Another installment! Just a reminder these are short little scenes, and I don't plan to beta them. So, if they're a little off...that's why.

As usual, thank you to everyone who takes the time to read these and send lovely comments on Twitter.


YEAR TWO

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"Oh, my god, Jenna, you're missing this!"

Jenna, who'd ducked away to the bathroom between dinner and presents had returned to Dawn and Ogie's living room to find four grown adults-Cal had since joined their little posse since his divorce-laughing together and staring toward the center of the room.

She looked over at Becky, who'd called her, and noticed the phone in her hand, video recording.

In the middle of the living room, a tiny carrot-top danced around on a pretty green Christmas dress and a bow. A half-demolished cookie in one hand, a stuffed reindeer toy in the other, and chocolate all over her face, the one-year-old was babbling out what had to be "Jingle Bells" and bopping up and down on her chubby legs.

"Jingle bell! Jingle bell!" she shouted over and over as she ran around, her speech still slurred but clear enough to be understood.

Jenna shook her head and giggled. Her child would be talking everyone's heads off soon enough.

"Little girl, you've had too much sugar," she chided playfully. Amused but far from upset, she asked the group, "Who gave her another cookie?"

Dawn, with a shy smile, raised her hand and admitted. "That was me."

Feigning indignation, Jenna pointed at Dawn and teased, "You're keeping my child tonight."

Becky snickered and put her phone down. "Good luck getting this one to sleep."

In the corner of the room, the channel the TV was set on was airing the old Frosty the Snowman cartoon. As the theme began to play, Lulu waddled over to the screen and stood in front, staring up and dancing again. She also sang in babbles, not a care in the world that she made no sense.

Then she noticed everyone watching her and, ever the ham, began clapping her little hands and cheering, "Yay!"

The group, playing right along, clapped and cheered for her as she waddled over to Jenna. Her arms outstretched toward her mother, and the baker scooped her up in her arms.

"You need another bath, Superstar," Jenna remarked, taking the bib wrapped around Lulu's neck and wiping the chocolate off her face. "Mama's gonna be exhausted getting up in the morning for our trip to Manchester."

Jenna wasn't thrilled to be spending Christmas with her great aunt as it was, though she'd insisted on finally seeing Lulu. The three-hour trip was just icing on the cake.

"Maybe if we let her tire herself out, she'll crash before you get home," Dawn suggested. Then she tapped Ogie on the shoulder and urged him, "Sweetheart, let Lulu open that present from us. She'll love it!"

The gentleman stood up from his spot on the couch and walked over to the tree. He rummaged around, finally pulling out a box from underneath a pile of gifts.

"Picked it out myself," Ogie declared proudly as he brought it over to Jenna.

Curiously, Jenna reached for the present with her free hand and sat down on the floor with Lulu.

"Let's see what Aunt Dawn and Uncle Ogie got for you, huh?" she spoke to the little one, placing the box in front of them.

Lulu stood in front of the gift, staring. As she placed her hands on it, Jenna reached over for part of the wrapping paper, tearing a little to show her how.

The one-year-old took hold of the paper and pulled, only ripping a little at a time. Jenna helped her finish, finding a festive box under the wrapping. She lifted the lid off the top, revealing a plush cherry pie-shaped pillow.

"Oh, my goodness, what is that?" Jenna asked her daughter.

Lulu grinned and reached inside for the pillow, which was half as big as she was. Realizing its softness, she pulled it into her arms and hugged it.

"Now you get to have your own pie like your mama makes!" Dawn announced excitedly.

Tickled to death, the child began to wander the room with her new pillow, clinging tightly to it and showing it off to the adults.

"I've never seen a child so excited over a pillow," Becky remarked with a laugh. "I spent weeks trying to figure out what to get her, and apparently this is all it takes."

"She's too much like me," Jenna chimed in. "She doesn't need a lot."

She smiled as she watched her daughter show off her gift (which, decidedly, would not be going in her crib no matter how much she loved it). Undoubtedly, she'd be showered with toys and new clothes, but if Jenna knew her child, this was the one she'd stay attached to.

After a few moments of listening to chatter and observing Lulu, Jenna saw the child turn around and begin to waddle toward her. As she approached Jenna, Lulu held out her pie pillow and looked up expectantly at her mother.

Jenna, exaggerating excitement, asked her, "For me?"

The one-year-old nodded her head and placed the fake pie in Jenna's hands.

"Oh, thank you!" Jenna continued to play along, then mirrored Lulu's earlier hugging the pillow.

"Up," the little girl beckoned, reaching out her arms.

Jenna guided her to sit in her lap. Once the child was comfortable, Jenna placed the pillow in front of her. And leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek.

Lulu craned her neck to look up at her and, grinning, lifted herself slightly to place a kiss on Jenna's nose. Mother and daughter snuggled up together as the group began to pass around the rest of the presents.

As the evening passed, there was lots of playtime with Lulu's new toys, which included blocks, musical devices, and plenty of colors and shapes. Each adult-even Cal-got in the floor to give the toddler attention. There was also more caroling in baby babbles and dancing until the child was worn out.

Later, Jenna would find Lulu curled up with her pillow, asleep before they were even out the door.