When Worlds Collide

57. One year old

~Valerie's POV~

Today my little man turns one year old! I'm excited, he can walk around by himself, but we don't let him get too far and he's trying to talk. Ryan and I are both in competition to see which one of our names is Jeremiah going to say first, I figure it will be me because I'm with him the most.

We invited all of our friends and family to come and this is certainly one for the books. "Val I'm telling you, he's gonna say daddy first." Ryan said next to me

"That's where you're wrong, because I'm with him most of the time and he's bound to say mommy first."

He shook his head, "No, no I don't agree. He's my son and we have a bond between us that solidifies our connection with each other."

I look at him weirdly, "Ryan what are you talking about?"

"Bottom line, he's gonna say my name first."

"You two look so cute together." Lina said happily sitting down across from us

"Mom, we're discussing who Jeremiah will say who's name first, mines or hers and I already know it's gonna me."

I shook my head, "For once, get over yourself."

Lina laughed, "Oh you two remind me of when Vlad and I first got married. Don't worry about little Jeremiah, he'll say it eventually."

"I just hope Val will be there when he says daddy so I can rub it in her face. " He said grinning at me

"Just don't forget to cherish the other words that he's said." Ryan and I look at her

"What other words?" I asked

"When he was over for the weekend, he said nana and baba. I thought you knew that already."

"No ma we didn't. How long did he say it?!"

"All night, he also said boo boo, no, and doo doo." Ryan and I were both in shock

"How come we've never heard him say those things. That's all we do is try to get him to talk." He said

"Maybe try a different approach, but in the meantime he's bound to say mommy and daddy." Lina  said

"Yeah no kidding, he's saying all that might as well come out and say it." Ryan said

Levi came up to the table with a giggling Jeremiah in his hands, "Levi has he said anything to you?" Ryan asked

"I did ask him, did he want some water and he said no." Levi said sitting down and handing the baby to Ryan

"I don't get why he won't talk to us." Ryan said

I brushed back Jeremiah's curls on his head with my hand, "Jeremiah come to mommy." I said holding out my hands. He shook his head and said no

"Can you say nana?" Ryan asked and he said nana

"Say dada." I said and he said it in which Ryan's face lit up

"I told you he would say it first."

"Only because I wanted him too, I know you, if you don't get your way, you pout and act like a baby."

Levi laughed, "She got a point." He kept laughing and then Ryan gave him a hard look

"What's funny Levi?"

He stopped laughing and had a serious face, "Who me?"

"Yeah you, what's so funny?"

"Dude I wasn't laughing, I think you got me confused with someone else. I would never laugh at you, man."

Ryan sucked his teeth, "You just better be glad my mom is sitting in front of us."

"And what a lovely mom you have. Mrs. P, you have such an incredible son here." Levi said putting a hand on Ryan's shoulder while Ryan gave him a cold stare

"Yes, he is an amazing son." Lina said smiling at Ryan

Levi looked at Ryan and had a fake shocked expression, "Ryan lighten up, you know you still my homie."

"Don't mind him Levi, he's just mad because his hemorrhoids have been acting up lately." I said jokingly. Levi snickered and Ryan whipped his head around and Levi had a serious look

"I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at your mom. Haha, that was a good one Mrs. P, you crack me up." Lina looked up confused because she had already left the table and was talking to my mom across the yard.

Levi looked at Ryan and he was fuming and was tapping his fingers on the table, "I see you mad, so I'm just gonna go because I don't want you to shot me or anything, I can see it in your eyes, you got that crazy look.." Ryan sat the baby back and he went to reach for his pocket and Levi jumped up.

"Alright I'll go, but I'll be back cause you still my homie." He said and walked away

"Do you have a gun on you?" I whispered leaning towards him

He shrugged, "Maybe."

"What do you mean maybe?! You're at home, what if someone sees it?!"

"Calm down, everything's locked up in the room. Now sit back and relax, it's our sons birthday." He bounced the baby in his lap as he kissed him on his cheeks

•
•

"Happy birthday Jeremiah! Happy birthday to you!" Everyone sung and took pictures of Jeremiah as he giggled in Ryan's lap.

"Alright son, blow out the candle." He tried to reach out and grab it but Ryan stopped him and showed him how to blow out the candle. He tried but Ryan helped him out and then he stuck his hand in the cake and started eating it

"Well so much for cutting the cake." I said. I cut out the part where Jeremiah stuck his hand in and gave it to him on a separate plate while everyone cut their own pieces.

Jeremiah would take a fist full of cake and try eating the whole thing, but he would just get it all over his face. "Can daddy have some?" Jeremiah looked at Ryan while he had his mouth open and Jeremiah stuck his fist in Ryan's mouth

"Thank you son, why don't you give mommy some." He said pointing at me. I shook my head no and Ryan put some cake on his finger and brought it to my lips

"Just try some, it's good."

"No, I don't want any cake."

"Just try it."

I moved his hand away, "No thank you."

He smirked, "Come on AnnaMae, eat the cake." Then he rubbed it in my lips

I wiped the cake off my lips and ate it, "And I told you Ike, I didn't want any cake."

"But you ate it anyways, real good AnnaMae." He said licking his fingers

*

It was time to open gifts and the whole table was full of gifts. Everyone bought him something and each time we would show him what he got, he would forget all about what he was already playing with and play with the new gift.

I bought him a small wagon and Ryan bought him a little tykes walking car, I can see it now, Jeremiah will not want to put that thing down. All day he will be walking up and down with that thing and it will drive me nuts. The rest of his gifts consisted of clothes, shoes, toys, and other stuff that he's going to forget all about once he starts playing with his walker car.