The Hadyns [ON HOLD]

Chapter 11|Let Her Cry

VALERIE

After showering and getting dressed, I went to the girls' room to see if they were awake. The moment I opened their door, Prim ran up to me and grabbed my leg.

"Morning mommy!" She exclaimed. The corners of her eyes were painted slightly with crust, and her cheeks had visual marks of her rest the night before. Nonetheless, she looked cute as ever.

"Good morning, Primrose," I smiled down at her, then picked my toddler up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

Prim nodded, looking around behind me. When she started to smile, I turned to see what she was looking at.

Eric stood behind us, his focus on Prim, "good morning!"

Prim's arms reached out to him, and I let Eric take her. "I'll be downstairs soon. Could you feed them? And wash her face a bit?"

"Yeah I-"

"Oh, and help the boys get ready. We're going to Kelly's place for a play day thing. It's the whole day."

Eric looked at me, waiting a few seconds before replying, "I will do all that." He gave me a quick kiss, then went down the steps with Prim.

I walked into the girls' room, and could see Noah stirring in her bed. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while still half asleep. After a few seconds, she looked over at me.

"Hi baby!" I picked Noah up, giving her a kiss. She smiled sleepily, staring at my hair, nose, eyes. Basically, all over the front of my head.

"Okay, let's get you washed up."

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"Wahhhhh!" Noah wailed, hitting the high chair she was sitting in. She'd been fussy ever since her bath this morning, and it was clear someone had woken up on the wrong side of their baby bed. Eric frowned, his attempts to soothe her failing.

Josh groaned, glaring at his baby sister, "stop crying, Noah!"

She paused, wet eyes fixed on her brother, her pouting lip covered in snot. It seemed to have worked, until she frowned again, and opened her mouth wide.

"Wahhhh!"

I sighed, deciding to go about my tasks. As I continued packing two bags with snacks, bottles, and extra outfits for Prim and Noah, I called the twins over, "Josh, Nosh, go get your stuff for Samuel's house."

Nosh glanced over at his sister, and Josh protested, "but mommy, Noah-"

"Leave her. Or do you want to stay here instead of sleeping over at your friend's house?"

They mumbled 'no' under their breaths, then went up to their rooms to get their things. Prim stopped playing with her car, and came up to me, "I wanna sleepover, too."

"Honey, maybe another time?" I suggested, not wanting to tell her she was too young. She wouldn't understand, and it would sound like I was saying no. Which I was, but she didn't need to know that.

There was a small chance Prim could sleep over at someone's house, that wasn't ours or her grandparents', without being a bit difficult. If she didn't see me a few minutes after waking up, she'd come into my room and look for me. If I wasn't there, she'd look for Eric.

Only a few times has she not found either of us upstairs. And, when that happened, she had sobbed softly, carefully making her way downstairs to find us. When she did, she was in tears.

I'd rather not put the pressure of a homesick toddler on someone who wasn't around her often.

She seemed slightly disappointed, but agreed anyway. Noah's screaming could still be heard nearby, and it seemed to be getting louder. Eric left Noah at the table, walking over to me and Prim.

"Let's go help the boys, Prim," Eric said, picking her up. He locked eyes with me, a look of concern on his face, "you have Noah?"

I nodded, "she'll be fine."

He gave me a small smile, then went back upstairs.

We both hated seeing any of the kids cry, upset, disappointed. But, children get fussy. It's a part of life.

Still, doesn't make it any easier.

Prim and Noah's bags were all ready, so I went to check on my very upset child. Noah's crying stopped for a second when she noticed me in front of her, but she just kept going after that.

"Okay, okay," I lifted her out of the high chair, then bounced her as I held her. She kept crying, but I could tell she was starting to get tired.

As I left the dining area and went into the living room, I went over a checklist in my head.

She ate, I bathed her, changed her, she's hydrated and well rested.

"You're just cranky," I whispered, grabbing a soft tissue and wiping her face. Noah rested her head on my shoulder, still crying softly.

"Baby Noah, baby Noah, I love you. I love you. You are my baby, you are my baby, everyday. Everyday."

As I continued to sing, I walked around the house, rubbing her back. Her crying reduced to sniffles, which eventually stopped as well.

I looked down at my shoulder to see Noah sleeping, her tears dried on her cheeks.

"Put on your shoes," I heard before Josh, Nosh and Prim came downstairs, with Eric close behind them.

He walked over to me, smiling, "ready to-. Wow, she's sleeping?"

"Yeah, just some movement and attention seemed to do the trick," I told him.

"Says the child whisperer," Eric teased, smirking.

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