THEY ARE MY LIGHT. (MDLG Story.)

THIRTY-FOUR: Christmas Day! & Strong Emotions!

[THIRTY-FOUR]

(Time Skip 10:10 a.m. Saturday Christmas Day!)

Dr. Sarah Evans Pearce's (POV)

We just got done with eating breakfast, during which we took a lot of funny and beautiful Christmas photos and now we're trying to get three toddlers calm enough to start opening presents. They're all so cute, but even though I'm biased I think my baby girl is the cutest.

She was super excited this morning, barely staying still long enough to nurse and eat because she was so desperate to open her presents! Now she's being a loving little baby, helping her friends settle down so we can all start. Everyone wants to see the girl's reactions to opening their gifts, so we have them each sitting with what looks like tiny mountains surrounding them as they bubble over with excitement.

Margaret is sitting behind our girl to help her, while Olly is behind Erina and Cal is behind Alcina. The three of them are like big kids themselves so it works out!

Aubrey's patience is rapidly lessening as she starts to shake a few of her presents, but who can blame her really? She's been so good to this point and is so excited that she can't sit still! Margaret is trying to stop her from shaking the presents too much, but I think it's starting to be a losing battle! I can already tell clean up is going to be horrible, but it's definitely going to be worth it at the same time!

"Okay let's start, dears. These little ones have waited long enough, but I do think we're about to be sitting in a snowfield made of wrapping paper!"

Cathy comes to the rescue of the very eager babies who start to squeal and bounce as they each take a gift in their hands. Countless pictures are snapped and video taken as the girls tear through the paper. Laughter fills the room along with numerous chants of 'Mommy, look at this', and 'Momma, look what I got'. There's an overload of love and cuteness in the room like Olly predicted yesterday and it's as amazing as we all knew it would be!

The morning continues with all the gifts being opened, well all of them except for Aubrey's paintings. She chose to save them until everyone had finished with the other gifts, mainly so Erina and Alcina can stay little during all of the excitement. She was worried the paintings might get accidentally ripped or ruined while things were a bit more chaotic, so we plan to see if the girls will come out of their headspaces once all the gifts are done.

I know it's going to be a room full of strong emotions once they see each of their paintings and I have no doubt they're going to be incredibly touched with the effort and the thought behind them. Our girl is very loving in her own way and the emotion that flows off her canvas can be intense. I think it's going to be a moving but wonderful afternoon.

(Time Skip 11:00 a.m. Saturday Still)

Aubrey Barrett's (POV)

Everyone just finished opening their presents, all the wrapping paper has been cleared away, thanks mainly to Mom and Cathy. I came out of headspace the moment Ma asked about the paintings and now I'm bouncing with excitement. But first Ma said she has a gift for Mom and I, so I'm snuggled up to Mom waiting.

I still have a lot of excited energy flowing through me, so a little giggle escapes as I look around at everyone and all my gifts! I almost died of happiness when I was ripping off all the papers, everything I got was awesome, but the most special part was that I got to experience my first Christmas in my headspace! I feel like all week has been filled with happiness and I feel like a new me. I can't wait for more!

I start to bounce in Mom's lap, the excitement is just getting too much! "Don't slip yet, my love," Mom chuckles, giving me a little kiss on my cheek.

"I trying Mom, it just all goosey bumps, you know!" I'm only wiggling now, so that's a bit better! But I'm saved as I see Ma headed our way, with an envelope in her hands. She has a really big smile on her face as she sits down next to us.