This chapter took longer to write than it should have, but Matty did get me through a rough patch ... hopefully his sweetness can do the same for someone else needing a bright spot in their day. Everyone familiar belongs to Janet. Mistakes are mine alone. Most of the party stuff I saw online.

Chapter 1

Ranger's POV

"I don't need direction, Babe," I said into her silky-smooth skin.

"I know. I wouldn't have a stomach larger than one just full of doughnuts if you didn't know your way around my body."

She had proved to be extremely playful tonight, coming out of the bathroom after getting ready for bed, wearing a smile and the 'I Love My Soldier' t-shirt she bought herself, since the ones I'd brought home for her stopped fitting when Ty started growing. The happy - and about to be satisfied - smile isn't unexpected. Nor is my wife wearing just a shirt to bed. But what I hadn't anticipated when I quickly got her out of the shirt, was Stephanie leaving me messages on her body in glow in the dark body paint.

Having to first go through boot camp to become who I am today, I understand the importance of following certain orders. Considering how sweet this particular reward is, I'm all-too-willing to play along. I smiled as I kissed my way down to where Tyler Lorenzo Manoso is currently living and thriving. Maybe I should be questioning my sanity for having three children, when last year I still believed I may not deserve the two I already have. But I've learned to take whatever good comes my way without looking for a reason why it shouldn't.

Julie changed my life in a fundamental way. Matthew took my appreciation of life - and mine in particular - to a whole other level. Knowing I'm about to have a second child with Stephanie, who seems more in love with me than she was even this morning, has the power to rock my foundation.

She may think a pregnancy belly is a deterrent, or something she needs to tempt me into overlooking, but I feel otherwise. That I'm the only man she would ever have - or even consider having - a child with, seeing her get rounder with our second, makes me want her with an obsession that should scare her but doesn't.

I followed every skin-suggestion and kissed her stomach and the inside of her knee. I licked her neck, and sucked the pulse beating rapidly in her wrist where she still plans to fulfill her Christmas tattoo-gift of our fingerprints after Ty's born and there will be no risk to him.

Her breasts received attention whenever I passed them, and so did her thighs and all that lay between them. Pregnancy does change our sex life, but in no way that has either of us using it as an excuse to stop. Aside from some adjusting when something is feeling too tender to be touched, Steph still welcomes my touch as much as I need hers.

It took a-pregnancy-and-a-half to get Stephanie feeling confident in herself and her changing body to crawl over and up me ... and just taking me the way she wants to. And I have absolutely no objection to that whenever she feels inclined. Once I strayed from my orders two handfuls of times, taking control is exactly what she did. I let her roll me onto my back so she could take only what she can handle. She curled a leg over my hips and with her palms pressing into my sweat-coated chest, she tortured us both by sliding too slowly down onto me before we worked each other to completion.

Less than six hours later, we were showered and dressed and more than ready for our immediate future.

"Can you believe our baby is two-years-old today?" My wife asked me.

"Yes. I wouldn't be surprised if he walked into our room in three minutes and told us to go back to bed because he's staying here to run Rangeman today."

She smiled as she hugged me. "I can picture that too. He's so childlike, yet also more mature than I am. He'd be a good boss ... definitely a fair and positive one. Just like his Daddy."

"I do what I can."

"And you do it well. I couldn't build a better example of what a man should be, or wish for a better role model for our kids to have, than you. I wouldn't want a different one ... ever. You know that, right?"

I curled my arms around her and held her tighter. "I do. You say a variation on the same sentiment everyday. Sometimes more than that when we've had an encounter with your family or someone from your past life."

She gave me an embarrassed smile at my pointing that out. "It's stupid, isn't it? You know just how much I love you. After being together for years, you likely get that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else or with anyone else."

"I don't need reminders, but I do enjoy hearing them. Just remember that I don't care what anyone except my family thinks about me."

"I know, but it pisses me off that my own family still can't appreciate you or admit how incredible you are."

"In all fairness, Babe," I said into her hair, "they can't even appreciate you. Clearly, they're intimidated by greatness."

I felt her smile as well as Ty's kick against my midsection. "Our baby must agree. Maybe that whole greatness-theory is why my mom looked none-too-pleased when she found out I'm pregnant again. She had to finally face the fact that I'm never packing up Matty's life and running away from you with him, if you and I got started on baby number two before Matty even turned two. Just us arranging our next stay in Miami before I get too pregnant to fly, seemed to have driven the final nail in the alternate life she wanted for me's coffin."

"Making small talk with your father about the modifications we've had done to our apartment to make the outside foyer into an inside room so we have room for five plus a dog, likely added to her indigestion. She underestimated you again. Motherhood wasn't too hard - and loving me is too easy - for you. You have no reason to go 'running back to the Burg' or 'home to mama' to fix your mistake ... when it's clear to everyone that we never made one."

She stretched high enough to kiss me full on the mouth. "We didn't, but we sure as heck made two incredible little boys, and are hopefully influencing Julie in a good way."

"According to her, we are. She's excited to be able to be here for Matty's birthday weekend."

"She'll have everyone she loves all in one place for a few days. Plus cake," she couldn't resist pointing out. "It's a win/win for everyone."

"You and Matty definitely think so."

"We do."

We grinned simultaneously as we heard the sound of an attempted escape. Matthew's crib became an actual bed when Steph feared for his life - or at least his arm - when she caught him trying to rappel down the side of the crib for the second time. Our son graduated to a 'big boy' bed, but he's yet to catch onto the fact that I trained Pup-Pup, who isn't puppy-like anymore, to make a specific high-pitched whine to alert us whenever Matty is on the move.

Not only is our dog an important member of our family, he's become an essential member of my team when it comes to keeping those we love safe. He can retrieve a stick less competently than he can locate Matty at any given time. I'd never leave my children's safety in anyone else's hands, but I feel confident that if Pup-Pup is around ... Matty, Julie, and now Ty, will be protected.

Steph gave me a squeeze around the middle and then let me go to take my hand as we left our room and entered Matty's.

"And where exactly does the birthday boy think he's sneaking off to?" She asked our son.

Matthew froze at the sound of her voice, thinking that we wouldn't see him if he wasn't moving. That lasted all of three seconds. Even in sleep he has trouble keeping still. He looked down at his furry-friend, who moonlights as an undercover room-guard and Matty-watcher. Pup-Pup tipped his head to the side and patiently waited to see how this played out.

"Mama herded us," Matty said solemnly to his dog, like he just realized that his mother will always be onto them.

"Yep, you are right ... I heard you both. And I'm about to 'herd' the two of you out of this room, hopefully into the bathroom, and then on into the kitchen for some birthday breakfast."

"Iz mize birffday!"

"It is," I told him. "How does it feel to be two-years-old now?"

"Iz weally big," he said, despite the fact that his head is tilted all the way back just so he could look me in the eyes.

"Don't remind me," Steph said. "I'd swear it was yesterday that I freaked all of your Uncles out when I felt you move for the first time, back when you were where Ty is now."

"Will Tyze beezs dare for my pawdy?"

"I'm afraid not, my little Matty-Man. He's supposed to join us in July. Do you know how many months away that is? We're in April, so that means ...?"

"Mayz, Dune, an Uly," he said, counting out the three months on the thumb and index finger on his right hand and the index finger on his left.

"Very good, Matty," I encouraged, picking him up and holding him close. "You got all three right."

Despite his 'advanced age' and increasing ability to do more things on his own without any help from us, he will still wrap his little arms around us and squeeze with all of his might whenever we hug or hold him. That's one thing I hope he never grows out of. I do have reason to hope since Julie doesn't shy away from any type of affection, though I have years to make up for with her … that I remain grateful she's allowed me to try. I've made plenty of mistakes over the course of my life, but I've learned from every one of them, so with Matty I tried to be what he needed from the moment I found out he was on the way so I wouldn't have regret mixed into all the other emotions I have regarding him.

"And since we have a couple more months before we meet your baby brother," Steph was saying to Matthew, "do you know what we get to do?"

"Whatz?" He asked, genuinely curious even as he laughed at how Pup-Pup's jumping up to try to get eye-level with him again.

"We get to completely celebrate having the best little boy in the whole entire universe as our son, not only today, but everyday. Daddy and I love you soooo much. We couldn't have a better little person to share our life with."

Matty puffed up with pride at hearing how his Mama feels about him. Hers isn't idle praise. Matthew knows he's loved, not only because he's our baby, but also for the individual person he has become all on his own. He's sweet, funny, observant, and he loves everybody who loves him. Steph and I have used the word 'parent' like the verb it should be, and we've done well in guiding him, but I honestly believe we were given a child who could - and will continue to - teach us as much as we're supposed to teach him. What Steph said about me, I echo when it comes to our children. If she and I had filled out a form, we couldn't have received more perfect children for us. It's going to be interesting to see how Ty adds to and changes the dynamic we have going.

Julie, my men, and my family, are excited. Matthew is too, but as brave as Steph and I appear, we're still as apprehensive as we were when we first found out about having Matty. Logically, we know we're good parents, and we love our children unconditionally and without limits, but it's still terrifying to really sit in the thought that the two of us are raising three people who will likely be someone's wife, mother, husband, or father, one day. If we fuck up, they could too somewhere down the line and start a multi-generational chain reaction in the form of a psychological train wreck. The Morelli family is the first to come to mind on what to avoid at all costs.

I've had many important missions in my life, but raising my children the right way has been the most daunting. If we fail, there's no one to blame for it ... no one we would blame outside of ourselves. Helen and Joe may have PhDs in reworking history and reality, and finding scapegoats to pin their problems on, but Steph and I know the buck and fuck-ups stop with us ... so we're determined to avoid as many as we can.

"Wes got a pawdy," Matty informed us.

"We do," Steph told him. "Not only a party, but one that lasts all weekend long. It's going to be the mother of all sleepovers."

"This is the first time I've ever heard you sound excited about camping, Babe," I teased.

"This isn't camping/camping like you and the guys find fun. This is pitching tents on our little beach in Ocean City and using our house there to take care of essentials. We'll have a bathroom and a shower, along with a snack-filled pantry, microwave, and a coffee maker. Mary Lou and I have a bet going for how many Merry Men we'll be able to fit in or on the property. Matty's 'Remember My Birthday' guest book is going to double as a RangeUncle tally sheet. "

"We know how to survive in tight quarters. None of his RangeUncles will miss Matty's birthday, so expect all of them. And they'll choose to stay from beginning to end."

"Which means contract workers have been scheduled weeks ago and have now been called in."

"Happy times call for cleared schedule-measures."

"I wish certain people had the same devotion we have towards our little man."

Matty circled an arm around my neck and sat up straighter in my arms. "Mama, yourz ezes ard leakin."

"No," she said automatically. "Mama is the happiest one you'll ever meet. My eyes just needed a quick rinse. Darn hormones. They're good now. See?"

She batted her blue eyes at both of us, and I hurt for her as much as I felt myself becoming pissed off again. I'd pieced together the entire conversation just from hearing my wife's side of it. Stephanie, not wanting to be accused of standing between Matty and her family if they genuinely care about him and care about seeing him, cautiously invited the Plums to join us for the weekend ... just like she had done for everyone. Frank was open for an hour-long party, even an hour away, but didn't much care for an extended Friday-Sunday event … was even less excited about sleeping on an air mattress on the ground with his bad back, according to Helen anyway.

Steph knows my father had to have actual surgery on his back five years ago. And she's heard all the stories of the good run he gave his physical therapist following it, and Papa Manoso refused our offer of a bedroom inside the house like my grandparents accepted, choosing more time with his grandchildren over any discomfort he could experience. Helen damaged her relationship with her daughter even further by asking why we aren't thinking about the baby's safety and just giving Matthew a 'normal' birthday party indoors at her house.

I told Stephanie to hang up, which she was already in the process of doing after an abrupt 'Come if you want, but don't expect us to miss you if you don't.' And we stood by that. If they showed up, we wouldn't exactly turn them away, but they will be carefully watched. Though it won't be by us. We have more important people to give our attention to ... like our son and those who are excited to celebrate his second birthday with him - and us - however they get to.

"We should feed Pup-Pup so he'll stop trying to get me to carry him like Daddy's holding you," Steph told our baby, while hugging our furry beast, "and then we need to get you fed and dressed so we can get your weekend started."

"Wez goesn campin'."

"We are. Yesterday, I saw GodUncleTank inspecting his tent and everything. The only thing that your Uncles think could top a pain-inducing obstacle course like we'd had set up for your party last year, is exposing themselves to the elements by choice."

"Jubie bes dare?"

"She wouldn't miss it. Daddy is going to go down and get her as soon as we're settled in our beach place. He's taking the super-fast plane just so they won't miss you too much."

"Zshoooom," he replied, sticking his arms straight out at his sides in proper flight formation.

I can't resist that kind of encouragement, so I shifted him in my arms and 'flew' him into the bathroom with Pup-Pup lighting out after us creating a carpeted-tarmac hazard. I skillfully piloted 'my crew' to the predetermined location, and after another successful endeavor that involved 'the big potty', and a following handwash using his foaming froggie soap, my son and I shared a high five over him having another entirely dry pull-up in the morning.

"How'd we do?" Steph asked us, when we met her in the bedroom.

"I uzed my step," our son proudly stated.

"Way to go, Matty!" She told him, holding her hand up for a second high five. "We're going to kick potty training's butt in no time at all."

He did his interpretation of a karate kick complete with a 'Kiai!' sound. Steph grabbed my hand while she put her other one on her stomach. Even without words I know exactly what she's feeling. Sometimes how much Matthew means to us literally knocks the air out of our lungs.

"Pup-Pup, high five" she said to our dog.

He sat down and lifted his right front paw up for Matty to tap.

"Team Manoso 3/Pull-ups 0," I added, knowing the three of us are all keeping score.

"NEVER bet against the home team," Steph said. "Talk about a full-circle moment. I used to be a lingerie buyer, and now I'm going to have to start buying cartoony big boy underwear, since we won't be needing pull-ups much longer. Now, little man, let's get your tank filled and changed so we can hit the beach after we wake GodUncleTank, and Uncles Bobby and Lester, up."

"You're too late on waking Tank. He's been up since four, Babe," I said, just to see her cringe in horror.

"Four is how many pieces of pizza you should eat, not a time of the day to drag yourself out of bed. I don't mind mornings now, because I have you three guys and one on the way, to spend that time with, but I still prefer not getting up until the sun decides to."

"Only a few years ago, I would've been at the gym long before Tank opened his eyes," I admitted, looking at my wife first and then to Matty and Pup-Pup. "But now I understand the draw of a later morning."

"I knew I'd convert you," Steph said, bumping her shoulder into mine.

"More like tempt me."

"Stop. We have a full weekend ahead of us, I can't be distracted now."

"I believe there will be plenty of opportunities to distract you, but I'll behave myself for now."

"Good, because you know I can't resist you," she said with a kiss. "Okay, Matty-Man, what would you like for your special 'I'm A Big Boy Today' breakfast?"

"Stegozauwos."

"Alright. Daddy can get started on the pancake dino-body and sausage legs. And I'll handle the banana tail and strawberry-slice backplates. Your dinosaur will avoid extinction if I stay far away from him and the stove."

Once the five of us got breakfast made and consumed, Steph helped Matty pick his clothes ... a train long-sleeve T-shirt that had the words 'Choo Choo, I'm two' coming out of its smokestack, paired with dark-washed toddler jeans, and black, green, and orange, sneakers. A brushing of our toddler's teeth and a kiss from each of us ... and then we and the dog hit the ground running.

"We'll be fine," Steph assured me an hour later, when I was reluctant to leave them.

I've always felt torn ... starting as a stupid kid wanting to be a badass by doing bad things, yet still wanting my parents to be proud of me. When I enlisted, I wanted to serve my country, though I felt I'd left things unfinished and my family unprotected at home. So when I was in Newark, I thought I should be fighting overseas. And when I was gone, I longed for home. Now I'm home for the most part, but I hate leaving Stephanie and Matthew, yet I need to be the one picking my daughter up. No matter the choice, I feel I'm missing out on something that I'll never get back.

"Tank, Bobby, and Lester, told me I can boss them around as much as I want in order to get things set up while you're gone. And with all the guys who'll be showing up when they can, they'll help keep Matty amused," Steph continued, being the only one to ever see my struggle. "You need to go snag Julie so she can get a piece of this. I promise, you won't miss much, but you will be adding a lot to the day by bringing Matty's big Sis home to us."

"Do you want me to do anything before I leave?"

"Yes. Kiss me, hug and kiss your son, and then make Julie's trip back here a memorable one for her. The boys - big, little, and unborn - and I will be counting the minutes until the two of you get back."

I kissed her before pulling Matthew away from his Uncles to say a temporary goodbye.

"I'm going to go pick up Julie ... is there anything you'd like me to say or do for you?" I asked him.

He put two kisses into his hand and blew them out as if his sister is already right here in front of him. He also threw himself into my arms for a hug so forceful, I know it's meant for me as well as one to carry over multiple states to give to Julie.

Julie was just as enthusiastic after I touched down in Miami and drove to the Martine home.

"Is Matty as excited as Steph is?" She asked, as we got buckled in.

"It's hard to believe, she might be even happier than your brother. She loves parties like this one and is fully able to appreciate every moment she gets with our family."

"She did seem pretty happy when I talked to her last night."

"She was happy because she was talking to you. Having you for a three-day weekend is a major part of her good mood," I told her. "She sees you as hers as much as Matty, Ty, and I, are. And she'll tell you herself, she feels less outnumbered when you're with us."

"Relax, RangeDad. I know Steph loves me. She was going to save 'your daughter' before she ever even met me. I don't doubt that she'd do even more than trade her life for mine now that she's more to me than just my dad's 'friend'."

"I'm glad you recognize someone willing to go above and beyond for you."

"I know you … anyone you let me meet has to be special."

"Stephanie is that, but she loves you, not because you're my daughter or Matthew and Ty's sister. YOU are her idea of a 'dream daughter'. She's even said you're a good role model for all of us. She's glad we're having boys so you remain undefeated in your 'perfect daughter' role."

"Uh-huh," she said, not buying it.

"Really," I told her, teasing but also serious. "She was worried at the sonogram appointment that we'd see that if we were having a little girl, there could be some competition for the best one. You've set an impossibly-hard to surpass bar."

Although she gets that I'm exaggerating for effect … Steph and I would love and be thankful for any child we have, the smile tugging at her mouth let me know she's glad she set such a high precedent no matter who we created after Matty.

"I know you're kidding, but thank you. You know ... a little sister/little Steph would be really fun. Maybe you guys should try for a little sister next," she teased me back.

I cut my eyes to her and the sound of her laugh ricocheted around my head the entire way back to Jersey.

Our Ocean City beach looked like a tent-version of Normandy when Julie and I got to it from the private airstrip I use in 'emergency' situations. I noticed that some of my men didn't even waste time with a tent. They just shook out a bed roll and called it a weekend. I would be content with just sand under my back, but I'm not making my pregnant wife, teen daughter, and two-year-old son, sleep the way I've had to. I set up a nine-person tent, which should be large enough for Steph, Matty, Pup-Pup, and I.

My parents called dibs on Julie, but Stephanie put up a big enough fight to keep her ... our daughter felt equally wanted by both tents, which are side by side with my siblings and Tank surrounding the immediate area around us. I appreciated what I'd been born into even more when Steph had cautiously brought up our idea for Matty's party two months ago. Not surprising, she was bracing to have to sell the idea to the entire Manoso clan, but Steph started small with just broaching the subject with my parents when they came over for dinner one night.

Instead of the reaction Steph was anticipating, my parents just smiled and my mother had immediately turned to my father, who at the time was letting Matty pretend his grandfather's a horse, bad back be damned, and said ..."Now we have a reason to visit that new outdoor store that just opened down the street from us. We can stop in on our way home." There were no complaints about sleeping outside, not a single concern about the weather or how we're not taking care of our unborn baby by daring to sleep on a portable bed, and there wasn't a single thought of suggesting alternative party ideas. No, my parents were happy to be asked to attend, agreed that their Mateo would love it, and offered to help in whatever way we needed.

As Steph prepped our tent for impending-habitation, she paused to glance around at our private beach. Not only is it littered with temporary dwellings, each tent pole has a white balloon secured to it in addition to the blue, white, green, and yellow, balloons that are tied every foot along the inside of the fence surrounding our property. Matty likely had Christmas still on his mind and he wanted to decorate our current sleeping space for the big day, and everyone around us added balloons to their tents after seeing how happy our single balloon made him.

Fortified with cups of coffee, cherry almond coffee cake, and a folder at the ready, Stephanie, Ella, and my mother, pored over pictures of Matty's first two years so they could have a few blown up to hang below the balloons on the fence so his entire life to date can be celebrated right along with his actual birthday.

My wife kept up the tradition she wanted us to start, and for the second year she and I sat down together at the kitchen table after Matty was asleep the evening before his birthday, and we wrote him a letter full of the milestones he hit over the last year, and adding in all of our favorite moments that we've had with him since his last birthday. Life isn't predictable or guaranteed, but at least Stephanie and I know Matthew will always have a piece of us, and have written in our own writing and words exactly how much we love him, with these letters he'll eventually be given.

Steph's idea had me realizing that no matter how much time has passed, there is no statute of limitations on telling someone how much they mean to you. Julie's reaction when we penned one for her and had given it to her on her birthday, had me appreciating my wife's unique approach to everything in a whole different way. I was convinced Julie's at the age where she's ready to start distancing herself from her parents, and wouldn't really want to hear us go on about how remarkable we find her and how much we love being in her life. But she was obviously moved by the gesture ... and that she was a recipient of something like that from two people who still struggle at times with outward displays of affection.

I already know this party of Matthew's will be featured in Ty's first letter so he'll always feel like he was part of it.

"I can honestly say, I've never felt so safe than I do right now," my wife shared. "If someone chose to invade this section of Jersey ... they wouldn't last a second with all of our Rangeguys lying, standing, and playing, while unconsciously still on guard duty."

"I put my money on my men every time."

"That's not saying much if you're a guy who doesn't believe in betting. I know he was really little at the time, so hopefully Matty won't ever remember the body we found here."

"The body you found, you mean. Matthew was young, though he'd probably recall the disturbance in his force at how panicked you were at the time. You did hold it together impressively well after we realized it was a body and not an injured person in need of a rescue. I'm glad my team was able to help close that case with nothing more being needed from you."

"Calm isn't how I would've described myself at any point that day, but I didn't want to freak our kids out more than I already did. Matty did get used to my regularly being freaked out soon enough, and has been surprisingly understanding when our plans change when one, or both, of us gets a funny feeling. I don't want Julie to have any bad memories either, but she doesn't seem to."

"She's spoken with every child expert I could find after Scrog so she'd have the best shot at recovering from what he put her through. She's more stable than any of us, but she promised her mother and I that she will immediately tell us if she or her feelings on the subject change."

"I wouldn't agree that anyone's more stable than you, but it's definitely true about me. I had no worries about her keeping Matty safe when I took a dive hoping to save someone."

"She's more responsible than she should ever have needed to be."

Steph took both of my hands in hers and wouldn't look away from me. "You've done everything in your power to keep Julie safe from the moment you found out about her, Ranger. Even Rachel will agree with that. Your little girl had bodyguards, Miami Rangeguys driving by her house just to check if she needed something, and you had her attached to every security device known to mankind. You did everything you could to protect her, including taking a few bullets for her and me. You hear people say all the time that they'd die for their kids, but you really were going to if that's what it took. Stop ..."

She had seen my mouth open, ready to refute her praise.

"I get it, you're trained to sacrifice yourself for others, but that was an extremely personal job. Your daughter and the woman you pledged your allegiance to being held captive by a psychopath, and you walking into that trap knowing it could be the end of you, as well as us, isn't just a typical day at the office, even if your 'office' is usually a jungle, desert, or terrorist stronghold. DO NOT blame yourself for what that monster did. That nightmare was all on Scrog. Instead of brushing off our admiration at you being our hero that day, and continuing to beat yourself up for what was beyond your control, be proud of how your daughter fought like hell to save you and then turn around and immediately put up another fight just to stay with you. You were incredible that day and so was she."

"I am extremely proud of her."

"I know you are. So how about every time you get ready to chew yourself out again for what happened, you just call up Julie and tell her how proud of her you are ... and how much you love her? I guarantee that will make you both instantly feel better, and bring you two even closer ... if that's possible."

"You're always looking out for someone," I said, pausing to kiss her.

"Not really ... just you, our kids, and the other people we love. Should we let them all tire themselves out before the party actually starts by running around on the beach like they're doing? Or rein them in and go for quieter play for a little bit?"

We turned to watch our 'guests' and she leaned into me as my hands acted on autopilot and flattened against her now rounded stomach. I had been anticipating Matthew's birth with an excitement I hadn't felt since meeting his mother. Ty's birth will be an even bigger moment in my life because I get to see Matty's reaction to having a little brother … and then witness firsthand how he takes on the role of 'Big Brother'.

It sounds cliche, but seeing things through a child's eyes does give you a different perspective on almost everything. I agree with what Stephanie had said as we left the doctor's office for this pregnancy confirmation, which was a far different experience than Steph and I finding out separately about Matthew. As we were walking to the car from the medical building, Steph captured what we were both thinking when she pointed out that we're almost as excited about Matty's reaction to Ty as we are ourselves for having him.

When Junior put Matty back on his sneakers in the sand, and Julie accepted the fact that Pup-Pup won't be fetching anything more out of the water, we called the crew over.

"Do you remember what Bibi gave us to sprinkle when we got here today?" Steph asked Matty, when he weaved his way around our beach village and his tree-sized Uncles and made it over to us.

"Zeeds," he answered, without even needing to think about it.

"You planting a garden?" Santos asked, clearly not picturing Stephanie as the gardening type.

"Not exactly," Julie told him. "Grandma struck again."

"How so?" Bobby wanted to know.

"Hold on," Steph replied. "I'll go grab them. They're in my bag. Anyone up for a race?"

Cal picked up Matty. "Just say when."

"Hey! I can barely outrun Matty's legs, there is no way in heck I stand a chance against yours."

He barely suppressed a grin. "We'll give you a headstart."

"Yeah, right. If you're going to cheat, I am too." She linked fingers with Julie. "Come on, Jules. I'll need you to pull me and Ty up the porch stairs."

My daughter turned to look at me. "Dad?"

I didn't need to be asked twice. I curled my arms around and under Stephanie and tucked her to my chest.

"No headstart is needed," I told Cal.

He nodded a concession before the race even began.

"Ready ... set ... GO!" Julie yelled.

It's not surprising how quickly my family and my men dropped everything to 'encourage' their team ... or ruthlessly taunt the opposing one. It was no contest. I've held far more than an almost 28-weeks-pregnant Stephanie with only one arm. With two arms, my only concern was running carefully so I wouldn't jostle her or our baby. I did purposely pace myself so Matty would come in only a sneakers-length behind us.

"That was fun," Steph told me. "Can I get a lift back?"

"Anytime."

"I'm kidding. I wouldn't put you through that again. I can barely maneuver Ty and I, I wouldn't make you do it again unless a broken ankle is involved."

"Steph, I've had training exercises that were more challenging than running holding you."

"Thanks for saying so … you know how being compared to war-prep gets me feeling all warm and tingly inside."

Her playful mood got a full hundred-watt smile out of me.

"I'll be right back. Okay, Matty and I will be back in a sec," she corrected, when Cal had put Matthew down on the porch next to us and he slid his little hand into his Mama's.

After they made a quick dash into the house, we rejoined our group and Matty held up the 'seeds' my mother had given him when my parents stopped at Rangeman on their way back from here to Newark ... a trip they've made numerous times this past week just to take some work, stress, and pressure, away from Stephanie.

"Cheerios?" Santos said, eyeing the plastic bag in her hands.

"NO. These are special 'Doughnut Seeds'. If we plant them we might grow an entire dozen."

"More than likely, you'll just be growing a fat squirrel," I unwisely said.

My wife nudged me. "You never know, anything's possible around here with your family."

"Yeah, Dad. I grew up and learned that Santa's reindeer really didn't need me to feed them for Christmas, but I can still remember how happy and excited I felt sprinkling reindeer feed with Grandma. It's one of my favorite holiday memories."

"See?" Steph added. "So we need to pick a real good place for our beach doughnuts to grow so Matty will remember to check them and then remember them even years from now when he's super-big."

"I suggest close to the house then so Matty gets the doughnuts before anything else does," I told her.

"Was that dig directed at me?" Santos asked me.

"No, but if the cruller fits ..."

"Wow," my wife said, smiling up at me, "I'm shocked that you know what a cruller is ... or more importantly ... that it rolled off your tongue so easily."

I gave her a look that reminded her what else can roll easily off my tongue.

"Stop it," she ordered.

I know she doesn't mean it because she caught my jaw in one hand and gently squeezed so my lips stuck out enough to plant a pretty good kiss on.

"Kizzy faze. Kizzzzzy fazzzze," Matthew teased, putting his hands on his knees as he was rocked forward with the force of his amusement.

Clearly he's taking after his mother more and more the older he gets. When he started making smacking noises with his lips, Julie knelt down so her little brother could climb onto her back.

"Hop on, Matty," she instructed. "I have a feeling you're going to be 'kissy-faced' next."

He plopped himself on her back and she took the steps carefully but quickly. They didn't go far. They stopped at a section of sandy ground by the fence under the picture of her holding her baby brother for the first time.

"This feels like a lucky spot," Julie told us, when we'd walked over to them.

"It does," Steph said, giving both of our kids an obnoxiously-loud kiss on each of their cheeks in retaliation for them running away. "You didn't think you'd get away unscathed, did you? You can run, but you can't hide."

Matty showed all of his teeth when he laughed at the teasing contact. Julie grinned, but she had a point to make.

"We weren't exactly hiding, Steph. We only moved twenty-feet away from you and Dad."

"Stop being so smart and start digging."

"You're really going to plant them?" Tank asked.

"Yup. That's what you do if you want to harvest a doughnut crop. Okay, Julie, Matty, grab a shovel and pass me one."

"Tank can take your shovel, Babe. If you bend down there, you'll need me to get you back up."

"I can get myself upright, though you're right. Why put myself through that? GodUncleTank, you're up. Unless you want to delegate and make someone else be Farmer Fred."

He took the little kid's shovel from her and did his best not to snap it. He went through a blue and then a red one before he figured out that he should hold the toy with just the tips of three fingers instead of subjecting the defenseless plastic shovel to his entire catcher's mitt-sized hand. That's the scene I'm staring at ... Tank, Julie, and Matthew, rearranging the soil in order to plant Cheerios in hopes of producing doughnuts. This is real, but it reads like total fiction.

"Now ... isn't this a sight," my mother said, coming around the side of the house with my father, Celia, and Diego, in tow.

"A sight only people who know my family would ever understand," I told her, kissing her cheek and exchanging hugs with the rest of my family.

"Good. I've always strived to be unique."

"Me, too," Steph said, as Matty and Julie paused in their activity to run over to their grandparents.

"How's our birthday boy?" My father asked Matty.

"Iz two!" He said, sticking two fingers high in the air.

"As we can see from that birthday shirt you're wearing," my father told him, smiling at how big Matthew is smiling.

"You do know that the only way to grow your doughnuts properly is to say out loud which ones you hope to see in your bakery garden," my mother encouraged. "What do you hope to get, my Mateo?"

It should be a sad day for me when my own son can list his favorite bakery items, but I couldn't help but smile as he really weighed his Bibi's question to make sure he didn't waste a choice on a less worthy doughnut.

"Spingles, yellys, mooshy middles, and boo bewwy."

"Do you need me to translate?" Steph asked us.

"Please," my mother answered. "I understood everything except the 'mooshy middle' one."

"Those are Boston Creams. If you break them open, or take a really big bite out of them like Matty and I do, you see that the middle is all 'mooshy' since it's filled with cream."

"I should have guessed that. You are so right, Mateo. Mooshy middles make a lot of sense."

"Nothing about doughnut production or consumption makes sense," I felt the need to point out, being the sole voice of reason in this particular crowd.

"Oh, Carlos, a treat every once in awhile won't kill anybody. Our bodies aren't built for surviving war like yours has had to be."

"Trans-fat has nothing to do with war, Mama."

She gently tapped my cheek and gave me an indulgent smile. "I know. But remember ... one doughnut isn't likely going to harm or outright kill anyone. You know that saying ... everything in moderation, including moderation."

"A doughnut may not kill you, but the craving for one could," Steph added. "There were times my cousin Vinnie almost didn't make it out of his office alive when a craving hit Lula or I."

"It's all settled then. Let's sprinkle the seeds and see what happens tomorrow morning. We do have a party to get going. I can't believe I've had two years with my sweet grandson already!"

"We're lucky, that's for sure ... having Julie and then Matty, and now Ty," my wife said, combing Matty's hair with her fingers as he picked up the doughnut seeds.

"Iz spingle," he told us.

"Go ahead and sprinkle wherever you'd like," I encouraged. "We'll see how long it takes to produce some non-produce."

I had a Proud Papa moment when Julie took his hand and they shook out and then buried the Cheerios together. If I can, I will be beating my parents to the nearest doughnut shop at first light, getting Matty's seed-hopefuls and Julie's favorite French Toast doughnuts, to make their first family garden attempt a complete success.

When that task was completed, we got started on covering up all the tables that had been set up while I flew to Miami and back by putting out the party food. We gave Matty, Julie, and my parents, the option to head inside and just hang out and relax together, but they all wanted to stay outside with us to help out. Well ... Matthew wanted to play with everyone more than set cups on a table, or hand his Mama a stack of decorated paper plates, but we appreciated his presence and his clapping every time the beach appeared more and more like the scene of his party.

To keep bottles of water and cans of soda cold, when my parents were here yesterday to get a jump on today's party prep, my mother utilized the chest freezer we have for the garage and froze balloons filled with tinted water to act as ice for the large stainless steel buckets that now contain the bottled and canned beverages.

Entertainment will be provided by my men and Matty himself, with a take no prisoners water balloon fight scheduled for when everyone will least expect it ... Steph's brainchild. Unseasonably warm temps are bad for the environment but come in real handy for events planned for children. My father, brother, and Woody - with Steph and Celia providing the filling - rigged up two palm trees made out of tied-together balloons that our kids and men can have fun popping and seeing what toy or reward comes out of each one.

In the same vein, a huge number two was also constructed out of balloons, stuffed with special little gifts just for Matty. My father also brought along his and Matthew's fishing poles, outdoor bowling set, and magnetic dart board ... that even Lester should be able to safely use, that will provide play for everyone throughout the weekend. As Steph has said, this isn't so much a 'party' as three days of non-stop family fun.

Hector put his old hot-wiring skills to innocent use by rigging up a homemade drink dispensing system similar to those in fast food restaurants so party guests can have their choice of mineral water, lemonade, or ice tea, if they'd like something different than what's melting the balloon-ice.

"I'm glad I'm pregnant," Steph whispered to me, as the food overtook the outdoor furniture, "because if I gain weight from this party, I can blame Ty."

"If you do, it'll be the first time you blame our kids for anything."

She smiled up at me. "What can I say, our kids are pretty perfect. They don't do much wrong. We haven't met him, but judging from that 4D sonogram picture we just got - and had to get numerous copies made of - Ty's clearly an angel already. Call me delusional, but I think we won't have to go through what our parents had to with us."

"It'll be harder for our kids when a bodyguard or three can be assigned to them at anytime for any length of time. And you're predicting Ty's angel-like persona based on him looking like Matthew did at birth ... only with his face being more compressed at the moment."

"Exactly," she said, pressing Ty against m stomach so she could kiss me. "The Manoso genes are going to strike again."

"But the Plum genes are peeking through Matty today," Julie said from behind us, holding her little brother in her arms. "He spotted the cake in the kitchen when Grandma and Ella were putting the candles in, and he decided that if they were sticking things into it, he could too. So one of the trees now has a new Matty-branch pulled out of the frosting where he dragged his finger through it."

"How did the tree taste?" I asked him.

"Yumzy!"

"And do you like your cake?" Steph asked.

"Itz sooo big!"

"I know. I think Bibi and Grandmella made it bigger than even you are."

"Grandma thought we should let Matty show off his cake to everyone, even if we aren't eating it right now, before 'someone' decides to offer Pup-Pup a taste of it next."

"You, Daddy, and Ty, are lucky," Steph said to our son, filling his arms and lifting him out of Julie's, "you guys are totally surrounded by smart and talented women like your sister, Bibi, and Grandmella, though you should probably give Ty some props for becoming a comfy seat for his big brother."

"Tyze's hidin' in dare," he said, reaching down to gently tap Steph's stomach.

"He is, for just a little while longer."

She adjusted him, but held him tighter when I raised an eyebrow that asked if I should take him. She has to be in serious pain, or in a seriously bad mood because of something horrible someone else has done, to give up the hugging-hold he has on her.

We watched the cake procession come out of the house and move down to the beach. My mother and Ella had set the cake layers on four individual tiers made from slices of food-safe hardwood that decreased in size as the bottom forest, road, then river, layers eventually led to an iced-graham cracker tent on the top grassy tier that was proudly waving a 'Camp Matty' flag. The forest portion contained icing covered sugar cone trees and a molded fondant wolf and bear. The road was 'paved' with graham cracker crumbs and had a replica of the RangeRover Matty patrols the halls of Rangeman in. Blue rock candy created a river he could fish in if the miniature version of himself wanted to leave his tent and Pup-Pup on the top tier.

"Iz on my cake!" Matthew proudly told his RangeUncles.

"How are we going to pop some balloons if you're sitting there on your cake?" Tank asked him.

That question perplexed our son, but he caught on soon enough with a laugh at his GodUncleTank's expense. He set his little hands on his hips and walked around Tank until he was standing right in front of him, the toes of his sneakers touching the steel toes in Tank's boots.

"Iz wight hewr!"

"So you are. Your parents say there are prizes in those balloon-trees, wanna find out if they're trying to trick us before we crack open that cake of yours?"

"Pop. Pop," Matty said in agreement.

Pup-Pup thought he was being called, so he abandoned a full belly rub being administered by Diego to trot after Matthew, Julie, Tank, Lester, and Bobby, while Steph and I circled the crowd and checked for anything that needed passing out, refilling, or our help with, since Woody, Junior, and Ram, decided our kids were being 'neglected' by us not having a tree swing for them on the property. Being men of action, they decided to remedy that while they're all here.

When they finished the two-seater, wood-plank swing ... and Matty and Julie and then my parents tried it out ... I picked Matthew up after Steph lit his birthday candles, knowing this process will take more time and effort since we're outside. His Bibi and Grandmella not being satisfied with only the single number 2 candle, felt compelled to add some to each layer. I helped my son extinguish every one of them.

"What are you doing?" Steph asked Bobby, when Matty had gotten completely over the balloon-popping and refocused on his cake, and we began cake destruction and distribution.

Brown had quickly swiped the candles that had been put on a plate beside the cake before it was cut into.

He's currently in the process of licking the frosting off them. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Licking frosting off of wax. You know, you can have an actual piece of cake in a minute, which will have way more frosting on it."

"Steph, we used trick candles so they'd stay lit for longer than a few seconds outdoors," I explained. "They can be handy to have around if you ever get stranded. Matches blow out, these candles don't without some help."

"Okay ... that makes a bit more sense," she said, and then she looked back at Brown. "Are you planning on getting stranded on your way from the table to your bedroll? Or possibly losing your way back to Trenton from here as you sit in the middle of a Rangeguy caravan?"

"You never know," he replied, cleaning the last of them before wrapping the candles in a campfire-themed print napkin taken from a tray labeled 'Camping Gear'.

Of course, this particular camping gear are grouped-together plastic utensils to aid in the devouring of the party food. Half of which already has a substantial dent in it, and Steph only had what I brought her to eat. She's having too much fun 'chaperoning' our guys as they created bowling leagues for some 'friendly' rivalry, which had her less interested in food than in enjoying our family and the partying going on. Everyone wanted Matty and Julie on their teams and weren't above trash talking or outright bribery to get one or both to choose them.

After an afternoon of literal fun and games, when the sun began to set, Matty's Uncles and I set up the firework display a buddy of mine created for my son's special day. These are specially made to be all show and no bang, though I've made my peace with the standard type of fireworks. If I hadn't been triggered by a stray bottle rocket more than two years ago, Steph wouldn't have felt like she needed to comfort me the quickest way she knew ... and we wouldn't have made Matty that day.

Fast forward to now ... yellow, red, green, and white, explosions lit the sky with little-to-no sound beyond Matty and my mother's awed gasps, claps, and excited comments. With Matthew sitting on my shoulders and gripping my temples with two hands, and my wife and daughter each standing with an arm around me, we watched the colors overtake the nighttime sky while I held tight to the little man who has given all of us so much to celebrate.