Raising Donna

Karlie's Cheerful Visit

The first night with Donna turned out ok. Even though she woke up crying half the night, I was able to catch up on sleep. Morning sun lighted up the windows. I did my morning routine and showered before cooking breakfast. Donna, on her high chair, watched me while babbling. She hadn't started fussing about breakfast yet. After making myself an egg sandwich, I warmed up the baby food and began feeding her. She ate every spoonful obediently until she wanted her bottle. I realized the bottle was Little Mermaid-inspired. Aww! The memory of didn't knowing which bottle she'd like entered my brain. My favorite Disney princess has always been Ariel when I was younger so that's why I chose it. I figured my first daughter would've loved Ariel like I did. Watching Donna happily drank the bottle that had Ariel's face made me grin. I grabbed napkins and wiped the food off her cheeks. My stomach rumbled hungrily. But I didn't mind because I wanna make sure she eat. Karlie was coming over and part of me wished I could be asleep but I'm grateful because she'll be helpful. She helped me get the essentials anyway. Donna suddenly threw her bottle on the floor and energetically kicked her feet around. My eyes widened. "Donna! That's no! No throwing!" I scolded and put it on the counter. She giggled. "That's not funny baby, that's not good." I told her and picked her up from the chair.

Donna played on the play mat when I finished my breakfast. The Little Mermaid distracted her along with a Build-A-Bear teddy bear. Her eyes never left the screen. She watched, listened, swaying her head side to side to Under the Sea and Part of Your World. The whole time I laughed while filming it on my phone. She crawled around, making her way to my feet. I looked at her in awe. Donna looked up with her innocent brown orbs. She made grabby hands. I picked her up and sat her on my lap. "Are you loving the movie? You like it?" I cooed and tickled her belly. She giggled. The doorbell ringed. Karlie's here! I carried her by the hip and got up to unlock the door. Her eyes widened. "Hi!" She squealed while smiling. I chuckled. "Hey. I'd like to introduce you to my daughter Donna." I playfully introduced. Karlie cheered happily and carefully took her off my grasp. "Hi Donna, I'm your Great-Aunt Karlie. Hi sweetie." She cooed, tickling her neck. The happy energy of Karlie seemed to entertain her much. "So, you finished work today KarKar?" I asked. She nodded. "Yup! All I did was discuss the family gathering at Aunt Malorie's this weekend. Did you forget?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. My brain clicked. Grandma mentioned they'll be over there but I forgotten it'd be a full house. I facepalmed and flunked myself on the couch. "So much for taking time." I muttered. She sat beside me with Donna who's fiddling with her heart pendant necklace. Emmy has one too. The only good memory they have of their mother. I smiled softly. "She likes the pendant." I said. Karlie looked down and smiled warmly. "She does huh? Wow...I haven't taken notice of it for a while...." She trailed off blinking incoming tears. I smiled sadly, rubbing her shoulder. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. Donna babbled while trying to put the pendant in her mouth. Karlie grabbed it, kissing her hand. "Sometimes I think she's off doing something helpful or volunteering to help other addicts. Then someday, we'd stop by and she welcome us with open arms. Like say, we missed you mommy and she'd say I'll never leave." She said, wiping more tears. Emmy and Karlie's mom started doing drugs when Emmy were two. She stopped when being pregnant with Karlie yet the addiction continued until they were seven and four. We chose not to talk about her because it felt too painful knowing they hadn't seen her in a long time. I couldn't help but chuckle. "You are so optimistic, you know that? That belief in nothing but positivity. That's why you and Mason are my personal favorites." I said, whispering the last part. She laughed and playfully winked. "Thanks babygirl! Between you and me, I'm Donna's favorite Auntie." She said, whispering to her. Donna giggled. I rolled my eyes. "You thought you were Aunt Karli's favorite." I said. Karlie playfully bounced her on her lap. "Why else would I be named after her?" She scoffed. I would've answered if we hadn't heard Donna fuss. She made grabby hands and she gave her to me. "What's wrong my little Ariel?" I cooed. My nose caught the diaper smell. Karlie smirked. "Diaper?" She asked. I nodded before getting up and going to my room. "Need baby lotion?" She asked. "Yup!" I told her. She chuckled and searched through the essentials I noted to put away.

******

Donna's fussing could be heard throughout the apartment building. She still refused to wear nothing but her diaper. Karlie tried entertaining in order to distract yet it wasn't flawless like Grandma's. Her cries were beginning to irritate me as I tried putting a shirt on her. My brain clicked. "Stay here. Keep putting her pants on." I instructed. She nodded. I pulled out my phone and began playing Under the Sea. The cries slowly died as I playfully danced around. She watched me dance while Karlie successfully pulls up her pants. "Under the sea, under the sea, darling it's better, fine wetter, take it from me." I playfully sung. Donna had a small smile and moved her legs happily. I laughed. "Oh god!" I chuckled. Karlie snickered before picking her up. "Keep going, she likes it." She joked. I scoffed, pointing at her. "Because she likes it." I said. Donna was very much entertained until the song ended. "Yay!" I playfully cheered. "Yay!" She cheered, clapping. We laughed. Karlie kissed her cheek and hugged her. "You are so cute!" She squealed. But it doesn't say for when we go to Aunt Malorie's. Everyone will want to hold, play, talk to Donna once they meet her. "Have your parents met her?" She mentioned. I huffed. "No." I muttered. Karlie scoffed and smiled. "No worries. You can just go see them tomorrow or the next day. But I wouldn't pick Friday." She advised. I looked at her weirdly. "Why?" I asked. "Because they need all the time to grasp this before the whole family does." She finished. I rolled my eyes. "Now you're just making me nervous." I said. She returned the gesture while Donna played with her bangs. "Hails, we all felt like this when they brought home a new baby. Nervous, pouty, angry, annoyed perhaps." She said. "True." I agreed. Maybe she's right. I'm thinking way too much about their reaction. If they're ok with my decision, that's fine. If they're not, it doesn't change anything. I let out a breath I didn't know I held. She kept rocking Donna who laid her head on her shoulder. She must be tired. "I'll rock her. We just need to figure out the crib thing." I said, referring to the unopened crib box. Karlie handed me Donna and smirked. "That's why we have eight males in this family." She sassed, skipping out. I chuckled. Donna babbled. "And that's your Auntie Karlie." I joked, booping her nose. She giggled.