;)
At the moment when I take this picture, Jobe and Kalib have not been in the same room together since Jobe exited his nice, warm, secure, place in his mother's womb, nearly 13 hours earlier - but this is about to change. Less than five seconds after I snap this image, the door to Lavina and Jobe's hospital room swings open and in walks Kalib.
;)
Kalib does not seem at all surprised to see his little brother being held in the arms that, the last time he had seen his mother, had been exclusively his - except, perhaps, to give a little hug to Gracie and other little ones now and then.
Of course, those arms would also go around Dad, but that was different.
I had wondered if Kalib had comprehended that a new baby was coming to the family. Now, I am certain that even before he came through the door he understood that a baby brother was going to be waiting for him. How will he react? For a few moments, Kalib just stares at his little brother.
;)
Then he reachs out towards Jobe.
;)
His grandma picks him up to give him a better look. Knowing how rambunctious her eldest son can be, how he can suddenly dive onto people lying on beds and couches, his mother lifts her arm - just in case.
Kalib studies his little brother.
;)
Then Kalib points at Jobe.
;)
Next, he reaches down to touch him on the chest.
;)
He smiles, then reaches out and touches Jobe on the nose.
;)
Kalib then settles in alongside his mother and drinks his milk.
;)
He stares at the ceiling as his mother tends to his little brother. Do you remember how fascinating the ceiling lights in a place that you had never been before looked to you when you were tiny?
I don't know for certain, but I think this is why Kalib is staring at the ceiling.
;)
His mother wants to be certain that Kalib knows that his position at the center of her world has only moved the tiniest bit - just enough to allow another tiny person in. She asks him if he wants to take a little walk.
;)
He does. So Lavina hands Jobe to Grandma as Kalib begins to get up.
;)
Kalib hits the floor and dashes out of the hospital room into the nearby hall before his mom can follow. Then he looks back to see where she is.
;)
Then they take a little walk. A very short walk. But it is just the two of them together. Even grandpa takes only a few pictures, then leaves them to themselves for a few minutes.
;)
Soon they are back in the room and Kalib is in the arms of his Uncle Caleb. I see a potential picture that I think will be very nice - namely, if all those on the other side of the bed were to look affectionately at Jobe at the same time. I am certain they soon will, because Jobe is so beautiful, how can they not?
But none of the males will look at Jobe. Their eyes are riveted upon the TV set mounted high on the wall. It is the opening day of the Winter Olympics. Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia has been killed while practicing for his luge event. His death is being broadcast to all the world.
It is a horrible thing to see, but now we have all seen it.
There are six Alaskans competing in this winter Olympics, including Yup'ik/Iñupiat snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, originally of Dillingham, now of Girdwood.
I cannot tell you how badly I want the Alaskans to win medals and I will find it especially nice if Chythlook-Sifsof does. Even if she doesn't, she has already brought an elevated level of pride to this state among both Natives and non-Natives. She has also made it just a little bit harder for non-Natives who are so inclined to stereotype Natives.
;)
Now Kalib's dad takes Jobe from his grandmother and pulls him over. "Look, Kalib," he says. "It's your little brother, Jobe!"
;)
Kalib does not want to look at his brother now. He demands instead that he go to his mother.
;)
From his mother's arms, Kalib turns to look at Jobe.
Kalib may have some reservations about this whole little brother thing.
*Well, I have completely given up on the idea of packing multiple posts into a single day so that I can catch up with the birth of Jobe and surrounding events and then move into the present, which I can never do, anyway, because as soon as I catch it, the present always turns out to be the past.
So I will continue to make just one post a day until I complete this series, which I believe will total five parts.
Tomorrow, in Part 4, it is my hope to highlight Jobe's second day of life - the day that he checked out of the hospital and came home to meet the dog, Muzzy and to be ignored by the cat, Martigne.
Part 5 will be dedicated to the little ceremony for Jobe that we had here at the house on Sunday.