Age 1: Reindeer
Mr and Mrs Evans were busy with preparations for their twins first proper christmas Christmas. The year before they had only been a few months old, but now they were one, the proud Evans parents were really pushing the boat out. On Christmas Eve they were planning on hosting a Christmas party, and had invited friends, and the parents of children from the twin's daycare centre. However, the party wasn't the only thing on their mind. Ryan wasn't developing as fast as his sister. Though at the twins' check up the doctor explained some children developed faster than others, it still worried them a little. Not only was Sharpay walking, albeit a little unsurely, she was speaking, the her first word being "want", and first sentence being "I want." However, Ryan crawled around the room, looking at various objects, but just giggled and babbled at them.
On Christmas Eve, with all the presents wrapped under the tree, and the guests due to arrive at lunchtime, Derby Evans sat her children in their high chairs, ready with their favourite meal, mash and peas. Sharpay's eyes lit up when she saw them.
"I want!" She shouted, banging her fists on the table of the highchair. Ryan looked over at her and beat his fists on the table, too. Placing the bowel in front of Sharpay, Derby turned her attention to feeding Ryan.
"Hurry up honey, the guests'll be here any minute!" Called her husband, rushing in in his suit. Seeing the mess Sharpay was making of her new party dress, he quickly grabbed a seat in front of her and started feeding her, which Sharpay smiled satisfied at.
"Come on sweetheart." Said Derby gently, wiping Ryan's mouth. "Say mash. Can you say mash for mommy?"
"Gaaah...." Gurgled Ryan, smiling at his mom.
"No not gah honey, mash. Ma-ash...." She repeated slower. Ryan found this funny, and let out a belly laugh. Derby sighed, and the feeding of the twins carried on in peace.
"Well, she certainly likes my boy! These two could be interesting to watch!" Laughed Mr Bolton. The party had been going on for about an hour or so, and after waving at everyone at the party at least once, Sharpay now had a favourite hobby - She would follow one particular baby around the room, giggling, and occasionally calling him, affectionately, 'Toy-Toy'. Everyone watched them for a while and thought it was incredibly cute.
"What about the other one? Is he okay?" Asked Mrs Bolton to Derby. Ryan just sat by the christmas tree, occasionally banging his hands on a present and giggling, and staring mesmerized at the baubles which hung off of it. Derby shook her head.
"So is little Ryan still not talking?" Asked Mrs Danforth, holding a fidgeting Chad in her lap. "I wouldn't worry about it, Chad only just started to walk, and he's still too stubborn to talk. All I get is the occasional grunt from him, I swear he takes after his father." Derby laughed, and looked over at Ryan, who was now following Sharpay and 'Toy-Toy' with his eyes.
"Taylor's sister was just about one and a half when she started talking. It's different for all babies. Some people think the babies that take the longest to talk just don't have anything interesting enough to say yet." Laughed Mrs. McKessie, putting Taylor down on the floor, who promptly toddled over to Sharpay, and pushed her. Extremely embaressed, Mrs. McKessie apologised profusely, and quickly picked Taylor up again, while Chad laughed at the whole thing. Just then there was a knock at the door.
Mr. Evans looked at Derby confused.
"I thought everyone was here?" He asked.
"I thought so too, everyone I recognise..." She said. "Should we answer it?"
"No reason why not, more the merrier after all!" Smiled Mr Evans, as they both walked over to answer the door. In came a shivering young woman, who was holding onto a baby who was wrapped up in a thick coat, with a little hat pulled over her head.
"S-Sorry I'm late, the car wouldn't start." Said the girl, taking her coat and scarf off before taking off the babies coat and hat. "We're not too late, are we?"
"No, of course not." Said Derby, looking at the baby. "Oh, she's adorable!"
"Thanks. Not easy bringing her up on my own but, we just about manage." Smiled the girl, who couldn't have been much older than eighteen or nineteen. She carefully put the baby down on the floor. She had a red dress on, with a picture of a reindeer embroidered on the front, and red and green striped stockings and sleeves. "I would've called to say we were coming but our phone got disconnected, and well...I just assumed it'd be okay to bring her, I know I shouldn't assume but--"
"Kesi!" A little voice from over by the tree was suddenly heard and everyone fell silent. The baby sitting on the floor looked over at Ryan, and smiled.
"Ry-ry!"
"Kesi!" He repeated, and Derby gasped as Ryan pulled himself to his feet, and without holding onto anyone or any furniture, took slow, deliberate steps towards the baby. Baby Kelsi giggled and clapped her hands as Ryan finally got to her, reached his arms out for her, and fell forward onto her. Derby stood there with her mouth wide open.
"What, is something wrong?" Asked Miss Nielsen, propping both Kelsi and Ryan back up.
"No it's just...That...That's the first time Ryan's spoke. That was...his first word." She sat down, shocked, and Miss Nielsen smiled.
"That's cute. Ry-ry was one of Kelsi's first words. Guess they've got a thing for eachother, huh?" She winked. Derby looked as Ryan took Kelsi's hand, and pointed to the shiney baubles, and they toddled over to the tree together.
"I guess they do."