A/N: They're back! Ana and Christian are back to continue their journey while discovering more secrets of the heart. Enjoy!
"Can you believe this time last year we were welcoming these two sweet peas into the world?" I'm trying not to cry at Christian's simple remark, but it's hard not to. Georgia Grace and Raygan Caroline are one today. Wow. The girls are standing up and holding on to the sofa cushions. They've been trying to walk but haven't gotten there just yet. They are however repeating dada and mama which are the sweet sounds.
"They were so tiny. Now look at them. They're still small, but they're growing like weeds. Georgia eases to the left of the sofa while looking at me. "I think someone wants to walk. Do you?"
"Mama.", she mutters. "Mama." Her hands are out as if she's ready to start towards my chair. Seconds later, she falls on to her behind and begins crying. Christian rushes from his chair and picks her up while Raygan looks on. Raygan slowly takes a step and then another.
"She's walking.", I say softly so I won't scare her. Raygan totters across the floor to Christian before eventually falling back. Georgia looks down at her sister and begins giggling. I get up from my chair and pick up Raygan, kissing both of her cheeks and then kissing Georgia's. "I believe we have a party to get ready for."
"We sure do.", Christian says with a grin. "And do you know what's the best part of a party? Cake and presents. I can't wait to see them with cake all over their faces."
When it came to planning the party, we chose to have a My Little Pony theme with pink and purple as the colors. I was able to find several stuffed pink and purple ponies as well as decorative pink and purple cowboy hats to place on the tables. Gail is baking not one and not even two cakes, but she's baking three. Both girls are going to have their own smash cake to place their hands in while a third cake will be for eating. Most of our family and friends are attending with the exception of Mia and Mark who are staying home in Logan with Thomas Logan, the newest addition to the family, who was born two months ago. Haley and Adam aren't going to be able to make it either since they're going to be home tending to one week old Addison Claire. With her on leave from the bookstore, I've been bringing the girls to work with me. Sawyer has been great in helping to watch them.
"Hey.", Elliot says as he opens and closes the front door behind him. Christian looks behind his brother and scowls. "I know what you're probably wondering where the balloons which I promised to get are, but I have perfectly good explanation."
"You had them and then let them go?", Christian asks.
"Not quiet. I went to the party supply place where I was going to get them, and they weren't there. I called two weeks ago and ordered those fudging balloons and was told they'd have them ready today at noon. When I got there, imagine my surprise when they informed me that not only did they not have my balloons but they didn't have any other balloons either."
"What kind of a party supply place doesn't have balloons? That's ridiculous."
"I agree. I asked to speak to the manager who was this smart mouth kid barely out of high school. He not so nicely informed me that they had an issue with a supplier and were completely out of stock with all balloons. He didn't seem the least bit apologetic. I told him that he had lost any future business from me, and then I walked out of there."
"So we're having a party without balloons. Ok.", Christian mutters.
"Christian, I'm sure we can find some balloons in the two hours before the party starts.", I tell him. Georgia gently touches the side of his face as if she's trying to soothe his worries.
"I know. I just want the day to be perfect."
"It's perfect. We have the perfect little sweet peas and the perfect life."
"Before I gag on all of this sweetness, I should tell you that Emily's getting the balloons from another place. She'll be here in about an hour or so."
"Why didn't you just say that?", Christian asks. "You made my blood pressure go up for nothing."
"I wanted to build up the suspense.", Elliot answers with a shrug. "What all didn't you buy the girls for their birthday, and yes I said didn't because I've know you."
"You'll have to wait until the party like everyone else. Isn't that right girls?" As the twins and I laugh in unison, Taylor, Gail, and Sawyer come into the living room.
"What time were you planning to start setting up for the party?", Taylor asks.
"Soon.", Christian answers.
"Sawyer and I will move the dining room table out and bring in the smaller tables and chairs. Gail's added some pink and purple ribbons to the side of the the high chairs." Christian and I look at Gail who blushes.
"Gail, that was sweet of you.", I say.
"I thought it would be cute."
"While you all are moving furniture, I'm going to start getting the girls dressed for the party." The twins are wearing white shirts with the words I'm One Today along with pink lace tutus. With Georgia in his arms and Raygan still in mine, Christian and I start up the stairs and to the nursery so we can get them ready.
"Look at this!", Gwen exclaims as she and Ros arrive for the party. She points to the giant pink and purple sign with an arrow and the words This Way to Georgia and Raygan's Party "That sign is cute."
"I suppose the sign was your idea.", Ros teases Christian. She and Gwen step on to the porch and into the house where they're bombarded with balloons. "And these too."
"After Elliot's initial plans of getting the balloons fell through, Emily said that she get the balloons. Imagine our surprise when she showed up with a ton of balloons.", I say. "The sweet peas have been playing with some of them while waiting for the party to start." When we get into the living room, Carrick and Grace are tossing balloons towards the twins who are giggling. A balloon then flies from Grace's hands and on to the floor. Georgia reaches for the balloon but can't grasp it from the chair she's holding on to. She then repeats her actions from this morning, but this time she takes a step and gets going until she's at the balloon. "You did it."
"How about that?", Graces sighs with pride. Raygan moves from Carrick and starts towards her sister while everyone looks on. Christian's wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes of his eyes.
"How about what?", Grandmother asks as she and Grandpa join us. She hands two large wrapped boxes to Elliot who takes them towards the dining room where the main festivities are going to take place.
"The girls are walking.", Carrick replies. Grandpa and Grandmother ease down and hug the girls.
"Your parents are going to have their hands full now.", Grandpa laughs. The front door opens once again and in walks Henry, Lea, and Zander whose appears to be getting restless in Henry's arms.
"You guys made it." Christian and I begin hugging them. Henry called earlier and said they weren't sure if they were going to be able to make it in time for the party because of a rain delay at the airport. Sawyer and Taylor move past them and grab the suitcases from the porch.
"You guys can leave those. We'll get them.", Lea tells them.
"It's ok. We've got them.", Taylor replies. "We'll take them to the guest room."
"Luckily the rain cleared out so our flight could depart.", Lea grins as she places Zander on the floor. "He's been getting into everything."
"But he's adorable when he does it.", Henry adds with a laugh.
"Is everyone gathered?", Christian asks from his spot between the girls' high chairs. I scan the room and see everyone looking on with anticipation and cameras in hand. "Ana, baby." I take the hand he has extended to me and slide to his side. "On behalf of Ana, Georgia, and Raygan, I'd like to thank all of you for being here today to share this special occasion. As I was telling Ana earlier, I can't believe that it's been a year since we welcomed these two angels into our lives. Each day is a new adventure, and we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
"It really means a lot to see all of your faces as we celebrate their first birthday.", I add as the girls tap their hands on their high chairs. "How about we have some cake?" Emily and Gail come into the room with the two round, pink iced, chocolate cakes, placing one on the top of each high chair. "Georgia, Raygan, these are your smash cakes. You can put your hands in them and have fun with the icing." They narrow their eyes at the cakes with uncertainty.
"Go ahead and shove your hands in those cakes.", Christian tells them. "Make the biggest mess you can." Georgia and Raygan continue to inspect the cakes before they each finally place a finger in the icing. "You can do better than that."
"Do they need me to show them how to make a destroy a cake?", Elliot laughs until he's elbowed by Grace. "Just trying to help." Georgia finally takes her left hand and slams it into the cake.
"Uh oh.", she mutters. Raygan turns giddy at the fun that her sister is having so she follows and rams her right fist into her cake. She hits it so hard that pieces of cake go flying on to Christian's shirt. He shakes his head in amusement and leans down. The second he does this, she hits the cake again and gets icing on the side of his face.
"Dada.", Raygan coos. Christian looks at her and takes part of her icing,smearing it on his other cheek. He has officially gone to superstar status in their books.
"I hope someone has this on camera.", Henry says.
"I think everyone does.", Ros answers. "Christian, do you mind if I use these images for the company Christmas card?"
"Very funny.", he murmurs through the icing that's now all over his face.
Once Christian and the girls have gotten cleaned up, Christian announces that he wants us to give the girls their gifts before cutting the official cake. We head into the living room closet where we've placed the gifts and then arrive back into the room.
"We got the girls several outfits, but these are two of their larger gifts.", he announces while we place the two Radio Flyer Soft Rock and Bounce Ponies on the floor. Carrick and Grace place the girls on the ponies and then move while Christian and I hold on to the sides. The twins begin bouncing on their new gifts.
"What did you mean when you said two of their larger gifts?", I ask. "I thought these were their large gifts."
"Not exactly. I would have brought the other two gifts inside, but I didn't think you'd like having two ponies in the house."
"As in real ponies? You got them ponies?"
"Yeah. Come on, you knew it was only a matter of time before the sweet peas had their own ponies. I know it's going to be a while before they can ride them, but I wanted to go ahead and get them. Are you mad?" I keep a hand on Raygan's pony while kissing him.
"Cowboy Christian, I can't be mad at you for being a wonderful and loving dad."