Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 226

It was a rough day for Carter. He was fuzzy, frustrated, and battling a lingering sickness that made everything worse. To top it off, his newfound habit of nibbling on everything he could get his hands on had become a constant challenge.

The morning started with Carter refusing breakfast. He sat in his high chair, nibbling on the edge of his bib instead of eating the eggs Malia had prepared. "Carter, honey, you need to eat something," she said gently, holding out a spoonful of scrambled eggs. Carter pushed her hand away and let out a frustrated cry, his face scrunching up as tears threatened to fall.

Colby walked in with a cup of coffee, already sensing the tension. "Looks like someone's having a tough morning," he said, setting his mug down and walking over to his son. "What's going on, buddy?"

Carter didn't answer, of course. Instead, he started gnawing on the tray of his high chair, his little teeth leaving marks in the plastic. "Not the high chair again," Colby groaned, carefully pulling Carter's hands away to redirect him.

Malia sighed. "He's been doing this all morning. Bibs, toys, even his bottle-he just keeps nibbling."

"Is he teething again?" Colby asked, lifting Carter out of the high chair. Carter immediately began squirming, upset at being moved. "Alright, alright, I got you," Colby said soothingly.

They tried to distract Carter with his favorite toys, but he wasn't interested. Instead, he started chewing on the corner of his plush dinosaur, his frustration evident as he whimpered and rubbed his nose with a sniffle. "Poor thing," Malia said, rubbing his back. "He's so uncomfortable."

Colleen and Caitlyn wandered into the living room, curious about the commotion. "Is Carter okay?" Caitlyn asked, her big eyes full of concern.

"He's just not feeling great today," Malia explained. "Why don't you two play quietly so we don't upset him more?"

Meanwhile, Liam peeked around the corner with a mischievous grin. "Why's Carter always crying?" he asked loudly, causing Carter to let out a fresh wail. "Liam!" Colby snapped, giving him a warning look. "Not the time."

Carter continued fussing for most of the morning, only calming down when Colby handed him his bottle filled with warm milk. Even then, Carter alternated between drinking and nibbling on the nipple, clearly too frustrated to relax completely.

By lunchtime, Carter's fever had gone up slightly, and his patience was gone. He refused to sit in his high chair, squirmed out of Colby's arms, and even threw a toy at Liam when he got too close. It was clear to everyone: Carter needed rest.

Colby and Malia worked together to get him settled in the master bedroom. They set up his favorite blanket, dimmed the lights, and turned on his lullaby playlist. Malia sat on the edge of the bed, stroking his hair, while Colby handed him a cold teething ring to nibble on.

Slowly, Carter's cries softened, and he curled up against Malia, his tiny hand clutching her shirt. "There we go," Colby said softly, kneeling beside the bed. "Just take it easy, buddy."

It wasn't an easy day, but with patience and teamwork, they managed to keep Carter as comfortable as possible. Even Liam, after some stern talking-to, brought Carter his favorite stuffed dinosaur as a peace offering. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough.