Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 229

Mall Outing with Energized, Nibbling Carter

It was a bright Saturday morning, and Malia and Colby decided to take the kids to the mall for a day out. Carter, who had been feeling better after a long stretch of sickness, was full of energy. However, with his newfound energy came the constant nibbling phase—they couldn't let him go anywhere without something to chew on.

Getting Ready

The day started with the usual chaos. Malia packed the diaper bag, ensuring they had all the essentials for Carter:
• His favorite bottle of milk
• Teething toys for nibbling
• A spare set of clothes
• Snacks like goldfish crackers and yogurt melts
• Extra diapers and wipes

Meanwhile, Colby dressed Carter in his dinosaur-themed shirt and matching shoes. Carter giggled as Colby brushed his hair. "Ready to go, buddy?" Colby asked. Carter nodded excitedly, holding onto a small dinosaur toy he refused to leave behind.

The girls, Caitlyn and Colleen, were already ready in matching pastel outfits, while Liam, ever the stubborn one, dragged his feet about putting on his shoes.

"Liam, we're leaving in five minutes," Colby warned. "Do you want to go or stay home?"
Liam huffed, finally pulling on his sneakers.

At the Mall

The mall was buzzing with activity when they arrived. Carter immediately became fascinated with the sights and sounds, kicking his legs excitedly in his stroller. Malia had secured a teething ring to the stroller tray, which Carter alternated between nibbling and throwing on the ground.

Colby sighed as he picked it up for the third time. "Carter, let's keep it on, okay?" he said, snapping it back into place. Carter responded with a cheeky smile.

Inside the mall, their first stop was the children's clothing store. While Malia browsed for outfits for the girls, Colby took Carter and Liam to the toy section. Carter spotted a dinosaur plush on the shelf and squealed with delight. "Rawr!" he exclaimed, reaching for it.

"Alright, alright," Colby said, handing it to him. "You've got enough dinosaurs to open a museum, but I guess one more won't hurt."

Liam, ever the copycat, grabbed a toy car and demanded, "I want this!"
"You're not even asking nicely," Colby replied. "We'll see."

Snack Time

After an hour of walking around, they stopped at the food court for a break. Carter, who had been nibbling non-stop, started squirming in his stroller.

"I think he wants out," Malia said. She lifted him, and he immediately reached for her drink.
"No, no, buddy. This is Mommy's," she said, handing him his bottle instead.

Meanwhile, Liam demanded chicken nuggets, while Caitlyn and Colleen quietly shared a pretzel. Carter nibbled on a piece of bread Colby had torn up for him, happily babbling as he ate.

Wrapping Up

The family made one final stop at the bookstore, where Carter became fascinated with a pop-up dinosaur book. "We're getting it," Malia said, seeing how captivated he was.

By the time they returned to the car, Carter was starting to tire out. He nibbled on his bottle as Colby buckled him into his car seat. "He did pretty well today," Colby said, brushing Carter's hair back.

"Let's see how long that lasts," Malia replied with a laugh.

Back home, Carter's energy finally waned, and he napped soundly with his new dinosaur plush, leaving the family with a brief moment of peace before the next adventure.