1.11 They grow up so fast...

The newfound independence one of the kids had gained in the previous night was something appreciated by almost everyone. Kate was happy someone finally ate her food before it went stale; Dustin was more than happy to read bedtime stories to Brian whenever he asked for it. Although Brian repeatedly sat up afterwards and asked for another one, smiling adorably. [Seriously, that must be a glitch! My kids never fall asleep anymore, no matter how tired they am :( ]

…only Alf could be seen with disappointment in his eyes every now and then. He wanted to be as old as his big brother and do all the things he already did! Instead he had to wait for his parents to pick him and his teddy bear up from his crib, and then he could do…stuff. Not much, though.

Being a toddler sucks! I want to be a child! :(

Good thing I recently changed the duration of the different life stages! Keep your chin up, handsome. You will be a child in no time, trust me.

I really hope so… my parents always forget about me and then I am waiting in my crib the entire day.

Really? Nooo. I can’t imagine that.

See for yourself! :(

While Alf was being depressed, Brian clearly showed whose son he was. Brian, I had that exact same conversation with your mother – you will get sick if you paint in the snow! IN PYJAMAS!

No, I won’t! I’m sure I won’t. You see, I’m a big boy now and big boys don’t get sick. 

Yeah, right. We’ll see about that. Let’s head back to Alf, who was taken care of! See, I told you they don’t forget about you. Kate had more time for him now, and actually made use of it. This is what I call a good mother! (We’ll keep quiet about allowing her six-year-old son to paint in the snow. She can’t be everywhere)

Thanks, mum ,you’re the best! You’re my bestest friend in the entire world!

Awww, I love you too, baby!

Alf’s life really was busy, even if he didn’t realize it sometimes. There were so many toys to play with, like the dollhouse. He loved to use it, just as he often went to play with the little bunnies from the toy box. My kids aren’t forced to act gender typical, nonono! They can do whatever they want! :)

Nom nom nom.

I’m not too happy about them eating the wooden puppets, though.

One afternoon  Brian invited a child from school over. I forgot his name, to be honest, but since he looks a little Asian, I bet it was typically Irish or something. My game is funny that way. Also, it gave him a horribly hairstyle.

See?!

Hey, I can hear you!

Sorry… but then again, you’re not blind, so you can see it, as well.

You’re right… it looks terrible. Oh my god, the girls will hate me at school! I will never have a girlfriend… or many other friends… I won’t be able to go to prom… or to a job… my life is over already… it feels like I can’t breathe anymore!

So we’re a little overdramatic, huh?

Kate and Dustin decided to watch the lovely children play outside, so they joined them. Of course they didn’t change into their outdoor clothes. Why would you do that, I designed them for fun anyways.

So be happy they don’t get dirty!

Good line, honey! *giggles* I knew I had the best husband in the entire world! Come here!

Ooooh, just seeing him in shorts makes me feel cold.

Back inside, some serious toddler skilling took place. Even if that meant blocking the bathroom for hours and hours.

Oh, and then Kate took care of Lynn for a second. 

Before going back to Alf. Talking about favourite children, huh?!

YES, all three skills done! That means I get to choose the next trait! Life is good <3

The next morning, when the snow had surprisingly melted, Dustin decided to shock me. No, not with his looks, I’m used to that by now. He CLEANED the dirty dishes! How in the world did that happen? Did you lose a bet?

Nah, I just felt like it.

O.o

Apparently, someone hadn’t felt like paying the bills…oops. But taking the costume box is a little harsh, don’t you think?! It’s not the kids’ fault!

I don’t care whose fault it is *diabolical laughter*

Bitch.

Adorable toddler spam!

 

I correct myself – adorable children spam in general <3

Why am I never in the pictures?

Because you don’t look as cute as them, sorry.

Very soon it was time for Lynn’s birthday. Kate decided to do most of the work and blow all the candles, almost squashing her baby. Careful!!!

Soooo, here we go! Will she have pink hair? Or Dustin’s blond hair? Please have pink hair. Pleasepleaseplease. Please.

WTF???? Where is that hair coming from? No one ever had that hair colour! I want pink hair *starts sobbing*

Lynn decided that hiding her head after this embarrassing moment would probably be the best thing. Sorry, honey, I didn’t mean it like that… come back out, please!

Rawwwwr, I like dinosaurs!

You know… I just saw the funniest cartoon about the origin of dinosaurs! Wait, let me show you the picture. Here. "How dinosaurs happened!"

Bwahahahaha :D

What? Oh my…. No, he can’t be aging up already, can he?!

Relax, I’m just hungry…

Phew.  For a minute I was convinced I had lost a bunch of pictures.

Talking about pictures… I had some great new ideas in my mind!

Well, don’t let me stop you… at least the snow is gone now. Have fun!

Thanks and good night!

Author's Notes: Well. I do NOT know where Lynn's hair comes from, but it made me really depressed for a moment... this means only one possible heir has Kate's hair. How sad. Anyway, I looked up all the traits and here we go:

Brian: Bookworm, Good, Artistic

Alf(ie): Eccentric, Heavy Sleeper

Lynn: Couch Potato, Grumpy

Some interesting combinations we are dealing with this generation! Stay tuned to see what happens next :)

1.10 Third Time Lucky

 
Listen, amhranai, Brian keeps babbling about how he loves both Kate and me. I’m flattered, but it sounds like he wants to convince me of that in case I don’t know yet. Do you know what’s going on there? 
Who, me? No, I don’t know a thing. *whispers* And hopefully you won’t know, either. 
Well, if you come across something, please let me know. I love my two, soon three, children so much and I wouldn’t want them to worry about issues that aren’t even there! 
Sure, I’ll tell you as soon as I hear something.
 

Isn’t he just the cutest little toddler you have ever seen? The way he laughs when I tickle him, the way he smiles at me when I wake him up in the morning, the way he looks when he is asleep…

I get it, he’s cute. 

Exactly!! He is so.....cute!

For quite some time I thought Dustin liked Brian best, but he took good care of Alf, too. Apparently, he really loved both children equally, while Kate clearly favorites Brian. Shortly before his birthday, she managed to teach him all three skills there are to learn. Hooray, that means choosing a trait…unless I randomize it. Difficult decision.

 

A decision that had to be put aside, because Kate surprisingly went into labor!

Surprisingly? I have been in pain for hours and hours, so it was no surprise for me!

Well, you didn’t tell me anything. How was I supposed to know? Anyway, focus on giving birth now, please.

Will you let me go to the hospital for our fourth child, please??!

FOURTH? Nonono. Three and that’s it. I will keep you from getting pregnant again, no matter what it takes. Three children will be tough enough, considering you’re the only one who can officially take care of them…

Oh, crap. Pain, so much pain… Ooooooh, here we go! It’s a…

 

Girl!!! <3

Well, you wanted one… Say hello to little Lynn.

Hi, Lynn! *speaks in higher pitch than before* Hiiiii, it’s Mommy! How are you? Are you okay? Are you feeling too warm or too cold? Are you hungry? Are you sleepy?

Kate, give that baby a break, it has just been born… Besides, she won’t be able to tell you anyhow if something was wrong. Do you remember that they don’t learn how to talk before they’re toddlers?

I guess you’re right… but she looks happy anyhow. She is sooooo pretty – she is perfect! This is going to be my favourite child.

Really? What about your two sons that are both having a birthday tomorrow night?

You know how I meant that… of course I love all of them. It’s just… this is a girl. I can brush her hair and buy her dresses and…

Ah, the clichés.

 

That night, Kate and Dustin both slept very well. They felt their family was complete now.

The next morning was a grey one, but it didn’t matter. Somehow, peace had come over the family and all the unspoken problems there had been. These five people were going to stick together, no matter what.

 

Then it was double-birthday time. First up was Brian, who wasn’t feeling too well that night. He was scared of growing up, of having to go to school the next day and of responsibilities. This is why he clinged to Kate as they approached the cake the size of his entire body.

 

Make a wish, Brian!

I did! I did!

 

If I close my eyes, will all of this go away?

No, I don’t think so. Come on, be brave – being a child is fun!

Alright. Well, here we go!

 

*smiles* I look cool, don't I?!

Totally! He grew up pretty well! Yet, there was hardly any time to celebrate this small miracle, because it was time for Alf to grow up as well! Ready, Alfie?

Don’t call me that! That’s childish!

Uh…..

Amhranai, just a question. Didn’t you say they can’t talk before they are toddlers?

Kate, shut up. Okaaaaaay, let’s go! *sparkling all over the screen*

 

Squeeeeeee! He is ADORABLE! Even though he got Dustin’s hair (I think?), this is one of the cutest toddlers I have ever seen. Honestly.

 

While Brian fell asleep in his brand-new bedroom with the blanket matching the walls, Kate and Dustin got to talking, before it was time to go to sleep as well. They were lucky and they knew it. And there was nothing in the entire world that could separate them now.

Author's Notes: Three children...yikes. This is probably the most this family can handle, even though Dustin takes care of the little ones better than I thought! In my head, all of them were already taken away by the social workers..but so far, that hasn't happened. Fingers crossed! ;)

As soon as I saw Alf(ie) as a toddler, I was in love with him. That hat suits him incredibly well and makes him look sooo cute <3 I have to admit that I CAN'T remember his third trait right now. Did I even tell you about the first two ones? I think it was Good and...well, something else. Sorry :-/ Next time I start the game, I will instantly look it up!! Along with Lynn's traits - it's just been too long since I played these parts... 

Make sure to regularly check out my new legacy "Sweet as Honey", which you can find here!

1.9 Do all good things come to an end?

Talking about the family working out – it seemed like Dustin would have to take care of the kids a little more in the nearer future. When I woke up, I felt incredibly sick and had to run to the bathroom before breakfast. Had I eaten something wrong? 

Can’t imagine how that could have happened. Either way, I decided to cook something new for breakfast. Everybody likes (fresh) pancakes!

After breakfast, I had some playtime with Alf, our newborn son. His sweet little face looked so innocent and friendly, but I could already tell that there was some mischief dying to come out! But as long as it didn’t show directly, I was going to be fine. The thought worried me a little, though – I even started shivering. Or was that because our roof was not snow-proof yet?

 

Since the snow reached me anyway, I decided to paint a little outside the house. Somehow I was in a very nurturing mood, so I painted a cloud with big, beautiful eyes watching over the earth. I hadn’t felt this way for quite some time…

I wonder what could have happened to your body to make you feel that way. *sighs and buys a new crib*

Why did you do that? Brian and Alf both have their own crib, remember? In the room that DOESN’T HAVE A ROOF YET.

Will you stop screaming?!

Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Lately, I am so emotional and….ooooh, wait a second!

Seems like she figured it out.

Oooooh, amhranai, I’m pregnant again! Ohmygoshiwillhaveathirdchildwhatshouldido!

Okay, first of all: I knew that already. And apart from that: stay calm, you will be fine. Dustin is still there and even if he acts a little immature at times, you guys will take care of a third child well. But no more children after that, please! I’m not sure my nerves could handle a fourth.

Deal! ….amhranai?

…yes?

I really want a baby girl this time.

Let’s go and buy some watermelons tomorrow.

Apparently, realizing her pregnancy woke new maternal instincts in Kate and the next day she started teaching Brian how to walk. If only she would do those sessions INSIDE the house… that would be so much easier…

Weren’t you the one who once said that learning how to drive in the snow is the best thing that could happened to you, because then you know how to do it when you’re on your own?

Well…yeah, but I was talking about driving and not walking when you are doing your first steps. Besides, the snow literally is up to his nose once he sits down. I don’t want him to get cold.

Naaah, he will be fine! Won’t you, Brian?

M-m-m-m-momm-mm-mm-mmy-y-y, I’m fr-fr-fr-eeeeeez-i-n-n-ng-g-g.

I think he said he’s fine! :)

*sighs*

See? Snow all over him. I’m just glad children can’t officially get a cold. You have to be older for that.

ATCHOO!

…a grown-up , for example. Bless you.

Aaah, now the game has realized the pregnancy as well. And Brian uses the first chance to get inside while his mommy is distracted^^

We then proceeded with our training session inside, thank God.

Look, I can walk! I can walk!

Every day Brian grew up a little more. One day he learned how to walk, the next he learned how to play the metallophone. And how to eat wood. I’m so proud of him!

Look, he in fact IS a virtuoso – one day he will fill great concert halls with his music!

Could we get him past elementary school first, please?

Now it was time to make sure the new baby was a girl, so Kate put on some warm clothes and went to the local supermarket, past a enthusiastic gnome in her garden.

Stand to attention!

You look like a mixture between a clown and a snowman. I can’t take you seriously, sorry…

You dare talking to me like that? Give me twenty push-ups, right here, right now!

Uh…no?!

Well, it was worth a try. Have a nice day.

Back at home, after a successful trip to the supermarket, Kate cooked her family some fresh waffles, which Dustin greedily ate. I’m just happy he switched to non-stale food most of the time.

That was goooooooooood.

Sometimes, at night, Kate started feeling the pressure coming on to her. Two children, and a third one to come, in fact WAS a lot, especially when her husband couldn’t be controlled at all times to make sure the kids were okay.

It felt like somebody was choking me! I couldn’t breathe and totally panicked. But then I thought that with my looks, I could find another man any time. Someone to actually help me take care of them. Of course, I love Dustin and I hope we can work things out! I’m just..scared.

I know, honey. But like I told you, you are going to be fine. You really are.

You’re probably right. I feel much better now! :)

Nevertheless, it seemed like Kate had subconsciously her doubts and worries to her children – every time Brian passed his dad, he gave him this weird look that could mean anything. But what did it actually mean? Only time could tell.

Author's notes: And we're officially back in the game! :) Once I started writing again, so many pictures and thoughts were just DYING to get out, so I started with a rather short chapter. A number of those are to come now! :)

The kids are slowly growing and most of the time being adorable, while Dustin stays as weird as he is. And Kate, of course, is the best mother you could possibly imagine.... ;) Unless she keeps training her kids in the snow, which is something I don't find amusing. We'll see how they handle their third child. 

Thanks for staying with me/us! :)