nnie was setting up for Jenna's baby shower, the living room had been decorated with boats and sea creatures. Jenna had grown up on the beach in southern california and Chris still loved the rugged rocky coasts of the pacific northwest.
"Mama," Ellie called.
"Yes baby girl," Annie replied. They were two weeks from Ellie's first birthday.
"Mama," Ellie repeated.
Annie turned and saw Ellie let go of the coffee table.
"Ellie come here," Annie coaxed, crouching down.
"Mama," Ellie said again before taking a tentative step.
"That's it baby girl come to mommy," Annie coaxed.
Ellie took a tentative step towards Annie.
"Come on baby," Annie said, "that's it you're walking."
Ellie took a second step.
"Josh she's walking," Annie called.
"I'm right behind you," Josh said.
"Are you getting a video," Annie asked.
"I am," Josh beamed.
"Come on baby come to mommy," Annie coaxed as Ellie took her fourth and fifth steps.
The baby plopped on her bottom and flipped on to her knees to crawl to Annie.
"My big girl," Annie cooed pulling Ellie into her arms, "you took your first steps."
Josh joined them on the floor, "I'm so proud of you Ellie bug your walking."
"Dada," Ellie said.
"Yes baby," Josh said, "you've gotten so big."
"Mama," Ellie said wiggling in Annie's arms.
"Do you want to walk again baby bug," Annie asked.
"Yes," Ellie lisped.
Annie set Ellie on the floor and she tottered towards Josh. They both clapped and cheered as Ellie tottered around. Taking a couple steps then plopping down on her bottom before pulling up on another piece of furniture and trying again.
"She's determined," Annie said.
"Like her mommy," Josh said, "and stubborn."
"She gets that from you," Annie laughed.
"She's walking," Josh said.
"She's almost one," Annie said, "tomorrow would have been her due date."
"Already," Josh smiled.
"I know," Annie said, "this year has been good."
"It has," Josh said, scooping Ellie off the floor and setting her on his hip, "my girls, my perfect girls."
Annie wrapped her arms around Josh and Ellie, "my favourite people in the whole world."
Josh looped his free arm around Annie so the whole family was in a big hug.
They set Ellie back on the floor and watched as she toddled towards the cat.
"Are you going to see Milo," Annie asked.
"Itty," Ellie babbled.
"Yes that's the kitty cat," Annie said.
"Lunch," Josh asked.
"She needs lunch," Annie said, "I won't eat until the party."
"Do you want me to feed her," Josh asked.
"Sure," Annie replied, "just some of the leftover pasta from yesterday she liked that."
"Sauce," Josh asked.
"No, it was everywhere, the floor, her, the walls, Milo, in my hair," Annie said, "a little bit of chicken with it. She likes the cooked carrot bits and peas."
"She eats a lot now," Josh said.
"She does," Annie smiled, "she's really not our tiny baby is she."
"She isn't," Josh agreed.
"It's too fast," Annie whined, "can time just slow down."
"It is too fast," Josh agreed, "she walks and kinda talks."
After lunch Teddy and Allison came to help finish setting up.
"Mama watch this," Annie said, setting Ellie on her feet.
Ellie took ten toddling steps before plopping on her bum and crawling towards the cat.
"When did she start walking," Teddy asked.
"Two hours ago," Annie beamed, "she's walking mama."
"She is," Teddy agreed.
"She's not my little baby now," Annie whined.
"She's almost one," Teddy smiled.
"Two weeks," Annie replied, "tomorrow was her due date."
"Already," Teddy asked.
"Yes 13 days late, miss bug," Annie said shaking her head, "I was so scared she'd be massive."
"I was shocked at 6 pounds," Teddy said, "I thought seven at least."
"She hardly looks like my newborn anymore," Annie whined, "it's too fast."
"It is," Teddy agreed, "Allison is in kindergarten, Leo goes to first grade, you're a fellow and 31 this year. Ellie is one."
"Is this what you wanted mama," Annie asked.
"It is," Teddy beamed, "the summer you were 20 would you have imagined this."
"No," Annie said, "we were getting ready for med school. Is that really ten years ago?"
"It is," Teddy laughed, "we've been busy."
"Our people have changed so much in that time," Annie said.
"We're adaptable," Teddy said, "you'll have to teach Ellie that."
Allison grabbed a ball and rolled it to Ellie.
"Ellie come play soccer with me," Allison said.
"Not there yet Ali," Teddy said, "you could try holding Ellie's hands and leading her around."
"Mama," Allison asked, "why does Ellie keep falling?"
"She only started walking today," Teddy replied.
"Is she still a baby," Allison asked.
"Sort of," Teddy said, "it's not one day you're a baby, the next day you're not. They grow up slowly. You're still my baby."
"I'm not a baby," Allison said with her hands on her hips.
Annie giggled, "you look just like mama making that face."
"I do not," Allison argued.
"You do," Annie teased.
"You look and sound like mama," Allison said sticking her tongue out.
"Whatever you say," Annie shrugged.
"Girls," Teddy scolded, trying to hide her laughter.
"What," Annie asked.
"You two were arguing," Teddy laughed.
"We were not," Allison said, "were we Nee?"
"Just a little," Annie said, "sorry mama."
"Thats your first sister argument," Teddy said.
"25 years changes things," Annie said.
"Yes my 30 year old arguing with her five year old sister," Teddy laughed.
"When will Annie and I be the same age," Allison asked.
"You'll be Annie's age in 25 years. You'll be 30 and Annie will be 55 that's older than I am now," Teddy said.
"Why wont we be the same age when I grow up," Allison asked.
"Because you get older every year so does Annie and so do daddy and I," Teddy said, "when you're Annie's age I'll be 76."
"That's old," Allison yelled.
"It is," Teddy said.
"I'm closer in age to my mom that my sister," Annie laughed.
"Timing my girls was not my strong suit," Teddy agreed, "but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"When can I get married and have a baby," Allison asked.
"After you finish college," Teddy said.
"When do I go to college," Allison asked.
"When you finish high school," Teddy said, "you go to kindergarten this year."
"Is school scary," Allison asked.
"I loved kindergarten," Annie said, "Leo has fun at school."
Dan was sitting in his truck outside Annie's house arguing with Leslie. He just wanted to drop off the rocking chair he built for Jenna and say hi to Annie and Ellie before spending the afternoon with Chris and Josh.
"Leslie I don't manage Annie's relationships with anyone," Dan argued, "if her and Josh don't have the time off to go sit in a waiting room with you and your mom while your dad has surgery they don't have time."
"But they could go to Portland for his dad," Leslie complained.
"They thought Ian was going to die," Dan replied, "Annie and Teddy have been consulting on your dad's case so has Christina Yang. They are helping in ways none of us understand."
"She wouldn't let them do their surgery on my dad," Leslie said.
"I've talked to Annie about that," Dan replied, "the risks are too great. They didn't think your dad would survive. What they've recommended gives him the best chance. I'm not arguing this with you. I'm in Annie's driveway, there's a baby shower for Jenna today for our grandson. I want to see our kids and hold my granddaughter. Celebrate with Chris and Jenna."
"You hardly know them," Leslie snapped.
"I've spent the last year rebuilding my relationship with both," Dan said, "getting to know them. Your the one that hasn't tried Leslie."
"She won't bring Ellie to see me," Leslie complained.
"No," Dan agreed, "not with the way she was abused by you and Jessica. She sees me, my parents and siblings, your parents. She chooses not to see you."
"They vaccinated that baby even though it could cause autism," Leslie said.
"Leslie they are both surgeons. Don't you think they read all the information and decided for themselves," Dan sighed, "this isn't productive. I'm going to go and enjoy my afternoon. Let me know when you put the house on the market."
Dan hung up the phone and got out of the truck. He opened the canopy and carefully took out the rocking chair he had built for Chris and Jenna. He would be back in two weeks for Ellie's birthday and would bring her play table and chairs and rocking horse.
Dan knocked on the front door and Josh let him in.
"Wow," Dan said, seeing Ellie toddle across the floor.
"She only started this morning," Annie beamed, "she's pretty determined to catch Allison."
"Once you took about 6 steps nothing could stop you," Dan smiled, "you didn't stop after that."
"When did I learn to walk," Annie asked.
"A couple weeks before you were one," Dan said, "then you ran everywhere."
"Oh no," Annie said, "I'm not ready for that. Dan do you want to put Jennas chair in the living room. I have the balloons for it."
"Where's yours," Dan asked.
"Nursery for now," Annie said, "I love that her chair looks so different from mine."
"I make each one unique," Dan said, "yours is more curved and smoother lines."
"What type of wood is that," Annie asked.
"Maple," Dan said, "your brother's favorite. Jenna doesn't have a favorite."
"It's beautiful," Annie said, "they'll love it."
"I've built a couple things for Ellie's birthday," Dan said, "a rocking horse and a little table and chairs set."
"You built them," Annie said.
"Of course," Dan said, "like my dad made them for your first."
"Thank you," Annie smiled, "she'll use them for years."
Ellie toddled over, "mama up."
Annie scooped up Ellie.
"Your too big Ellie bug," Annie said kissing the top of the girls head.
"Hi Ellie," Dan greeted.
"Ellie can you say hi to granddude," Annie asked.
"Ude," Ellie echoed.
"Yes granddude," Dan said, "Annie can I?"
"For a couple minutes," Annie said, "then I need to feed her and put her down for a nap."
Annie tried to pass Ellie to Dan but Ellie clung to Annie's shirt and began to cry.
"After her nap," Annie declared.
"Mama," Ellie cried.
"I know baby," Annie said, "let's have a snack, change you and your nap. You're tired, it was an exciting morning."
Annie carried Ellie into the nursery and closed the door.
Ellie tucked in for her nap Annie closed the nursery door behind her.
"One happy, sleeping baby," Annie said, "we have about an hour until people come."
"What needs to be done," Teddy asked.
"Set out the food," Annie said, "it's mainly vegetarian. Jenna is usually plant based, Cassidy had gone vegan and Jenna's grandma is kosher. Veggie covers it all."
"Do you have labels," Teddy asked.
"I do," Annie replied, "I'm nervous about her grandma."
There was a knock at the door.
Annie opened it and saw a woman in her early sixties standing there alongside and elderly woman.
"Mrs Silverstone come in," Annie greeted.
"Annie," Mrs Silverstone asked.
"Yes," Annie replied.
"I'm Rebekah and this is my mother Miriam," Rebekah replied.
"Come in," Annie invited, "can I get you anything?"
"Tea would be good," Miriam said.
"Come have a seat and I'll get it," Annie replied.
"How do you know Jenna," Miriam asked.
"We met six or seven years ago on a rural medicine clerkship in South Dakota and did our residency at the same hospital. Then Chris is my half brother," Annie explained.
"They met through you," Rebekah asked.
"They did," Annie replied, "they hit it off at my daughter's christening. Uncle Chris and auntie Jenna."
"How old is your daughter," Miriam asked, "where is she?"
"Ellie is almost one and she's in her room napping," Annie said, "she should be down for a couple hours still."
"Is she walking," Miriam asked.
"She is," Annie beamed, "this morning."
"This will be Jenna's baby's cousin or friend," Rebekah asked.
"Cousin," Annie replied.
"You said Chris is your half sibling, which parent," Rebekah asked.
"Our father," Annie replied, "I use my mother's last name though. She's here she's also Jenna and my boss."
"Chief of surgery sweetheart," Teddy laughed.
"Mama," Annie said, "this is Rebekah and Miriam Silverstone Jenna's mom and grandma."
"Teddy Altman," Teddy introduced herself, "it's nice to meet you. We love having Jenna as part of our family."
"We," Rebekah asked.
"Annie is my oldest," Teddy said, "Jenna spends time with my younger daughter Allison and her and Chris join us for most family things. My mother in law has gotten attached to Jenna."
"Are you auntie Teddy," Miriam asked.
"Yes Chris and Jenna call my husband and I Auntie Teddy and Uncle Owen," Teddy smiled, "my mother in law is nana."
"We were surprised by how easily his family embraced her," Rebekah said.
"We choose our family," Teddy said.
"This baby is exciting but its a surprise," Miriam said.
"We were surprised by Annie and Josh as well," Teddy said, "it's a happy surprise."
Allison ran over, "Annie can I play with Ellie?"
"Sorry bean," Annie replied, "she needs her nap for a couple hours or she's going to be cranky and cry a lot."
"When does she stop having naps," Allison asked.
"She still has a short morning one and a longer afternoon one," Annie said, "when she stops falling asleep at nap time they can stop. She likes her sleep, it helps her brain and body to grow."
"She sleeps a lot," Allison whined.
"Not as much as she did when she first came," Annie said.
"She slept and cried at the cabin last summer," Allison said.
"And ate," Annie said, "Allison can you help me and mama?"
"I can," Allison said.
"Again with the mama face, stop it," Annie teased.
"No you make that face," Teddy said.
"That's all you," Annie laughed, "and now Allison."
Meghan had let herself in and seen the face, "it's all three of you. Where's Ellie?"
"Napping," Annie said, "Auntie Meg she took her first steps."
"And Catrina started crawling yesterday," Meghan said, "she's with Nathan."
"Ellie is going to stay here today she can be one of the ladies," Annie said.
"Can I give her a bottle," Allison asked.
"She's betting big for that," Annie said, "she likes to hold them now."
"Sippy cup soon," Teddy asked.
"She is for water," Annie said, "I can't believe she's one in a couple weeks."
"What time is Jenna coming," Rebekah asked.
"She should be here in half an hour," Annie said, "it's more of a drop in thing because a lot of our friends are working or on call."
"What is on call," Miriam asked.
"It's when we're at home but if something comes up we can be called into the hospital," Teddy explained, "I'm technically on call for cardio today along with Meghan's husband. They'll call Nathan before they call me."
"How will that work with a baby," Miriam asked, "they need their mother."
"Jenna will get six months mat leave then we have a 24/7 daycare available to all staff," Teddy replied, "I've used it with my younger two."
"Ellie goes there," Annie said, "it's been really good. It's convenient for my husband and I. We see her when we have down time or breaks. I usually go feed her so we still do most of her meals."
"You had Ellie in your lap two weeks ago in a cardio meeting," Teddy remarked.
"She was clingy," Annie replied, "I wasn't in the mood for screams."
"Your too soft with her," Teddy said.
"She hears the word no," Annie said, "but she's not one yet she's still a baby. I'm letting her lead with what she's ready for."
"Feeding," Teddy said.
"Baby led," Annie replied, "I'm not in a rush. She likes food now. Josh's appetite but my pallet. She likes veggies."
A while later the extended McKellar family and all of Jennas friends were there. Everyone was waiting for Jenna. With Annie in hostess mode teddy peeked in on Ellie who was sound asleep. Teddy knew this was a big step to have the extended McKellar clan in her house but the aunts and cousins were warm and enthusiastic about the whole thing all jumping to help out and begging to see Ellie. Annie refused to wake the sleeping baby knowing that she would be left with a clingy little girl and a few tantrums if Ellie's nap was cut short.
"Mama," Ellie called.
"She's up," Annie smiled.
"Can I help you," grandmere asked.
"We're fine," Annie said, "quick snack and a clean diaper then her party dress."
By the time Annie had Ellie ready to rejoin the party Jenna had arrived.
"Annie Altman you did not do all this," Jenna said.
Annie gave Jenna a hug, "I've had help. We're happy for you. Come sit you have a new chair."
"That's not your chair," Jenna asked.
"Dan dropped it off, that one is yours. Mine is in Ellie's room," Annie replied.
"Dan built me a chair," Jenna said.
"First baby I'm every house gets one," Shannon said joining them, "your one of us now Jenna."
"Everyone," Jenna asked.
"Yours and Annie's are fancier then the rest of ours but yes," Shannon said, "we've all fed and cuddled our babies in a chair build by uncle Dan. Annie I haven't seen yours just pictures."
"It's in Ellie's room," Annie smiled at her cousin.
"No," Ellie whined.
"Do you want down," Annie asked looking at the little girl sitting on her hip.
"Yes," Ellie lisped.
"Grandmere watch this," Annie called before putting Ellie on the floor.
Ellie toddled a few steps running into Teddy's legs. Teddy scooped up the baby and balanced her against her hip.
"Annie this is too much," Jenna whispered.
"It's time we celebrated you and your little man," Annie beamed.
"Annie," Jenna sighed, "how did you get mom and bubbie?"
"Chris," Annie said, "he had your parents number."
"All the McKellar aunts and cousins," Jenna said, "you wouldn't let us do this for you."
"Jen it's your day," Annie smiled, "enjoy it. Now go sit in your chair and try it out."
Annie took Ellie back from Teddy and went to stand with Steph and Cassidy watching as Jenna's mom and bubbie fussed over her.
"Three of you with kids now," Cassidy shook her head.
"Your next Cassidy," Steph teased shifting Sox month old Kim in her arms.
"Do you have any idea about the name," Cassidy asked, "your little moms club."
"Last name," Annie said, "Silverstone - McKellar."
"I want one," Cassidy said, "but I'm single."
"Steph don't you have a brother that just moved to Seattle," Annie asked.
"I do," Stephanie replied, "Cassidy what do you think of cowboys?"
"Set me up. One date can't hurt," Cassidy agreed.
They spent the afternoon playing games and enjoying the treats before Annie decided Jenna should open the stack of gifts.
Jenna giggled when she opened Annie's gift and found a onesie with "I think my mommy is awesome" and a picture of a brain on it. It was a little joke between Annie and Jenna after the heart one the year before. Annie, Steph and Cassidy had filled a bassinet with Annie and Steph's favorite baby items they couldn't live without. But the onesie was Annie's little joke with her best friend.
"I don't get it," Miriam said.
"Jenna had one made for Annie with I heart my mommy but the heart was a human heart," Teddy whispered, "it's a joke on their specialties."
"Why would she put a human heart on it," Miriam asked.
"Annie is a heart suregon," grandmere said, "I don't think we've met."
"Miriam Gold I'm Jennas bubbie," Miriam said.
"Marie McKellar Chris and Annie's grandmere," grandmere said, "we're loving getting to know Jenna. Do you visit often?"
"We seen Jenna twice a year," Rebekah said, "hopefully more now."
"Doug and I come every three or four weeks to see the kids," grandmere said, "make sure our great grandkids speak French."
"So this little boy needs to learn three languages," Rebekah said.
"What's your second language," grandmere asked.
"Some yddish," Rebekah relied, "Jenna doesn't use hers."
"Chris and Annie use their French," Marie said, "I won't speak to them in English unless it's a big event like this. Just then we speak French. Grandma was fun but great grandma is even better."
"We've missed so much of it being in La," Rebekah said.
"We're in British Columbia so we missed most of Annie's," grandmere said.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in happy conversation. Everyone was excited about the upcoming baby and the way the families were growing and changing as relationships evolved and new babies joined the mix.