The Love Story Between Sophie Thompson And Niall Horan

Chapter 113 Bear Grey's 5th Birthday

March 21st 2022

Maya's Point Of View

Tomorrow is a special day. Tomorrow is Bear's 5th birthday. I already know I'll be crying. How could I not? My baby boy is turning five. Time has flown by so fast, and it feels like just yesterday I was holding him in my arms as a newborn. It feels bittersweet, but I'm excited to celebrate him. Bear is growing up so quickly, and I can't wait to see the person he's becoming.

Right now, though, Grace is upstairs, taking her last nap of the day in her crib. She's 7 months old today, but tomorrow she'll be 8 months. I feel like I blinked, and my tiny newborn is already becoming so much more alert and active. I love watching her reach her milestones, but at the same time, I wish I could slow it down. I catch myself staring at her sometimes, trying to remember her little baby sounds, the way she scrunches up her face when she's concentrating, or how she holds onto my finger like she never wants to let go.

I take a deep breath and glance over at the baby monitor on the coffee table. It's silent, save for the occasional soft shuffle from Grace's room. I'm sure she's curled up with her favorite blanket, still deep in her nap.

Downstairs, it's just me and Justin. Liam took Bear to the park for a father-son date to celebrate his birthday a little early. I love how close they are, and it's so important for Bear to have that one-on-one time with his dad, especially with everything going on. Justin, however, doesn't seem to mind that it's just the two of us. He's sitting on the floor, happily playing with his blocks, his little chubby hands stacking them up and knocking them down with delight.

"Look, mama!" Justin exclaims, holding up a tower of blocks he built. "I did it!"

I smile, sitting down next to him on the floor. "Wow, buddy! You're such a smart boy. You built a huge tower!"

He beams, his bright blue eyes sparkling with pride. "Big like Bear!" he says, pointing toward the ceiling, as if the tower he built can reach that high.

I laugh softly. "Yes, big like Bear," I reply, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The thought of Bear growing up fills me with so many emotions. I still see him as my little boy, but I know he's getting older. Just today, he was talking about how excited he was to turn five. The little boy who used to need help putting on his shoes is now asking me to tie his laces because he wants to do it "all by himself."

As I sit there with Justin, my mind starts to wander, thinking about all the changes that have come with each stage of my children's lives. I still remember the first time Bear said "mama" or when he took his first steps. Then, there was the excitement of finding out I was pregnant with Justin, and how different it was going to be having two kids. Now, Grace is here, and it feels like the puzzle pieces are slowly falling into place.

"Do you miss Bear?" Justin asks, his voice soft and a little curious as he continues to play.

I look down at him and nod. "I do, sweetie. I miss him, but I'm happy he's having fun with Daddy."

Justin looks thoughtful for a moment, his tiny brow furrowing. "When Bear comes back, we can play, right?"

"Absolutely," I reply, my heart swelling with affection for my little boy. "When Bear comes back, we'll all play together."

As I sit there watching Justin, I think back to when it was just Bear, Liam, and me. The quiet evenings we spent as a family of three before the chaos of a second child entered our lives. It wasn't easy adjusting to a new baby, but we made it work. And now, with Grace in the picture, we're starting to settle into our new normal, even though things are never quite as peaceful as they were before. There's always a bit of noise, a little more mess, and a lot more love.