Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 212

The morning started off on a high note. Carter woke up energized, bouncing in his crib and babbling excitedly as Colby came to get him. "Well, someone's ready to take on the world today!" Colby said, scooping Carter up and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Carter wriggled in his arms, pointing toward the door as if to say, Let's go already! "Alright, buddy. Let's get you ready for our mall trip," Colby chuckled, carrying him downstairs.

In the living room, Malia was gathering everything they'd need for the outing—Carter's stroller, bottle, snacks, extra clothes, and his favorite dinosaur toy. Meanwhile, Liam, as usual, was pestering his little brother. "I'm faster than Carter!" Liam declared, zooming around the living room and showing off a toy car.

Carter, not wanting to be outdone, let out an excited squeal and toddled after Liam, waving his arms. "Looks like he's got a lot of energy today," Malia observed, smiling. "Let's hope it lasts until we get to the mall."

By the time they arrived at the mall, Carter was already fidgety in his stroller. He kept squirming, trying to escape, and when Colby finally gave in and let him walk, Carter bolted toward a store entrance, giggling loudly.

"Carter! Slow down!" Malia called, jogging after him.

Colby sighed, "Looks like it's going to be one of those days."

After an hour of chasing Carter around, picking him up every time he tried to grab something off the shelves, and dealing with Liam's insistence that he needed whatever toy Carter liked, the energy started to shift.

Carter began tugging on Colby's pant leg, whining softly. His eyes were droopy, and his cheeks flushed. "Oh no," Malia said, recognizing the signs. "We've hit the fuzzy, tired phase."

Colby tried placing Carter back into the stroller, but Carter squirmed and kicked, letting out a frustrated cry. "Buddy, you need to sit," Colby said patiently, handing him his bottle. Carter took it for a second but threw it onto the floor moments later, his little face scrunched in frustration.

Liam, ever the copycat, decided to climb into the stroller beside Carter, pretending to cry. "I'm tired too!" he announced dramatically.

"Liam, out of the stroller," Malia said firmly, picking him up. "This is for Carter. You're fine."

"But I want a bottle too!" Liam whined, crossing his arms.

Carter, now fully in meltdown mode, started crying loudly, overwhelmed by his exhaustion and the noise around him. Colby sighed and picked him up, trying to soothe him. "Shh, buddy. I've got you. We're almost done here."

After a quick stop for dinner—where Carter refused to eat anything but nibble on his bottle and Liam insisted on copying every move Carter made—they decided it was time to call it a day.

Back home, Carter was too tired to protest during his bath. He sniffled softly as Malia washed him, clearly worn out. Liam, meanwhile, continued his antics, trying to copy Carter by pretending to cry and requesting extra attention.

"Liam, it's bedtime. Enough," Colby said, his voice firm but gentle.

Once Carter was in his pajamas, Colby rocked him gently in his arms, humming a soft tune. Despite the rough end to the day, Carter cuddled into his dad's chest, his little hand clutching Colby's shirt.

By the time Carter was asleep in his crib, both parents let out a sigh of relief. "Tomorrow will be better," Malia whispered, tucking him in with his favorite blanket.

"Hopefully," Colby replied with a tired smile, kissing Carter's forehead.