Bye, I Guess... (Sequel and Third Book Included!)

Deux

"You're such a great talker," I said to Luca, "Say 'mama'."

"Mimi," he giggled, knowing he said it wrong.

"You're pretty silly for nineteen months old," I shook my head as he ran away.

Time has flown so fast. The triplets are going to be two years old soon. The problem is that two little somebodies are picky eaters.

I poured Abbie a bowl of Apple Jacks for breakfast and stuck a frozen waffle in the toaster for Sapphire. I cracked an egg in the skillet for Luca.

The only cereal Abbie will eat for breakfast is Apple Jacks, and Sapphire hates all cereal and is lactose intolerant, so she usually gets a frozen waffle or pancake with almond milk. Abbie hates apples, pears, pineapple, and blueberries, and Sapphire hates peaches, kiwi, and bananas, so the go-to fruits for family meals and snacks are grapes, cantaloupe, and mango, whichever is more in-season.

I took out some grapes and stuck them in a cup for Abbie and stuck some on Sapphire's plate. I cut a banana in small slices and put it on Luca's plate.

I put the plates and bowls on the table and picked up the kids and put them in their booster seats. They ate their breakfast and the doorbell rang.

I answered the door, and it's Allie.

"Hey Als!" I hugged her.

"Hey Ans. It's my spring break, so I came to see my little munchkins," she smiled.

"They're enjoying their breakfasts," I smiled.

"Hey little miss Sapphire Casimir!" Allie tickled her and she giggled.

"Hi!" Sapphire cheerfully responded.

"Hi little Lukie!" She tickled him and he squealed.

"I see you've got your Apple Jacks this morning, little Double-A," Allie kissed Abbie's cheek and she giggled.

"Ya!" Abbie replied.

"I can't think of any super cute nicknames for Abbie. Her personality is just so extra that she needs an extra-sounding nickname," Allie hopped up on the kitchen counter, sitting next to the sink.

"Hayden's started calling her Abbie Jacks since her favorite food is Apple Jacks and when Abbie says she wants Apple Jacks it sounds almost like she's saying 'Abbie Jacks'," I told her while taking Luca's plate over to the sink since he finished.

"That's really cute, Abbie Jacks," Allie laughed.

"Yeah, Hay's quite creative," I smiled.

"What does he call Saph and Lu?" She got off the counter and took Abbie's bowl.

"Little Blue for Saph and Greysie for Luca, even though Luke isn't a girl," I stuck the plate in the dishwasher.

"Those are cute. I've said this a million times already, but Abbie's gonna be a little dancer, she's got too much energy and personality, and I think Saph's gonna be a cheerleader or gymnast, she loves to climb on things and has a lot of energy," Allie stuck Sapphire's plate in the dishwasher.

"I'm putting Abbie in dance once she turns two and Sapphire in gymnastics soon. If she's a really good tumbler I'll stick her in Cheer when she's around four," I lifted Luca out of his chair and sent him to go play in the family room.

"And Luca?" Als picked up Sapphire and Saph messed with Allie's braid.

"I don't necessarily want to put him in gymnastics, but maybe in tee-ball once he's four or five," I sat on the living room couch, watching Abbie and Sapphire fight over a doll.

Abbie took the doll and smacked Sapphire in the head with it. I got up and took the doll.

"No hitting! Abbie, say sorry to your sister," I said very sternly to her.

"Sowy," Abbie looked at her feet.

"I fowgive you," Sapphire stopped crying. She said what I had taught them perfectly.

I placed the doll on the kitchen counter.

Immediately, Abbie and Sapphire ran to go get the doll, but they couldn't reach it since I put it towards the back of the counter.

Abbie pouted and Sapphire started screaming.

"You can't get everything you want, missy," I picked Sapphire up.

"Can I have my dolly pwease," Sapphire gave me puppy dog eyes. She hasn't learned yet that that only works on Hayden and not me.

"When we go to the park later," I put her down near her favorite toy, the little piano.

She started pressing the keys. The order of the notes she played sounded pretty. I bet she's going to be a musician.