You Were Gone

Sophia's 1!

Today is Sophia's first birthday. My baby's one and Val is here. He's been back for almost a month and life has changed. Sophia has taken the benefit of having both parents and tries getting something from each of us.     "Momma." Sophia says poking me in the cheek.

    "Happy birthday baby girl." I whisper careful not wake up Val.

"Thank ou." She smiles. Sophia climbs up on the bed and lays next to me.

"How about you go wake up Dadda." I suggest. "Ok." She giggles and stands next to me, she climbs over me and goes to Val. "Dadda." She says. I turn over and Sophia is sitting on Val. "Dadda." She says again. Val pretending to be asleep, I can tell.     "Happy birthday Sophia!" Val yells surprising Sophia and pulling her into a hug. Sophia giggles and tries escaping the hug. Val sits up and asks, "Is Momma awake?"

"Es." Sophia answers. Val looks at me and I close my eyes.

    "She doesn't look awake." Val states, "Let's wake her up." Before I know it the two jump on me. Val jumps on my legs and Sophia on my chest. "Up Momma!" Sophia yells in my ear.

    "I'm up." I say. I slide out of bed and glare at the two. I grab Sophia off the bed and turn to Val. "You better be up by the time I get back." I state. Val groans and falls dramatically on his pillow.     I carry her out of our room and into her room. Sophia wriggles out of my arms. She lays on her floor and stares up at me. "Come on silly girl, you have to get dressed." I state.

    "Ok Momma." She says. Sophia gets up and goes over to her closet. She looks around at her clothes for a minute and pulls out a purple lace romper. I change her into the outfit and lift her onto her changing table. I brush her curly hair out and double braid it. In her hair I place a purple lace headband.     I pick her up off the changing table and carry her back to our room.

Val's out of bed and is standing shirtless in the bathroom. I walk into the bathroom and set Sophia on the counter. Val wraps his arms around and I lay my head on his shoulder. "Can you believe she's one?" I ask.    "No I don't want her to grow up." Val complains.

    "Why?" I question.

    "Cause boys come with age." Val cringes. I laugh and Sophia giggles.

"Bos are gross Dadda." Sophia says.

    "That's my girl." Val says lifting Sophia off the counter.

    "She'll change her mind later on." I state crossing my arms.

    "Breakfast?" Sophia asks.

    "Yeah let's eat." Val says.

    "Then go make yourself something." I say.

    "Fine." He says. He carries Sophia out of the bathroom and I wait until they're in the kitchen. I go into the bedroom and pull out one of the parts of Sophia's gifts. Val and I decided to get her a puppy, but we didn't want to give her a puppy right away.     We're going to give her little clues until her party. I open the top drawer of my nightstand.

It's a small pink collar with rhinestones. We got her a Yorkshire terrier, and we didn't give it a name yet so Sophia can name it.     I head out into the kitchen and Val is making pancakes with Sophia in his arms. "Momma pancakes!" Sophia exclaims waving a spatula. I take her out of Val's arms.

"Here's part of your present." I say. I hand her the box that the collar's in and she opens it.

    "Pup?" she asks.

    "I don't know, do you think you're getting a puppy?" I ask her. She shrugs her shoulders and focuses her attention on the collar. "Sophia what do you want to do until your party?" Val asks.