And we couldn’t have only one lively, adorable, and insanely doted-on baby. We had to give Sarah-Jane a brother or a sister. So now we not only have a wild, amazing, joyful, busy toddler on our hands, we also have a three-month-old daughter, Christy-Belle, who has also brought us so much joy. She’s the happiest baby. Content. Quiet. And she already sleeps through the night—the complete opposite of her outgoing, daring sister.
I’ve never seen two little girls more in love with each other than they are. They might be different as night and day, but the bond they share is already unshakeable. I can’t wait to watch them grow up. Or—at least, I can. I can wait. I’m in no rush to leave these chaotic, sleep-deprived, wild, trial filled days behind. As crazy as they are, they’re the best days I’ve ever known. I love being a dad in a completely different way than I love being a husband, but they’re both seriously more than I ever could have asked for.
“Seriously! Shoes! Wade!”
“Relax,” I chuckle. “Worse comes to worst, just throw an extra pair of socks on.”
“Okay, I should have said boots. You’re right. But shoes, socks, they’re all MIA.”
“Hmm. Grab a sweater of mine. We’ll wrap her up nice and toasty. She just has to go to the car—and I’ll warm it up so that it’s ready to go—and then into my parent’s house.”
“Everyone is going to be there. My parents are probably there already. And my brother and his girlfriend. We’re going to be the last ones there!”
“Sweetheart.” I shove the sweater on—it’s one my mom made me for Christmas last year. It’s truly hideous, seeing as she didn’t know how to knit well yet, having just taken it up right before she decided to tackle the project, but of course, I’m still going to wear it. And wear it proudly. “Our families know we have two little kids. They don’t actually expect us to be on time.”
“But what if they’re holding off on the food for us and something burns or the turkey gets all dry?”
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen. My mom is an expert cook.” I gather Lu-Anne into my arms and kiss her on the forehead.
“The girls are ready other than the boots. Are you ready?”
“Yes. I’m ready.” I tuck Lu-Anne’s hand into mine. “No matter how late we are, or on time, or whatever… it doesn’t matter. I’m just happy to be doing all this with you.”
She doesn’t stop walking, but she does squeeze my hand, and when we find our daughters, one tucked into her little bucket seat and bundled up, the other standing guard over her baby sister with the most angelic look on her face, she angles into me and tugs my face down for a passionate, searing, mind-blowing kiss, even if it is brief.
She grins at me after as she grabs an extra jacket from the peg by the door. We actually decided to move into her grandma’s house, and we are in the process of extending it to the one we have next door. But it’s nice being here, in the main house that has so many memories for Lu-Anne. It just felt right for both of us, and I’m so glad we can raise our own family here, amidst so much love and warmth.
“Come here, honey. I’ll wrap your feet up in this jacket, and we’ll go.”
Sarah-Jane just points solemnly to the boot rack where one boot is sticking out, and then she points past that to the living room, where I can barely make out the black fuzzy top of the second boot sticking out from under the couch.
I make quick work of gathering up the boots while Lu-Anne sighs in relief. Smiling widely, I can’t resist giving each of my three girls another kiss before we walk out the door.
Yes, life is definitely great.
The End