Erin Lindsay: Time stops

Double Birthday

September 20th 2017-
"Good morning Baylie. We are going to your best friends birthday today. Yes it's Ry-Ry and Edies birthday!" I exclaimed lifting my daughter out of her crib.

Ry-Ry and Edie were Kim and Adams twin daughters. Their formal names were Eden-Grace and Rylie-Esmée. A lot of our kids shared names which was a total coincidence but hilarious. Eden-Graces middle name was Lindsay as well as my twin 2 month old daughter Nadia. Rylie-Esmées name also was the name of my seven year old. So that's part of the reason we always used nicknames.

"Mama!" I heard Esmée calling bringing me out of my thoughts.

"What is it Ez?"

"Nadia and Justin are awake!"

"Okay baby thank you. Come here and take your sister to the kitchen. I'll go get the twins. Happily she obeyed and took her little sisters tiny hand into hers and the two of them walked out of the room.

"Good morning babies. Are you ready for your first birthday party?" I cooed gently picking them up. I then sat down in the rocking chair in their room and fed them. They were already growing so much and their personalities were becoming more apparent. Nadia was always giggly and absolutely loved Esmée. She thought she was the most hilarious thing and always wanted to see her sister. Justin was way different then Nadia. He was definitely a screamer. He did not like his siblings as much as his sister but preferred Jay and I. This may have to do with the fact that he was the only boy.

Once I finished feeding them, I dressed them in matching outfits both light blue. A dress for Nadia and a jumper for Justin. I also thought to bring an extra set of clothes because they would probably get food all over it.

I took them out to the kitchen and put them in the playpen before serving my other daughters breakfast. Around the time that I could finally get a shower, Jay came back from the store. He had went and bought a present for the birthday.

"Hey babe." I greeted kissing him. "What did you get?"

"Two baby dolls. I think they'll like it. Right?"

I nodded and smiled. He always knew what to get.

"How are my girls and boy this morning?"

"Good, we have three very happy babies and one seven year old with way too much energy. You about ready to go?"

He nodded. It took about twenty minutes to load all four kids in the car just because my kids were especially difficult to get in cars with everyone wanting to be seated somewhere different. It was around 9:45 when we were finally all settled. The birthday party was going to be at Adams Playground Park, a park we took the kids to very often.

"Momma?"

"Yes Esmée?"

"Will Rylie and Eden hate sharing a birthday? Will Justin and Nadia be like that?" She asked.

"First of all, we don't say hate. It's not a very nice word. Second, I think that twins won't mind. I think they will be glad. But we do know that we will always make sure Baylie gets her own birthday separate from them."

She seemed satisfied with that answer and the ride was peaceful with the occasional sounds of Baylie saying random words she picked up. Finally we got there. We pulled up and there was balloons, decorations and presents everywhere. Seeing us, Kim came over with a girl in her arms.

"Hey guys! Just in time! Hi Esmée and Baylie." She greeted to my children. Baylie immediately clung to my leg because she was nervous around a whole bunch of people.

"It's okay Bay. Wanna go play with your friends?" Immediately she warmed up and went off. Now I just had Esmée to deal with.

Luckily Will showed up and told his niece "I wanna see a routine." Meaning she could do cartwheels for him. So that left Jay, the twins and I.

I went over to the table where there was shade and I chatted up Kim.

"Your girls are so big now! It seems like only yesterday they were newborns." I began. What she didn't know is I had a speech prepared. Soon, it was time for her to find out. Everyone gathered around the tent and I went up in front of everyone.

"So Kim doesn't know this, but she will soon but I prepared a speech for this. I mean how often is it that we have twin mini officers around here? Kim...it seems like only yesterday was their journey into the world. I remember Adams panicked call telling me that you were at Med and in labor. My daughter Baylie, who's over there playing with the twins, was only a newborn herself. I immediately rushed to the hospital and held your hand through the scary process of their birth. I remember the room and the operating room and then that moment. When "Baby B" as they called her took a little longer to breathe. Ever since then, it's been a joy. From me watching yours, to you watching mine to big family play dates. So happy first birthday Eden and Rylie!"

Everybody clapped and soon cake was served. Kim mouthed a thank you to me and I smiled. It was nice to see other people smile.

Even with cake on their face, the twins were adorable. Both twins actually. Eden-Grace was hysterical trying to put it in her sisters hair.

I decided to go have a little fun and picked Edie and Ry-Ry up and kissed them before tickling them. They laughed and shrieked.

Towards the end of the party, Baylie began to get cranky and I pitifully picked her up. "Did you have fun?" I asked gently rubbing her back. She sighed and immediately fell asleep.

5:45pm- Halstead Residence.

I love my children. I love them to death but tonight and every night since I got pregnant again was just hard. I never got enough sleep. All my children would get cranky by five and it was times 4 when each one decided to whine or scream their heads off. Without even realizing it, I began to cry. Soon the crying turned into full blown sobbing. I didn't know how much more time I could go on like this. I was so stressed, sleep deprived and my anxiety panic attacks were returning. Thank god I had Jay my ever so supportive and loving husband and partner. But was that enough? Was it enough to keep me standing?...
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Okay so..... This chapter was really sweet     until the end. Next chapter will be dark so prepare yourselves. Anyways

With Love~ 💜Liv