Bella's POV

"Please stop crying Carter. Please stop, you're going to drive mommy insane and I still have to help Lexi get ready for the party." Reasoning with a 9 month old almost never works. OK never works…

"Mom, I can't zip the dress!" She yells as proof she needs me.

"OK baby you are just going to have to cry, I don't understand what is taking Daddy so long." Sam went to get pizza for the party but he left an hour ago!

Today we are having a party for the adoption finalization. We all know that Sam is truly her father in every way that counts but we wanted it to be legal and we all wanted to have to same last name.

Marcus kept his word and never tried to contact us but his mother tried weekly until she died. Lexi never would see her again. I feel horrible but I was actually relieved when she finally died.

Life has been crazy. I started working again when Carter was two months old. I'm lucky I didn't lose much business in the time that I was forced on bed rest. Since then me, Sam, Jake and Leah work things out so Lexi and Carter are always with one of us. I hate daycare with a passion. Sam and I have already promised to do the same once their little girl is born and Leah goes back to work. She's due in just two months. So between four of us with full time jobs and 3 kids we'll be crazy busy.

I put Carter in his pack and play and try to tune out his screaming while I help Lexi zip up her dress. It's way too fancy for a bbq but it's her day so I wasn't going to tell her no. I'm sure by the end of the day she'll be in shorts.

Finally Sam gets back and the screaming stops. Sometimes I think Carter only likes him, within 5 minutes he's crashed and Sam lays him down in his bed.

He walks into the room and tells Lexi how beautiful she looks. She does look beautiful; she's growing way too fast though. She's hardly my little girl anymore.

"Thank you Daddy. I love you!" She'll always be his little girl though. I feel like I should be jealous but how can I be? She waited 5 years for him.

Soon everyone starts showing up. My dad, some friends of Lexis's from school and finally Jake and Leah. Leah looks miserable. But at least she's not on bed rest. That was miserable.

"Where's Carter?" Leah asks. She hasn't been able to get enough of him lately. I think she's using him for practice.

"Sleeping. He just went down so it'll be a while. How are you feeling?"

"Huge and exhausted and bitchy." That's about right.

"Oh I remember those days. Not much longer though." I know it's no comfort.

Everyone is telling Lexi how beautiful she looks and she's so happy to be the center of attention. She's not jealous of Carter I don't think but it's still been a huge adjustment for her. She's a great big sister though.

"I am so glad I met you Sam. I never thought we could be so lucky." I tell him and it's so true.

"You're right Bella, you two are really lucky." He says and laughs. I just roll my eyes.

Sam gives Lexi the heart shaped necklace we got for her with her new full name carved into it with the date the adoption was final underneath. She starts crying, and then I start crying and then Leah starts crying.

Then Carter starts crying and all three of us go to check on him. He reaches for Lexi and she picks him up and he spits up all over her fancy dress.

"Gross!" She screams while me and Leah crack up. I knew she would end up in shorts. Leah and takes Carter and I go with Lexi to help her change.

"Mom, I drew Daddy a picture but I don't think it's very good. I wasn't going to give it to him but I really love my necklace and I want to give him something."

"Show me Lexi but I'm sure he will love it." Even if it's terrible he will love it. But she's a pretty awesome artist.

She took the very first picture ever taken of them together and sketched it. It's from the day the tricked me into letting him take us to the carnival. It is absolutely beautiful.

"Lexi, this is amazing baby! He will love this! Do you want to give it to him now or after everyone leaves?"

"Um, now?" So I help her find a frame for it really fast and she finds a gift bag in my closet and she takes it to him.

He almost cried. And Leah's crying again.

My family is perfect.