He quickly walked over to the room where he heard the sounds, which was Jake's room.
"Everything okay in here?" Steve asked concerned. He looked around but he saw that both Catherine and Jake were okay.
"Yeah it's all good. I was getting Jake ready and I knocked over the box with baby wipes and they landed on top of trash can."
"Ah okay." Steve was relieved that no one was hurt. "Aww Jake you look so cute."
"Yeah he does, doesn't he?"
"What about me mommy?" Natalie asked.
"You look very pretty sweetie," Catherine replied with a smile and Natalie smiled too.
Together they went downstairs and made sure everything was ready for the party. At 3.30pm the doorbell rang. It were Mary and Joan.
"Hey Uncle Steve," Joan spoke.
"Hey sweetie," Steve gave her a hug. "Hey sis."
"Hey Steve."
They all walked outside where Catherine and the kids were.
"Hey Catherine," Mary greeted her sister-in-law.
"Hey Mary, hey Joan."
"Hey Aunt Catherine."
"Hey little Jake," Mary spoke and tickled Jake's tummy. "He's really cute. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"How's he doing?"
"He's doing very well, luckily."
"Yeah. Here I bought Jake a present."
Steve took the package from Mary and opened it. It revealed a jumper which you could hang in the door opening or underneath an arch. It was blue with a plush zebra and dinosaur on it with some jingly things.
"Thank you Mary," Steve told her.
"I bought Jake something too Uncle Steve."
"That's sweet of you Joan. Why don't you hand it to Aunt Catherine so she can open it with Jake."
Joan handed the present to Catherine. "Thank you Joan."
Jake was on Catherine's lap and together they opened the package, well more Catherine than Jake, and it revealed a frog rattle.
"Thank you Joan."
Jake immediately wanted to hold it so Catherine handed it to him and Jake started shaking it.
A little later the others arrived too. Danny, Chin, Kono, Adam, Lou, Renee, Duke and Jerry had bought a gift together for Jake. They had bought some outdoor play things for Jake. Jake got a red little slide, a blue swing chair for babies and a police car pool rider. They had also bought a baby gym for Jake, a rainforest melodies and lights baby gym.
"Aww thanks guys, I'm sure Jake will love them," Catherine spoke.
From Catherine's Dad Jake got a blue navy jumpsuit with white scarf and matching hat, a navy blue footsie pajama, a navy blue bib with white letters: U.S. Navy kicks ass, a black bodysuit with a camo colored one on it and under it little brother in white letters, a white body suit with in blue the text: my navy grandpa is my hero, a pacifier with blue camo colors, a pair of blue camo baby slippers, a little plush fox with camies on, a blue camo colored baby hat and a blue camo towel hoodie.
"Aww thanks dad. Geeh you would think we were in the Navy," Catherine joked.
"Yeah I saw them and they were just too cute."
"They really are dad."
Everyone got a change to hold Jake. He didn't mind being passed around, he was happy just as long as he was being held.
"Aunt Catherine, can I hold Jake too?" Joan asked.
"Yeah sure, go sit on the chair." Joan sat down on the chair. "Hold your arms just like me sweetie." Joan held her arms just like Catherine and Catherine carefully placed Jake in Joan's arms. "Make sure you support his head Joan."
Joan held Jake just like Catherine told her. "He's pretty heavy."
"Yeah he has grown a lot already."
Catherine grabbed the camera and took a picture of Joan holding Jake. A little later Jake started fussing.
"I'm sorry," Joan spoke, afraid she had done something wrong.
"It's okay sweetie, he's just hungry."
"Oh okay."
Catherine took Jake from Joan and went inside. She sat down on the chair and breastfed him. Once Jake had burped she took him back outside and put him in his swing chair. Everyone was enjoying the afternoon. Around 6pm Steve fired up the grill and baked some hamburgers. During dinner Jake started falling asleep so Catherine took him upstairs. She changed his diaper and dressed him in his pajamas. Catherine gave Jake a soft kiss on his head before she put him in his crib.
"Goodnight little man."
Catherine left the room and went back downstairs. Around 8pm everyone started leaving. Once everyone had left Steve took Natalie upstairs for bed. Once Natalie was in bed Steve went back downstairs and he and Catherine cleaned up outside.
The next day Steve went to put the toys together. He started outside with the swing and slide. He first put the slide together. It was pretty easy to do, he just had to put the slide and the steps together. He made sure it was secure. For the swing chair he didn't have to do much. He just had to secure the ropes to the chair. They already had a swing frame outside but it was only for one swing. With the swing chair they had gotten, they also got a pole so they could expand the frame. Steve took the frame they already had up apart. Steve took the pole they already had out of the frame and put a new one in, this one was suitable for two swings. Steve attached the other end of the frame to the pole and made sure it was secure. He screwed in the bolts where the swings would hang from and hung the swings on it. He pulled on the ropes to make sure it was secure. He checked the frame again to make sure everything was secure.
"Daddy, can I go on swing?" Natalie asked.
"Yes Natty, daddy is all done."
"Yay."
Natalie sat down on her swing and started swinging. Steve cleaned up everything. Catherine was on the porch with Jake, who was lying in his bouncy chair.
"Hey little buddy, would you like to try your new swing?" Steve spoke to him.
Steve picked him up and took him over to the swing. Catherine grabbed the camera so she could film Jake's first swing ride. Steve put Jake in the chair and strapped him in. Steve stood behind the swing and gently pushed Jake. Jake started smiling as the swing went back and forth.
"Looks like he's enjoying it," Catherine spoke.
"Yeah it looks like he is."
It was so cute to see the smile on Jake's face as Steve pushed the swing. He was really enjoying himself. Catherine was filming it and filmed Natalie on the swing as well. She just loved moments like this. Her family was just perfect.
…
Tomorrow was Natalie's fourth birthday. Jake was now nine months old. He was really doing well. He had a couple of checkups with the doctor but he was completely healthy. The doctor couldn't find any complications from the early birth. He had really grown big already and he was starting to crawl a little bit. Natalie absolutely loved her little brother, she loved being a big sister. It was sometimes still a bit getting used to for her, that she had to share her parents' attention, but she was a great big sister.
Today they had a party for the family, since Natalie's birthday was on a Monday, and tomorrow Natalie would have her birthday at school. Her last one here before she went to kindergarten. It was a beautiful February day so they could have the party outside. Natalie stormed into Steve and Catherine's room bright and early and jumped on their bed.
"Mommy, daddy, biwtday pawty today!" Natalie cheered.
Steve and Catherine grunted as they woke up. Steve glanced at the clock and saw it was only 7am.
"Yes sweetie," Catherine replied. "But your party doesn't start until two, go back to sleep sweetie."
"I no sweep mommy."
"Yes sweetie, it's too early. Come on, you can sleep here."
Natalie lay down in between Steve and Catherine. A little later she fell asleep again. It was 8am when they were woken up by Jake's crying. Steve went out and got Jake.
"Hey little buddy," Steve spoke as he walked into the room.
Jake smiled when he saw Steve above his crib. Steve picked Jake up and gave him a little kiss. Steve took Jake over to the changing table, changed Jake's diaper and dressed him. Catherine helped Natalie get dressed in her birthday outfit. Natalie wore a dress, the top was lace light yellow with a floral print and the skirt was yellow with orange flowers and a layer of tulle over it with an orange satin belt and a light yellow short sleeved t-shirt under it, she finished the outfit with light yellow flats with a light yellow flower at the front. Catherine put Natalie's hair in a ponytail and then made several braids.
"You look beautiful sweetie," Catherine told her.
"Thank you mommy," Natalie replied with a smile.
Steve was already downstairs getting breakfast ready when Catherine and Natalie came downstairs.
"You look like a little princess," Steve told Natalie.
Natalie had a big smile on her face. "Thank you daddy."
They all sat down at the breakfast table. Jake sat in his high chair and Steve was feeding him a jar of mashed fruit. The rest of the day they just relax around the house and Steve and Catherine made sure everything was ready for the party. Catherine got Natalie's cake ready as Steve took Jake upstairs for his afternoon nap.
Just before 2pm Catherine's dad arrived.
"Hey dad," Catherine greeted once she had opened the door.
"Hey sweetie."
"Gwandpa!" Natalie came squealing at the door.
"Hey there's the little birthday girl." He picked her up and gave her a kiss. "Happy birthday sweetie."
"Thank you gwandpa."
Natalie took the package that was handed to her and started opening it. It was a really big package. It was a trampoline. It was red with stars on it and it had a bar on it so Natalie could hold on when she was jumping.
"Thank you gwandpa. I love it."
"You're welcome sweetie."
A little later the others arrived too. From Danny and Grace Natalie got Lego juniors Ariel's dolphin carriage and a mixer with bowl. From Kono and Adam Natalie got an Elsa dress and Elsa's shoes to play dress up with. From Lou and Renee Natalie got a purple and green doodler and a Frozen 6-1 game, it had Bingo, Go Fish, Crazy 8's, Four-in-a-Row, Dominoes and Matching. From Chin and Kono Natalie got a mini guitar with Frozen theme and a 15 piece beauty set with case. From Duke Natalie got a box of jewelry with what she could make her own Frozen jewelry. From Jerry Natalie got a plush Shih Tzu puppy with a pink paid carry bag, a comb, leash, bone and cookie. From Mary and Joan Natalie got a pink and purple powered police motor.
Natalie loved all the toys she got. Once everyone was there Catherine went inside to get the cake. Natalie sat on her birthday stool as Catherine came out and everyone started singing as Steve filmed.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Natty, happy birthday to you."
Catherine put the cake down in front of Natalie. It was a pink Frozen cake.
"Go ahead Natty, blow out the candles," Catherine told her.
Natalie blew out the candles and everyone clapped. Catherine took the candles out and cut everyone a piece. She pulled Nick onto her lap and fed him some pieces of her piece. Once Natalie had finished her cake she went to play with her toys. She wanted to play on the trampoline so Steve put it together. Steve and Catherine took some pictures of Natalie throughout the day. She was dead tired when Steve put her to bed at 8pm.
"Did you have a nice day sweetie?"
"Yes I did daddy. Many pwesents."
"Yes you got a lot of presents and tomorrow you'll get your present from mommy and me."
"Yay."
"But only if you go to sleep now like a good girl. Goodnight sweetie."
"Niwt daddy."
Steve gave her a kiss and tucked her in. By the time Steve had closed the door Natalie was already asleep.
The next morning Natalie came storming into their bedroom at 7am.
"It's my biwtday!" Natalie yelled.
"Yes it is sweetie," Steve replied. "Happy birthday sweetie." Steve gave her a hug and a kiss.
"Thank you daddy."
"Happy birthday Natty," Catherine said and gave Natalie a hug and a kiss too.
"Thank you mommy. I get pwesent now?"
Both Steve and Catherine had to smile at that.
"Okay but first you have to get dressed."
Natalie jumped off the bed and ran to her bedroom. Steve and Catherine dressed themselves and then Steve went to get Natalie dressed as Catherine went to check on Jake. Jake was still asleep so Catherine let him sleep for now. She went downstairs and made breakfast for the family. Natalie was so impatient to get her present that she ate her breakfast as fast as she could.
"Natty, don't put so much in your mouth," Steve spoke to her.
Natalie mumbled something with her mouth full.
"Don't talk with your mouth full Natty, I can't understand you then."
Natalie swallowed the bite that was in her mouth. "I want my present daddy."
"Yes, but after breakfast and don't put so much in your mouth."
Once they finished their breakfast Steve went outside to get Natalie's present. A little later he walked back into the house.
"Natty, do you want to see your present?"
"Yes daddy!" Natalie squealed.
"Then come here quickly."
Natalie jumped off her chair and ran up to Steve, who was standing in the back door. Steve took her outside to the backyard. Natalie's eyes widened when she saw a beautiful bike standing there.
"Mine?" Natalie asked hopeful.
"Yes that's yours, sweetie."
"Thank you daddy," Natalie squealed and gave Steve's legs a hug.
"Thank you mommy." Catherine got a hug too.
"You're welcome sweetie, why don't you try it?"
Natalie ran over to the bike and sat down on it. It was a Frozen theme bike. The frame was white with some Frozen drawings on it. The tires where blue and the side wheels, the handles and the pedals where pink/purple. On the handles were white streamers. On the front of the steering wheel hung a handlebar bag. The bike also came with a tiara Frozen helmet.
Natalie sat down on the bike looking like a big girl.
"I think she likes it," Steve spoke to Catherine.
"Yeah I think she does."
Steve and Catherine loved to watch Natalie on her bike but they were interrupted by Jake's crying. Catherine went upstairs and got him dressed for the day. She breastfed him before she took him downstairs.
Steve left to go to work just after 8am.
Around 8.40am Catherine left and went to school. Catherine was pushing the stroller with Jake while Natalie was on her bike. She wanted to take her bike to school. Natalie was at the Honolulu Waldorf school, it was only about a five minute walk from their house. Natalie put the bike in the bike rack and took her helmet off once they were at the school. Together with Catherine she walked inside once they bell rang. Catherine could join her this morning for the birthday party. Natalie took a seat on the big birthday chair and waited for the other kids to come into the classroom. Once everyone was there the teacher started the day. After the daily stuff they started celebrating Natalie's party. They played some music and sang some songs. Natalie was loving it. Catherine took some pictures of Natalie. Once the songs had ended Natalie gave every kid a treat. Catherine had made mini cupcakes. Once the party was over Catherine went back home.
The next day it was Natalie's first day at the big school. Steve went with Natalie and Catherine today too. They walked to school and Natalie was on her bike. Once the bell had rung they all walked inside. They went to Natalie's classroom but just before Natalie went into the classroom she started crying.