"Come on, CJ. You can do it, baby," Anima urged, lying on the living room floor. CJ had been working on crawling and rolling over for the past weeks every time he had been placed on the floor.
He was stuck on his side again while attempting to roll over. "Dadada!" he loudly said, tilting his head up to look at Anima, watching her clap.
"Just one more push, and you'll be on your back," she smiled, talking to him at eye level and showed him how to roll over by demonstrating herself.
Tom watched from the couch and held back his laughter as Anima rolled over from her stomach to her back.
"See! It's easy, CJ," she rolled back over to her stomach and earned a clap and laughter from the baby.
"I think he's telling you to do it again for his own humor," Tom remarked, watching his wife. "Looks like he's getting closer to rolling over though."
CJ chose then to squeal and, with a kick of his foot, rolled over onto his back. Praising and clapping their hands, Anima and Tom cheered him on for rolling over. The baby laughed and clapped his hands together, mimicking his parents. Tom got up and lifted up his son, hugging him close. Tom rocked him until he fell silent, yawning against Tom's chest. "Looks like it's nap time for baby," he noted at a whisper. "I'm going to put him down."
A few days later, Tom was sitting with his mother-in-law as he hand fed some baby rice cereal to CJ. Anima was in her office on a Skype conference. "Mum, can I ask a question?"
She nodded.
"I know you told Annie you would watch CJ for a few hours while we have some alone time, but I was wondering if you and Mr. Ruperre could stay here with him for a few days."
She tilted her head slightly. "What are you thinking of?"
"I'm thinking of taking Annie to a Bed and Breakfast for a few days so we can have some personal time and not worry about having to rush it. I want her to slow down. She's been moving at a rapid pace since CJ was born, and it's wearing both of us out."
She laughed. "Oh, that's fine! I don't mind watching the baby for a few days while you two have fun at a Bed and Breakfast. At CJ's age, he's over the critical stage, and it will give us a chance to know each other better. My husband's been dying to see how he does with a football."
Opening the bedroom door slowly and seeing Anima was asleep, Tom carefully walked in and sat on the bed. Lowering the comforter just enough to see her face, he gently touched her, and she began to stir. "Morning, darling. Have a good nap?" he asked with a small smile, seeing her eyes open a little. When she didn't move to sit up, he leaned down and kissed every inch of her face. "C'mon. I have a surprise for you."
"What?" she muttered, rolling over just enough for him to kiss her. "What surprise? What have you done?"
He lay down on her and rested his chin near her face so he could brush his lips against her skin and talk to her. "I made some reservations at a Bed and Breakfast for this weekend so you and I can have a few days alone. Your mum and dad are going to watch CJ for us. Imagine it: three days of us, a bottle of wine, some great food and lots of play time."
Anima grinned and giggled tiredly.
"You might as well get going with filling some bottles," he said. He avoided a swinging arm and laughed. "Hey, it's true!"
"I feel like a cow," she muttered, sitting up to grab for a pair of sweat pants.
"You're a gorgeous milk cow," Tom purred.
"No, Tom. Don't give me that look. I need to get up."
Walking into the kitchen, she picked up the clean breast pump and an empty bottle bag. She sat at the table and smiled at CJ, who reached a hand out and cooed happily. "Hi, baby. Did we enjoy some cereal?" he stuck out his tongue. "How much of his food did he eat?"
Tom glanced into the bowl. "I'd say around half a cup of rice cereal. He might want to be breast fed at this point. Want me to get you anything while you're nursing?"
Anima thought for a moment as she lifted her shirt and undid one side of her bra, exposing her left breast. "Maybe a cup of orange juice and my vitamins?" she looked down at CJ, his fists holding fistfuls of her shirt. "I'm wondering what to do when I get engorged over the weekend."
Tom raised his eyebrows and leaned close. "I can take care of that," he winked when she blushed and went back to paying attention to his breakfast.
Anima went back to paying attention to CJ and noticed he had fallen asleep while nursing. Slipping her fingers between his mouth and her skin, she unlatched them and cradled him on her shoulder. She used one hand to lower her clothes and her other to pat his back until she heard him burp. "Didn't expect him to fall asleep so fast. He's usually pretty active at this time of the day."
"You must have that affect."
Anima kicked at him, making him snicker. "Act your age."