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A cozy Christmas family scene in a warm living room.  The mother is sitting on the floor, gently hugging her 9-month-old daughter Paulinka. The mother is wearing a beautiful short black dress, red tights, long red gloves up to the elbows, and a red headband. She is barefoot.  Paulinka, a 9-month-old baby girl, is sitting on the floor between her parents. She is wearing white tights, a red plaid skirt, and a red knitted turtleneck sweater. On her head is a small hair clip shaped like a tiny Santa Claus or Christmas hat. She is holding a gift wrapped in white paper with a red ribbon bow.  The father is sitting on the floor next to Paulinka and hugging her as well. He is wearing blue jeans, a black sweater with a traditional Belarusian red ornament running horizontally across the chest, and red socks. He is barefoot.  The family is sitting together near a decorated Christmas tree, smiling warmly and lovingly at each other.  In the background there is a window, and snow is gently falling outside, with soft glowing festive lights visible through the window.  The atmosphere is warm, joyful, loving, festive, and magical.  Style: cartoon illustration, children’s book art style, soft shapes, warm lighting, gentle colors, cozy Christmas mood, highly detailed but soft and friendly.
Вітанкі, мае дарагія мама і тата. Гэта мой самы першы Новы год, і я хачу расказаць вам маленькую гісторыю — пра нашу сям'ю.
In a softly lamp-lit bedroom, Мама sits cross-legged on the bed as Тата kneels facing her; they touch foreheads, eyes shining with hope, while gentle shadows stretch across the walls.
Вы чакалі мяне з першага дня. Маме прыснілася дзяўчынка. Тату прысніўся хлопчык. «Няхай жыццё пакажа», — засмяяліся вы разам. «Мы верым у цуд», — сказаў тата. «Мы цябе ўжо любім», — шапнула мама.
Outdoor gender reveal party. Pink smoke clearly visible behind the couple. Two balloon bunches with pink, blue and black balloons.  Pregnant mother with a visible baby bump. Father hugging the mother. Both parents smiling.  Mother: white dress with sleeves below the knee, red necklace, red lipstick, black boots. Father: jeans, black shirt, denim jacket, cap, sneakers.  Green and yellow trees in the background.  Children’s book cartoon illustration. Both parents in the same unified cartoon style. Soft faces, simplified features. No realism.
На вечарыне абвяшчэння полу (gender party) у неба ўспыхнуў ружовы дым. Вы абняліся і радаваліся. «Будзе дзяўчынка!» — крыкнула мама. «Наша маленькая зорка!» — адказаў тата. Я смяялася ў матуліным жывоціку. Сэрцы спявалі разам.
Cozy evening pregnancy scene with the same composition as previous pages. Mother and father sitting together on a sofa.  Mother is leaning her head gently on the father’s shoulder. Father is gently hugging the mother’s pregnant belly. Mother is also holding her pregnant belly with her hands.  Мама and тата are waiting for their baby. Calm, loving, intimate moment.  Mother is wearing a white nightgown. Father is wearing a moss green sports tracksuit.  Mother has light green eyes. Father has green eyes. Both parents are smiling softly and peacefully.  Mother and father are the same characters as on previous pages. Same faces, same proportions, same cartoon design. Mother must be illustrated in the same cartoon style as the father. No realistic rendering of the mother.  Warm cozy living room atmosphere, soft evening light.  Children’s book cartoon illustration. Both parents in one unified cartoon style. Soft faces, simplified features. No realism.
Мінулы Новы год мы таксама сустрэлі разам. Я жыла ў маміным жывоціку і слухала галасы. «Мы цябе вельмі любім», — паўтаралі вы. Мама спявала мяккую калыханку. Тата гладзіў жывот. Я адчувала сябе дома.
Indoor jacuzzi scene after the baby is born. The jacuzzi is placed in the center of the room, not against a wall.  Mother is inside the jacuzzi. Father is standing on the floor behind the jacuzzi, NOT inside the jacuzzi. Father is behind the mother, gently hugging her shoulders from behind. Father is looking happily and lovingly at the baby.  Mother is lying comfortably in a soft pink jacuzzi. Mother is wearing a pink swimsuit. Mother is holding a newborn baby. The baby is wrapped in a white towel.  Father is wearing a black T-SHIRT WITH SHORT SLEEVES (not sleeveless). Father is wearing jeans. Father is NOT wearing a tank top. Father is NOT wearing a sleeveless shirt.  Both parents have green eyes. Both parents are smiling, happy, calm, and loving.  Mother and father are the same characters as on previous pages. Same faces, same proportions, same cartoon style.  Peaceful, warm, intimate moment after birth. No medical scene.  Children’s book cartoon illustration. Both parents in the same unified cartoon style. Soft faces, simplified features. No realism.
Калі я нарадзілася, вашыя рукі былі цёплымі. «Ты наш маленькі цуд», — сказаў тата. «Я буду побач заўсёды», — паабяцала мама. Я ўсміхнулася, вы засмяяліся. Я заплакала, вы супакоілі. Мы сталі сям’ёй.
Cozy Christmas scene with the same composition and characters as previous pages. Family decorating a Christmas tree together.  Mother and father are standing next to the Christmas tree. Both parents are the same height. Both parents are holding Christmas ornaments in their hands. Both parents are actively decorating the tree and looking at the Christmas tree.  Mother and father are wearing jeans and white sweaters. They are smiling softly and enjoying the moment.  A small child is standing very close to the Christmas tree. The child is reaching out with both hands toward the Christmas tree ornaments. The child is curious and happy. The child is wearing a beige outfit.  Mother, father, and child are the same characters as on previous pages. Same faces, same proportions, same cartoon design. All characters illustrated in one unified cartoon style. Mother must NOT look more realistic than the father.  Warm festive living room, soft Christmas lights, cozy evening atmosphere.  Children’s book cartoon illustration. Soft faces, simplified features. Clean hands, correct fingers. Consistent illustration style. No realism.
Цяпер мы разам ставім ялінку. Тата трымае зорку. Мама распраўляе цацкі і стужкі. «Дапамагу!» — пляскаю і цягну ручкі. Агеньчыкі запальваюцца, пакой святлее. Наш смех звініць, як званочкі.
On the sunny living-room carpet, Паўліна totters forward, one tiny foot raised, as Мама kneels with encouraging smile and open arms; Тата crouches behind, whispering proudly, morning light streaming through sheer curtains.
Сёлета ў мяне было многа «першага». Першы смех, першы зубік, першыя крокі. «Глядзі, ідзе!» — шэпча тата. «Брава, мая адважная», — усміхаецца мама. Маё першае сапраўднае навагодняе свята яшчэ наперадзе.
At the dining-table beside a frosted window, Мама carefully holds a paper snowflake shaped like a flower while Тата tapes another to a string; Паўліна blows on cut-outs, scattering white confetti under warm garland glow.
За акном сыпле снег. Мы выразаем папяровыя сняжынкі. «Гэтая падобная на кветку», — кажа мама. «Павесім сюды», — дапамагае тата. Я дзьму і смяюся. Сняжынкі танцуюць у святле гірлянды.
In the bright morning kitchen, Мама stirs cookie dough in a mixing bowl, flour dust rising, while Тата pipes icy white stars onto baked rounds; Паўліна watches from a high chair, pointing and saying 'ам-ам' excitedly.
На кухні пахне печывам. Мама змешвае цеста. Тата малюе глазурай зоркі. «Ам-ам», — кажу я сур’ёзна. «Хутка паспрабуем разам», — смяецца мама. Лыжка стукае, сэрцы таксама стукаюць.
At a craft-cluttered kitchen table under afternoon light, Мама presses glittering star stickers onto folded cardstock while Тата neatly writes 'Дзякуй за любоў'; Паўліна leans over, cheeks pressed against the paper, babbling 'Ма-ма! Та-та!'.
Мы робім паштоўку для нас трох. Мама клеіць зорачкі. Тата піша: «Дзякуй за любоў». Я кажу: «Ма-ма! Та-та!». «Ты наша любая дачушка», — шэпчаце вы. Я прыціскаюся шчочкай.
Family portrait scene with the same composition as previous pages. Parents standing close together and hugging their daughter in their arms. All three characters are hugging each other warmly.  Mother, father, and baby are the same characters as on previous pages. Same faces, same proportions, same cartoon design. All characters illustrated in one unified cartoon style. No realism.  Mother is wearing a beautiful shiny black dress. Father is wearing a black sweater with a traditional Belarusian white ornament across the chest. Baby Паўліна is wearing a red dress.  They are standing together near a decorated Christmas tree. Warm festive atmosphere, soft lights, cozy evening mood.  Both parents smiling gently. The baby looks calm and happy.  Children’s book cartoon illustration. Soft faces, simplified features. Consistent illustration style for all characters. No photorealism.
Да паўночы застаюцца хвілінкі. «Тры, два, адзін!» — лічым разам. Агеньчыкі мігцяць, вокны ззяць. «З Новым годам, Паўлінка», — кажа мама. «Якое цудоўнае свята!», — дадае тата. Мы моцна абдымаемся.
At dawn beside the quiet Christmas tree, Паўліна sits between Мама and Тата on a cozy blanket, gazing up with a radiant smile while her parents return the look, sunrise light painting soft gold across their faces.
Я гляджу на вас і ўсміхаюся. Свет з вамі ярчэйшы і дабрэйшы. «Дзякуй за абдымкі і пяшчоту», — кажу я вачыма. «Мы заўжды побач», — абяцаеце вы. Гэта наша чараўніцтва. З Новым годам!