The Tale of Zachary Willowbrook: A Leap Day Paradox

Chapter 6: Progress

Over the next month, Stacy was determined to toilet train Audrey. With that, she took her night time bottles away. Instead of them, she let Audrey drink her milk before going to bed, trying her new big girl cup. She then poured a glass of water into the cup and placed the domed straw over it. "Drink this if you are thirsty. If you have to go, get up and use your potty, okay?"

Audrey nodded. "Okay. Good night, mommy!"

Audrey was reluctant to give up the bottles at first, but got over it in a few days. Over the next few days, she was able to use her potty at night.

With it being three weeks until Halloween, there was a princess costume that Audrey really wanted to have. Stacy told her that she could only have it if she started wearing big girl underwear to bed.

Over the next month, Audrey was fully trained. Within a couple weeks, she started wearing her big girl underwear to bed. She got up and went whenever she had to go. Every once in a while, she had an accident, but it was becoming less and less common.

With that, Stacy wrote her final tally in the notebook that she kept for Audrey that was in her diaper bag.

By the end of the month, Audrey got her princess costume. Zachary went as a pirate. Timothy was too young to go Trick-or-Treating, so David watched him. Stacy took the other two Trick-or-Treating, going as a queen.

One month after Timothy was born, David got promoted again. Instead of managing a few smaller accounts, he was given a rather large one. That night, David, overjoyed, called Stacy into the bedroom.

David went over to Stacy and hugged her. "Stacy," he said to her, smiling, "I did it. They gave it to me."

Stacy gave him a long stare. "Gave you what?"

David exploded with excitement. "They gave me the big one, honey. Lawson & Wager gave me the Dreamies account."

Stacy looked impatient. "So they gave you that account? Davy, that is a brand of diapers."

David shook his head. "I don't think you understand this, honey. That Dreamies brand alone is worth billions of dollars. It is such a large account that a team of people have to manage it. I was asked to join their team."

Stacy's face suddenly changed from impatience to excitement. "That is so great, Davy! But doesn't it feel strange that you're managing capital for a baby product?"

David shook his head. "Money is money, Stacy, no matter what brand it is. I could be managing the best brand of chips, or the best brand of paper plates and it wouldn't matter. Besides, I was rewarded with a $20,000 bonus as an added incentive. Both for joining, and my hard work."

"$20,000?! That is amazing! Get to work on that account, Davy!"

"My salary has also been increased by 15%, with a total increase of 20% after three years. I'll dive into that account tomorrow, honey. Let's get some sleep!"

With that, David and Stacy went off to bed.

One month after Halloween, it was almost time for Christmas. It was now halfway through December. At this time, Zachary was five. He would be six in March. Using Zachary's special calendar, he was only 17 months old. At this age, he was now using six words and could speak with more clarity. He could throw a ball underhand. He loved to play with Timothy, who was almost 4 months.

One day, David had a surprise prepared for Audrey. This was about a week before Christmas. On that day, he got off of work early and bought Audrey's surprise. As a diversion, Stacy took Zachary, Audrey and Timothy to the mall to see Santa Claus.

When they came back, David told Audrey to look at her room. To her surprise, her crib was no longer there. Instead, a beautiful big girl bed was laying there. Audrey threw herself on the bed, spreading her arms across the entire width of the bed.