exactly right, and went on to explain that his name was Kato and that he was her brother. She repeated “brother” and “Kato” and seemed pleased with herself.

Moments later, Kato started crying in that tiny pigeon-cry that tiny babies make. Alden surprised us all by exactly imitating the sound. Suddenly there were two tiny babies crying in the room.

Upon the suggestion that she kiss her little crying brother, she did.

Which gratified us all. But then she moved on to more pressing matters, like the consumption of blueberries.

Later, I had the chance to hold my two babies together for the first time. It seems there’s room enough for both of them in my arms.

And, apparently, Alden is just as taken with Kato’s fuzzy little head as I am.

Here’s a recent shot of the little man, who continues to do his job: eating, sleeping, pooping, and occasionally scanning his surprising new world with half-opened, unfocused new eyes.