Parents.. with different treatment

His first birthday...

The house was filled with laughter, balloons, and the scent of freshly baked cake. Valerie watched from the doorway, her hand resting on her growing belly, as her little boy, Xander, sat in his high chair, wide-eyed and giggling at the sight of his first birthday cake. He was one today—how had time moved so quickly?

Colby stood by Xander, trying to coax him into blowing out the single candle that flickered on top of the cake. "Come on, buddy, you can do it!" he encouraged, his own excitement contagious. Xander, however, was far more interested in grabbing fistfuls of the frosting than in blowing out any candles.

Valerie chuckled, stepping forward to join them. She felt the soft kick of the baby growing inside her, a gentle reminder that soon they would be a family of four. It still felt surreal at times—just a year ago, they had been welcoming Xander into the world, and now they were preparing for another little one to join their lives.

"Let me help," she said, leaning over and blowing out the candle for Xander before he could get his tiny fingers too close to the flame.

Colby laughed, wiping a bit of frosting from Xander's cheek. "I think he's more interested in eating the cake than anything else."

Valerie smiled, her heart full as she watched Xander clap his hands, clearly pleased with himself as he dug into the cake. "I can't believe he's already one," she said softly, feeling a little emotional. "It feels like just yesterday we were bringing him home."

Colby slipped his arm around her, his hand resting gently on her belly. "And now we're doing it all over again soon."

Valerie nodded, still amazed at how much had changed in such a short time. She glanced around the room, where family and a few close friends had gathered to celebrate Xander's first year of life. The room was decorated with colorful streamers, photos of Xander from the past year hanging on the walls, marking all his little milestones—his first smile, his first steps, his first word ("Dada," to Colby's delight).

"Are you feeling okay?" Colby asked, noticing the thoughtful look on her face.

Valerie smiled up at him. "I'm fine. Just... thinking about how fast everything is moving. It's a little overwhelming sometimes."

Colby squeezed her shoulders gently. "We'll manage. We've done it before, and we're a great team."

She rested her head against his shoulder, comforted by his words. "I know. It's just hard to believe that soon we'll have two little ones running around."

As if on cue, Xander let out a loud squeal, smacking his hands into the cake, sending bits of frosting flying. Valerie and Colby burst out laughing, and Colby grabbed a napkin to try and clean him up.

"Looks like we'll need to give him a bath after this," Colby joked, wiping frosting from Xander's hair. "But he's having a blast."

Valerie knelt down beside Xander, who was now happily smearing the remnants of the cake across his high chair tray. She couldn't help but smile at how carefree and full of joy he was. "It's worth all the messes, isn't it?" she said, looking up at Colby.

He nodded, his eyes soft with affection. "Every bit of it."

Later that evening, after everyone had left and the house had quieted down, Valerie and Colby sat together on the couch, Xander asleep in his crib after a long day of excitement. The house still had remnants of the party—half-deflated balloons floating lazily in the corner, wrapping paper scattered on the floor, and Xander's new toys stacked up by the fireplace.

Valerie rested her head against Colby's shoulder, her hand absentmindedly rubbing her belly. "I'm a little nervous," she admitted. "About having another baby so soon. What if I don't have enough energy for both of them?"

Colby kissed the top of her head. "You're an amazing mom, Val. You've done so much for Xander, and you'll do just as great with this little one. And I'll be right here with you, every step of the way."

Valerie smiled, feeling reassured by his words. "I guess we'll figure it out like we always do."

"We will," Colby said, rubbing her back gently. "One day at a time."

Valerie closed her eyes, letting herself relax for the first time all day. She knew it wouldn't always be easy—balancing a toddler and a newborn would be a whole new challenge—but she also knew that their family was strong, full of love, and growing in ways she never imagined. And as overwhelming as it all felt at times, it also filled her with excitement.

A little kick from the baby made her smile. Soon, their home would be even fuller—with more love, more laughter, and yes, more chaos. But as she sat there, surrounded by the remnants of Xander's first birthday, she knew she wouldn't have it any other way.

Colby's hand intertwined with hers, and they sat in peaceful silence, ready for whatever the future would bring.

"Happy birthday, Xander," Valerie whispered, thinking of the year that had passed and the beautiful years yet to come.