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Are we really doing this?

Enzo's first birthday came around so quickly. It felt like only yesterday that we welcomed our little whirlwind into our family and the year that had passed between then and now felt like it had gone in the blink of an eye. The 6lb 11oz baby that we held in our arms for the first time 364 days ago was now a walking and almost talking toddler who ran rings around us on a daily basis.

We spent the night before his first birthday just like we did with Jordi, wrapping presents, blowing up balloons and hanging decorations. Jordi's first birthday theme was dinosaurs, but unlike his older brother, Enzo had shown no interest in the prehistoric animals. Enzo's favourite word was ball and his favourite thing to do was toddle around the garden trying to play football with his older brother, so here we were at almost midnight hanging up football balloons and Barcelona flags.

"How are we going to have a 4 year old and a 1 year old tomorrow?"

"I don't know, but it makes me feel so old" Ale laughed, shaking her head as she finished wrapping up Enzo's presents.

"Me too"  I smiled.

We finished setting up the living room ready for the morning and headed up to bed. This time last year we were at the hospital, my contractions had stopped and we were becoming inpatient to meet our little boy and now our not so little boy was sleeping on his own in his bedroom. Time really does fly when you have children and everyday that had passed since we first welcomed Jordi into our lives felt like it was going by in a flash.

We woke up early the next morning, prepared the birthday cupcake and waited for Enzo to stir through the baby monitor before heading into his room and starting the birthday tradition with him. He beamed up at us when we arrived into his bedroom with a cupcake just like Jordi did, they looked so similar that it felt like we had gone back in time, but in reality they couldn't be more different.

"Happy birthday baby boy" Ale teared up as she lifted him out of his cot.
"We love you so much"

"Ba-ball" Enzo reached out for the football cupcake that I was holding in my hand.

"He's just like his Mama" I joked.
"Even on his birthday all he can think about is football"

His party was later that day and the house slowly began to fill with his favourite people. Eli and Alba arrived first to help us set up the food and drinks and then my parents arrived not long later, flying in from Seville just like they did for every big occasion that the boys had. The newly married Ona and Lucy were the first of our friends to arrive, followed by some of our other teammates and Ale's childhood friends, before Mapi, Ingrid and Tommy arrived.

So many of ours friends had children now that any gathering we held was as much for the kids as it was for us. Irene and Lucia had Mateo who Jordi was obsessed with and little Ana who was almost two. Ale's childhood friend Olga had a little boy called Thiago who was only a few weeks older than Enzo and they were the best of friends and then there was little Tommy Leon who everyone was obsessed with.

I was stood at the side of the living room watching the kids play when Maria approached with Tommy sleeping peacefully in her arms. She had taken to motherhood like a duck to water and was loving every moment of it.

"When did our little Enzo get so big?" she asked leaning against that wall next to me.

"I have no idea" I laughed as I watched our youngest boy follow Jordi and Mateo around like a shadow as they played with the balloons that were scattered around the room.

"I don't ever want Tommy to grow up" Mapi added, staring down at her 4 week old son as he slept.

"I felt like that when we had Jordi, but watching them grow into their own little personalities really is one of the best feelings in the world"
"They are so perfect when they are this small though, I could have stayed in the newborn bubble forever. The smell, the never ending cuddles and the early mornings feeds when it feels like you are the only two people awake in the whole world... it is such a special time and if I'm being honest I really do miss it"

"Do you think you'll do it again?" Mapi asked quietly.

"Oh- we don't know yet- maybe in a couple of ye-"

"Auntie Mapi, will you come and play with us?" Jordi appeared beside us, his hazel eyes staring up at Mapi with a pleading look.

Maria never could say no to our eldest son, ever since the moment he was born he had her wrapped around her little finger, so of course she said yes.
"Of course buddy, just let me go and take Tommy over to Ingrid and I'll be right there. If I can ever find her..." She trailed off as she searched the room for her partner.

"She's probably gone to the bathroom, I can take him" I offered, holding my hands out towards the sleeping baby with a smile.

"That would be great, thank you Is"

"That's what aunties are for" I smiled as I carefully cradled Tommy in my arms before Mapi headed off to play with the boys.

After a few minutes I slowly walked across the living room and into the garden where it was quiet... or quieter at least and settled onto the garden furniture with sweet Tommy in my arms. I sat quietly with him for a while before I heard the patio door slide and my wife's voice filled my ears.

"There you are Tommy" She smiled as she appeared in front of me, standing with a loving smile on her face as she looked down at me.
"Your mamas have been looking for you everywhere"

"Oh, we were in our own little world weren't we sweet boy" I smiled down at the newborn before rising to my feet.
"We better get you back to them though hadn't we"

Ale's eyes never left me as I slowly walked towards the house, a telling smile still spread across her face as her hazel eyes followed me closely.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" I stopped just before the door and turned to look at my wife.

"It's just... seeing you with a baby... it's making me broody that's all. I can't wait to have another baby with you Mrs Putellas" She explained before leaning in a placing a peck on my lips.

"I can't wait to have another baby with you too Mrs Putellas"

"Remind me why we are waiting again?" She smiled, her eyes glancing between mine and the baby in my arms.

"You wanted to wait until this season was over"

"I don't think I want to wait anymore, I want to have our baby now... who knows how long it might take"

"Are we really doing this?"