Caroline and Lawrence arrived home and with only a few more days of school, both were ecstatic about the upcoming break. For Lawrence, it was about playing his Xbox, lots of food and presents, presents and more presents. For Caroline, it was time away from work to spend with her wife and family and she was very much looking forward to Flora's first Christmas.
Caroline walked into the family room to find Flora sleeping and Kate reading a book so she made a beeline to kiss those lips she adored. After a rather lackluster kiss, Kate said, "Caroline, we talked about this."
Feigning innocence, "What?"
"Another package arrived today. I know it's her first Christmas but she doesn't need all the stuff you are getting her. She's barely nine months Caroline; I don't think she will be riding a tricycle anytime soon or solving a giant floor puzzle or in need a children's painting easel."
"But…" was all Caroline managed as she flopped down on the couch.
"She loves her mama and she doesn't need all that stuff to know you love her." Kate put her arm around her wife and said, "If you really want to get her THE must have gift, she played with the cardboard box for half an hour and when she finally tired of it, I gave her a wooden spoon and the combination of the two was magical. She wore herself out which is why she is still asleep."
Shyly turning away, "there may be more packages coming in the post but that also means more boxes for her to play with," said Caroline as she glanced up with a playful grin.
Over the next few days, Caroline and Flora had fun together with the amazing toy otherwise known as a cardboard box. If only the staff and students at school could see the scary head teacher 'hiding' from Flora by wearing a box on her head or sitting on the floor and hitting the flaps on the box and watching them spring back.
"You know Caroline; I think you are having more fun than Flora."
Caroline looked at her wife with a huge smile, "you may be right…no…no…you are right."
Much like her mama, Flora was very cranky when she woke up on December 23rd. The whole family was coming over on Christmas and they had a lot to get ready before then. They had hoped to get most of it finished today so they could relax tomorrow, a bit of calm before the chaotic storm but Flora was clingy and having none of it.
The child was a drooling, cranky mess and no amount of teething gel or rings seemed to help. It was a bit of a game, wanting whichever mother wasn't holding her at the moment, so they took turns, swapping back and forth and by the end of the day, they had only accomplished half of what they had hoped to.
Despite the clinginess, Flora had worn herself out and her grateful mothers went to bed early only to be awoken just past midnight. Kate got up, followed by Caroline and when it became apparent that fussy Flora wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon, Kate turned to her wife, "go back to sleep Caroline, no point in both of us being up with her. If I need to, I'll take a nap tomorrow."
"But Kate…"
"I promise I'll wake you if she gets worse but we'll be fine. Get some sleep and if you feel really bad, you can make me breakfast in the morning."
Caroline woke just past 6:00, upset with herself that she had fallen into a deep sleep and hadn't checked in on Kate and Flora during the night. When she went to Flora's room, they were nowhere to be found. She made her way downstairs to find them sound asleep on the couch. Flora was lying on Kate's chest and they were snuggled under a blanket, they both looked angelic but she remembered those nights when her boys were little and they were anything but peaceful.
By 9:00, mother and daughter were rocked from their sleep when Lawrence came barreling down the stairs shouting, "Mum, I need you to take me to Angus' house," but to Caroline's surprise, Flora seemed fine; Kate was a little cranky however.
"She finally fell back to sleep around 2:00 but by 3:00, just as I dozed off, she woke up and decided it was play time so we came down here so we wouldn't disturb anyone. After a feed and a nappy change, she was out again a little before 5:00 but I didn't want to put her down and wake her and by then, the couch looked really comfy. I heard you get up at 6:00 and nothing else until Lawrence just now."
"I'm sorry Kate; I didn't mean to wake you."
"No need to be sorry, I was only awake for about ten seconds but if you are feeling a little guilty, I'd love a cup of tea."
The crankiness subsided for most of the day as Flora gnawed on just about everything she could get into her mouth but once again, the calm didn't last and Flora was wailing by 11:00. Caroline turned to Kate and joked, "I guess she wanted to wake now to try to catch of glimpse of Santa."
Still feeling guilty from last night, Caroline wouldn't let Kate stay up by herself and after Caroline insisted Kate take a long nap, she really wasn't tired just yet so together they took turns with Flora, rocking her and singing before finally taking her downstairs.
Kate turned on the lights on the Christmas tree which seemed to mesmerize the child as Caroline swayed with her. Kate sat at the piano and as gently as possible started to play a song and Caroline sang along.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Before she had finished with the first stanza, Flora was asleep so Kate got up and kissed her and then Caroline and the three of them danced in the glow of the Christmas tree. It wasn't long before Kate smiled, realizing it was now past midnight, "Happy Christmas Flora, Happy Christmas Caroline."
Note: "Stille Nacht" was originally a poem written by Father Joseph Mohr in 1816. Franz Xaver Gruber composed the melody and song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria. The song was translated in 1859, the Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, who served at Trinity Church in New York City.
