Highschool Lovers

put the baby down

I stand in the chaos of our living room, a sea of toys scattered across the floor. Mia, our imaginative four-year-old, is crafting something utterly magical out of cushions and blankets while Charlie and Chandler, the dynamic twin duo, are fast approaching an escalation of mischief that I can only dread. In my arms, two-month-old Luke begins to wiggle and fuss, clearly ready for a diaper change, and I realize I'm standing on the edge of pandemonium.

"Adrien!" I call out, my voice a mix of urgency and exhaustion. "Can you help me keep an eye on Mia and the twins? Luke needs a change!"

"Coming, I'm coming!" Adrien replies, his voice calm, but I can sense the impending whirlwind.

I turn around for just a moment to grab a clean onesie from the nursery, my heart racing as I hear the chaos behind me escalate. The giggles and shouts of kids blend into a cacophony, and I mutter under my breath. "What are they up to now?"

Suddenly, an eerie silence blankets the room. That can't be good. I whip around, and my stomach drops. The sight before me is both hilarious and terrifying. Mia, Charlie, and Chandler are holding Luke upside down, giggling uncontrollably while they hover over one of my big bowls for marinating meat.

"Guys!" I shout, my heart racing. "Put him down!"

Mia tilts her head and grins, "But Mommy, he's going swimming!"

"Swimming?" I can't help my incredulous laugh, even as panic surges through me. "He's two months old! He's not going swimming!"

Luke shrieks in protest, clearly displeased with his precarious position. "Waaaah! Waaaah!" His wails bounce off the walls, leaving no doubt that he's about to throw the loudest tantrum of his short life.

"Okay, okay!" I rush forward to rescue my defenseless baby. "Let him go!"

Chandler drops him like a hot potato, a wide-eyed expression of guilt replacing her previous mirth. "We were just playing."

"I can see that," I reply, snatching Luke and cradling him against my shoulder. "But he still needs a diaper change, like, five minutes ago!"

I'm not sure what's worse—Luke's wails or trying to wrangle Mia and the twins while handling a slippery baby.

"Adrien!" I call out again, a hint of desperation slipping into my voice. "Where are you?"

"Processing the situation!" he shouts from the kitchen, but I hear the laughter in his tone—he's thoroughly enjoying this.

"Processing?" I shoot back, rolling my eyes, "You're not the one being held hostage by a bowl!"

"You did say I should help!" he responds, his laughter spilling into the living room.

"Half-jokingly!" I retort, adjusting Luke against my hip, who is now quieting down, though still grumbling. "Remember, you're the one who didn't use protection!"

"Touché," he replies, emerging from the kitchen with an amused smile, arms crossed. "But look at it this way: we've created a wonderful family spectacle. This is the kind of chaos people dream of!"

"Dream of or dread?" I chuckle, my heart warming at the ridiculous scene before me.

"Both, maybe?" Adrien shrugs playfully, stepping closer. "You're the one who suggested I help."

"Oh, come on. You know I didn't mean it like that." I set Luke down on the changing table, trying to keep him entertained. "Can you distract the twins while I change him?"

"Absolutely." He kneels down to the twins' eye level. "Do you two want to help me build a fortress? We can use all the couch cushions!"

Instantly, Mia perks up. "Can we?!"

"Definitely!" he gives a wink.

"Yay!" Charlie and Chandler squeal in unison, their turbulent energy redirected, leaving me to focus on the task at hand.

With Luke now squeaky clean and dressed in his fresh onesie, I can't help but smile at the sheer absurdity of the situation. Family may be chaos, but it's also love, laughter, and my amazing, messy husband.

"Okay, little buddy," I coo to Luke, who's now chipper and occasionally gurgling. "Welcome back to the world of the living."

And as I rejoin the horde of giggles and laughter, I can't help but wonder what new adventures await us in this wonderfully hectic world we've built together.