November 8th, 2003

Ireland climbed up onto the closed toilet. She reached over across the sink and grabbed her toothbrush. Randi smiled at her daughter.

"Paste." Ireland said. Randi put a little dab on the toothbrush.

"Okay, go up and down and then spit in the sink. Don't swallow this time." Ireland nodded as she pushed her brown hair off of her forehead. She smiled ad started to brush her teeth. Randi giggled softly. Next step they took with her would be potty training. That would be a task, but at least she told them when she had to go lately. Ireland leaned over and spit into the sink. "Good girl."

"Good girl." Ireland giggled sipping some water.

"Let's go downstairs and feed the babies okay?" Randi helped Ireland off of the toilet.

"K." Ireland said. The girls both gave each other a wink and walked slowly down the stairs. Ireland stuck her tongue out as she concentrated on walking down the stairs.

"Go get Binnie and I'll go get Lyric." Randi said walking into the living room. Ireland dashed off to the playroom to get her doll. Randi loved it that Ireland was getting so independent. They could do a lot more together. Randi took Lyric out of her playpen and sat on the couch. The bay began to fuss pulling at Randi's shirt, "Okay, you to hold your horses." She chuckled.
"Here." Ireland ran into the room.

"Good girl. Sit up here and we can feed our daughters." Randi smiled. She finally let Lyric have her breast. Ireland smiled as she put the fake bottle to the baby doll's lips.

"Num num num." Ireland grinned at her mother.

"Very good." Randi said, "You're a good mommy."

"Good mommy." Ireland smiled, "Poo poo."

"Does Binnie have a dirty diaper?" Randi asked. Ireland nodded as she slid off of the couch, "Go change it." Ireland smiled as she sat down on the floor and removed Binnie's diaper. Dave walked in.

"Good afternoon." He said.

"Welcome home." Randi said.

"Dada!!!!!" Ireland squealed jumping up and ran to her father. She threw her arms his legs and squeezed them hard. Dave smiled.

"And this is why we're having more kids." Dave snatched up Ireland and tossed her in the air. Ireland squealed with happiness.

"Sounds like a god reason." Randi chuckled as she tilted her head up to kiss Dave. He looked down at Lyric.

"Hello Miss Lyric." He said.

"She's a little distracted." Randi said.

"I would be to if I was where she is." Dave winked. Ireland tugged at Dave's pant leg again.

"Pay Binnie." She said. He looked down at her.

"I don't play with dolls." He said.

"Pay Binnie!" Ireland moaned. Dixie trotted up to them and grabbed Binnie up off of the floor and trotted away. Ireland gasped, "BINNIE!!!!!!!!!" She ran off after Dixie.

"Go save Binnie, Dave." Randi chuckled. Dave followed Ireland's screams.

"Bad Doggy!!!" She cried pulling Dixie's tail.

"Dixie, drop it." Dave walked up to the dog. "Dixie, drop the doll now." Dixie obeyed her master and dropped the doll. Ireland snatched the doll up and started to cry.

"Binnie boo boo!!!" She sobbed holding the doll tight against her chest. Dave picked up his daughter.

"Come on. Daddy will fix Binnie's boo boos." He walked into the bathroom and sat Ireland on the sink top and grabbed a couple of band aides. Dave started to stick the Band-Aids on to Binnie's arms and legs. Ireland sniffled as she watched her father. "Does Binnie need a kiss?" Ireland nodded slowly. Dave smiled and kissed Binnie's head. "All better?"

"Bedda." Ireland said jumping off with Binnie. She ran off. Dave chuckled softly. Little ones were so weird sometimes.

November 22nd, 2003

Ireland tugged her snow hat on and pushed open the back door. The winter air rushed towards her.

"Cold, Daddy!" She shivered closing it again. Dave laughed.

"You need to get pants, shirt, sweat, jacket, and boots on first before you go out there." He said, "Okay?"

"Okay." Ireland said running to the laundry room.

"What is she doing?" Randi asked sitting on the floor with Lyric.

"She's getting dressed to go outside." Dave said. Randi looked at her husband.

"You're going with her right?" Randi arched her eyebrow. Dave looked up from his paper.

"I am now." Dave said. Randi smiled as he got up.

"Thank you. She's not really old enough tobe our in the snow by herself. Next winter maybe."

"I know." Dave rolled his eyes as he left the room. She'd smack him one if she saw that he rolle dhis eyes at her. He chuckled to himself.

"I know you know and don't roll your eyes at me." Randi said looking at Lyric, "Wanna play patty cake?" Lyric giggled as Randi started to play the hand game. "Patty cake. Patty cake. Baker man, bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it. Pat it. Mark it with a L for Lyric and me!" Lyric giggled as she clapped her hands.

"Mama!!" Lyric giggled. Randi's heart sang.

"You said mama!" She smiled leaning over and kissed Lyric's head. Lyric's hazel eyes brightened as she saw how happy her mother was. "Don't tell daddy that you said my name first. Ireland did too. You were suppose to say his name first."

"Mama! Mama!" Lyric squealed. Randi laughed rubbing her daughter's head.

"We won't be hiding this for long from daddy are we npw?" She asked. Lyric bounced again, kicking her feet. "I do love you, Lyric." Randi still couldn't believe how quickly Lyric's first year was going by. Ireland's seemed to go so slowly as they cherished every moment, but already Lyric would be turning one in a few months. It was scary. Had they missed some special moments? The girls were aging too quickly. Randi also knew because the girls were aging, so was she.

"I'm young still. I still have plenty of child bearing years left in me." Randi winked as Ireland ran back inside.

"Cold!" Ireland shivered.

"You're drenched." Randi smiled as she got up, "Let's get you out of those." Dave ran in huffing.

"She's going to be the death of me." Dave said.

"Running too fast?" Randi chuckled.

"Hell yeah." Dave smiled as he picked up Lyric.

"Mama!" Lyric giggled. Dave's face dropped.

"Lyric! Shhh!!" Randi smiled.

"Oh come off it!!" Dave groaned, "Again its you?? Why is it always you?"

"Yeah. Sorry." Randi laughed as she stripped Ireland. "It completely took me off guard too."

"Just once. Just once I want to be first." Dave sighed looking at Lyric, "Thanks."

"It's not the end of the world, Dave." Randi said putting a dry diaper on Ireland.

"Sure you don't think so. They both said your name first." Dave said. Randi smiled.

"They love you, Dave, and that's all that matters." She said.

"Wove Daddy." Ireland said. Dave's face softened as he looked at his daughter.

"I love you too, sweet pea." He said, "I'm gonna go lie Lyric down for a nap."

"Knock yourself out." Randi chuckled. Dave smiled going upstairs with his youngest daughter.

"I'm not mad at you, Sweetie. I know you'll say my name whenever you're ready, like Ireland did." He said lying her down in her crib. "Sleep tight, Lyric. I'll come get you when you wake up." He kissed her forehead and left the room. Someday maybe he'd be first. Lyric rolled over and got up on her knee. She looked at the door and reached for it.

"Dada." She said reaching for the door, "Dada!"