I have a sore throat, a powepoint presentation that won't show my text and I need a nap. How about a party?
I don't own Twilight. Jack is all mine, and not based on any of my kids, believe me.
~*37*~
Today is February 1st, and it is also Jack Cullen's first birthday. Needless to say, it's a day to celebrate.
The basement is completely decorated in a monkey theme, courtesy of some over the top party planning by Esme, and Edward has rearranged everything to allow for room for the party. Even Charlie doesn't feel put out by having to spend his Friday night in the Cullen basement celebrating Jack's birthday.
Much to the delight of Edward and Bella, Jack has begun walking. Unfortunately, this also means baby proofing the entire house and making sure anything breakable is out of reach. He started a few days into the new year, grabbing onto the coffee table or Edward's leg to help him toddle along, but just this past week he has grown bolder and taken more steps on his own, before falling onto his well-padded butt.
Just before the party is set to start, Alice joins the family with her boyfriend, Jasper. Though Bella knows him well from the pool, it's officially the first meeting for Edward. He tries to be the over-protective big brother as he approaches the tall blonde.
"Nice to finally meet you, Jasper," Edward says honestly after Alice introduces them. "Keep your hands off my sister, or you too can have a first birthday party for a baby when you're 18." Edward's grimace turns into a smile as he pats Jasper on the back before heading to help Esme with the finger foods she has arranged.
"Don't worry about him," Bella offers to Jasper, attempting to reassure him that her boyfriend is more bark than bite. "I think we both know you won't follow in his footsteps, right? You guys better not be doing anything, but if you are, you better be safe."
"Bella, let's not talk about our sex life," Alice admonishes as she grips Jasper's hand tightly, trying to prevent him from bolting for the door because he honestly looks like he is about to puke on his shoes at all the inappropriate talk.
"How about you guys don't have a sex life and there's no conversation to have," Carlisle offers from over Alice's shoulder as she looks mortified, and rightly so, at her brother's girlfriend for not saying that her father was right behind her. "Now, let's have a party!"
The entire family, including Sue & Charlie, putter around for a bit and enjoy the foods Esme has prepared while they all watch Jack entertain them. His walking is vastly improved, so he flaunts his moves, and when Edward puts on Gangnam Style by Psy, everyone laughs and claps in time to the song as Jack attempts to dance. Even though Bella loathes the song, she has to admit that watching Jack try to dance is hilarious. All he really does is shake his hips and yammer on incoherently before either calling for Dada or Bawa.
After food has been had, and Jack is tired from dancing, Edward announces that it's time for the gifts. Edward sits on the floor with Jack between his legs as Bella hands them the gifts. Jack still remembers opening presents on Christmas morning, so he is pretty excited to rip off the paper and find the present underneath.
Jack makes away like a bandit and gets a little toddler basketball set, lots of puzzles and books and even a little football with a Seahawks jersey from Charlie & Sue. Bella bought him a large toy box painted with sports equipment for all his toys to go in and when Edward sees it, he breathes a sigh of relief because between the toys Jack got for Christmas, and now his birthday, his room is quickly becoming a mess.
After presents, Esme has a cake shaped like a monkey's head with Jack's name on it, ready to go. Jack gets a miniature version for himself, and Edward sets him in his high chair in the middle of the kitchen. Then he peels off Jack's shirt which reads 'I'm this many' and there's a hand below it holding up one finger, before smiling at his son. Everyone sings Happy Birthday, which takes Jack by surprise and he doesn't really look happy about it. There is a candle with Winnie the Pooh clutching the number one perched on top of the cake, and even though Edward tries to show him how to blow it out, he just looks confused, so Edward does it for him.
Everyone is standing around with their cameras, ready to take pictures of Jack shoving cake into his mouth, but he's rather dainty at first. "Come on bud, shove your hand in there," Alice calls out as Jack looks up, nervous about the crowd watching him.
"Edward show him what to do," Sue suggests helpfully as Edward shoves his finger into the icing and offers it to Jack, who sucks on it briefly before smiling. Now that he realizes the cake is sweet, Jack does the same as Edward and puts one finger into the icing before licking it off.
"Okay buddy, you can use your hand," Carlisle prompts as Esme jabs her husbands' shoulder. "What? It's not like I have to clean up this mess. I already did it with Alice and Edward. It's someone else's turn."
Everyone laughs at Carlisle's remark, even Jack, though he has no idea what he is laughing at. Just as Edward shoves his finger into the small cake, Jack finally catches on and reaches his tiny fist into the cake as everyone begins snapping pictures, even Bella. With his fist filled with vanilla cake and chocolate icing, Jack moves to shove it in his mouth, but chooses instead to throw it on the tile floor.
"Aw crap," Edward groans as Bella hugs him and smiles at him regardless of the fact that she will help him clean up. "Come on Jack, it goes into your mouth, not onto the floor."
"Dada," Jack mumbles before he grabs another handful and offers it to Edward to eat. Playing along, Edward eats the cake out of his son's hand, commenting about how delicious it is, before Jack finally raises his cake slathered fist to his own mouth. With icing all over his face and cake crumbs all over his body and the floor, Jack finally lets out a moan of approval with a very loud 'num'.
The family bursts into laughs and more photos and video are taken as Jack enthusiastically begins to reach into his cake and eat.
"Thank god this only happens once a year," Edward laments to Bella as he lays his head on his shoulder. "He's adorable, but this is messy."
"It's totally worth it, baby. Just look at his face." Of course, just as Edward and Bella look up to the icing covered, drooling face of Jack, he chooses this moment to say the most unlikely and unexpected thing, as he looks right at Bella.
"Mama."
P.S. That is totally how my nephew ate cake at his first birthday. He was very dainty, while his twin sister practically shoved her face in her pink monkey cake!