January 1st, 2009

It was a whole New Year. They new this upcoming year would be much better than the previous one. Daisy was laughing and was holding her head up when she was on her belly now. Sailor was learning how to jump on skates and how not to whine when she fell. Lyric was helping out at the clinic. Okay, it wasn't much, she just handed a file or two to April, but Lyric thought it was terrific.

Ireland and Ella were both reading for the forth grade play. Since that was Ireland's class the director had no problem with her auditioning, but Ireland had to beg for Ella to be able to audition. They both got parts in it.

"Little bunny rabbit hoping down the lane. Little bunny rabbit wiggling her nose." Randi wiggled Daisy's nose. The baby giggled. "There's my little laugh."

"I can laugh too." Sailor said walking into the room. Randi smirked.

"I know you can. Is everyone all ready?" Randi asked. Sailor nodded. Randi stood up, scooping the baby up, "Let's go."

"Is my hair nice?" Sailor asked. Randi chuckled.

"Yes. It's lovely." Randi walked out into the snow. Everyone was all ready in the car; "You guys could have gotten me sooner."

"That's why we sent Sammi in." Dave chuckled as he buckled up.

"Well, thanks, Sailor." Randi clipped Daisy into the car seat.

"Why do we have to get our pictures taken?" Ireland asked.

"Because I would like one nice family photo." Randi said getting into the car, "Grandma wants a nice picture of Daisy anyway."

"Why is everyone fussing over Daisy?" Ireland asked, "I'm the one who is in a play, not her." Randi glanced in the rearview mirror.

"Ireland, don't start." Randi said pulling out of the driveway. She wanted to have a nice day today. They were getting their latest family portrait done and then they would be eating out. Randi liked days like these, when her and Dave didn't have work. This was Daisy's first real outing.

It took them fifteen minutes to get to the mall. Once the girls saw it, they cheered loudly waking Daisy up. Luckily the baby didn't cry. Dave got the older girls out as Randi got Daisy out.

"Here we go." Dave winked. Randi nodded as they walked to the mall. They had an appointment with the picture people. Dave pushed Ireland ahead of him. She gave him a look. Dave winked. "All right. Behave." Randi said as she checked her family in.

"Daddy's starting." Ireland giggled.

"Dave stop it." Randi said, "Hi. The Malucci's are here. We have an appointment right now."

"Perfect. I love big families." Chelsea stepped from behind the desk, "Come right over here, ladies."

"My dad is a guy." Lyric said. Chelsea chuckled.

"Of course he is." Chelsea said putting a stood on the plate form. "Mom and Dad could you sit right on either side of the stool?"

"Sure." Dave said as he sat down.

"And you little one can sit on the stool." Chelsea lifted Sailor up.

"I'm a big girl." She said as she sat down.

"Okay, you two girls strand behind each of your parents." Chelsea said. She stood back and looked at the family, "The red head throws it off some." Randi chuckled.

"Yeah Daisy does that sometimes." She said.

"All right. Daddy, hold her. She clashes with Mom's necklace." Chelsea said. Randi blushed slightly.

"I didn't even think about that." She chuckled. Chelsea stepped behind the camera.

"All right. Look at the birdie." Chelsea squeaked a little bird. "Daisy, look at me." Finally her blue eyes looked at Chelsea, "Smile big!!" Chelsea started to snap off pictures. Dave sighed through clenched teeth. He hated getting his photo taken. He felt like a big ass sitting here while holding a frilly baby. "Perfect. All right, you can relax now."

"Did I do good?" Sailor asked.

"You did wonderful." Chelsea smiled, "There's a basket filled with lollipops on that table over there. You three can go get one." The girls jumped down and ran to the table.

"When the photos be done?" Randi asked.

"By the weekend. We'll give you a call." Chelsea said.

"All that work for sitting for three minutes." Dave muttered.

"Hush up." Randi chuckled. "I'll be looking forward to you call." She didn't care how Dave acted every time they did this. This picture would look so perfect hanging up in he living room.

January 15th, 2009

Randi ran the soft bristled brush over Daisy's carroty hair. Her hair was growing a lot lately. Randi had expected her hair to darken, but it hadn't yet.

"In a couple of months I will be able to give you a pony tail." Randi kissed Daisy's nose, "Maybe by summer time."

"Momma?" Ireland walked into the nursery.

"What do you want? I'm busy. I have three loads of laundry to do and I have an online order to fill." Randi said. Ireland's lips quivered.

"Never mind." Ireland whispered and walked out of the room. She was turning seven in a couple of weeks, but she felt like her parents didn't care. Even though she had a part in a play, they didn't care about her. It was always about Daisy or Sailor's ice-skating. Lyric got to spend time in the clinic watching Dave. Ireland was just Ireland. Randi picked Daisy up and the basket of cloths and went downstairs.

"Here we go. Ride the washing machine." Randi put Daisy's car seat on the washer and threw the clothes in. Soon, the baby was smiling from the feeling below her. Randi chuckled watching her. Soon, Daisy's eyes started to close. "Nap time." Randi's ears perked up when she heard Ireland sobbing from her bedroom. Randi picked Daisy up and went upstairs. She laid the baby in her crib and went to Ireland and Lyric's room to see Ireland throwing up all over the floor, "IRELAND!" She grabbed a trashcan and slid it underneath Ireland. She felt her forehead. It was burning.

"I tr-tried t-telling you!!!!!" Ireland sobbed. Randi sighed.

"It's all right, Pumpkin." She said rubbing her back. Ireland lay on her bed, crying softly.

"Are you going to help me now or pay more attention to the others?" She whispered. Randi bit her lip.

"I'm paying attention to you." She said. Ireland shook her head.

"You wouldn't let me tell you I was sick. You snapped at me." Ireland said. Randi sighed as she pulled up the blanket around her. She kissed her daughter's cheek.

"I'm sorry. I'll go clean up this mess and then get you a Popsicle."

"Whatever." Ireland whimpered and turning around in bed. Randi got up and went to the bathroom to grab a few towels. She messed up this time.

* * *

Randi sat at the kitchen table, sipping some coffee as Dave walked in.

"How's Landsie?" He asked, taking his jacket off.

"Asleep. Her fever was one hundred and two so I gave her medication and she zonked out." Randi said softly.

"Good." Dave poured himself a cup of coffee.

"I'm a bad mother, Dave." Randi said. Dave frowned looking at her.

"You are not a bad mother. You're a terrific mother who is raising four terrific children." Dave said. Randi shook her head.

"Ireland tried telling me that she was sick, but I ignored her. Ireland s right. I've been ignoring her since Daisy was born." Randi said, "It's so hard, Dave. It's so hard giving each girl enough time. I don't want them to feel like I don't love them."

"They know you love them. You're helping them achieve their dreams. You helped Ireland practice her lines so she got the role. You let Lyric come help me in the clinic even though she's only five. She let Sailor skate. You're an amazing mother." He said.

"I don't want to turn into my mother." Randi said, "Everyone s already asking me to travel to Paris or Milan and I don't want to be my mother by leaving them here with you or gram."

"Then we'll come with you." Dave said, "it's been awhile since we've traveled, but you cannot give up your dreams either." Randi wiped her eyes and nodded.

"I know." She said softly, "I should go check on her." Dave nodded slowly. She slowly shuffled out of the room. It broke Dave's heart to see Randi questioning her mothering skills. She was the best mother he had ever known and she would always be.

Note: If you want to be updated when this and my other fics are updated or to participate in general discussion about them then join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAK_Update/