Shelby snuggled Rachel on the couch.
"Hey big girl," She said "I need tell you something,"
"What Momma?" Rachel asked .
"Mommy has to go on a trip but you are going to have to stay here with Quinny and Jesse while she's gone,"
"How long you be gone Mommy?"
"Just three days baby that's all" Shelby said kissing the top of Rachel's head.
"No I not want mommy leave," Rachel cried.
"I know Rachie but Mommy needs you to be a big girl okay?" Shelby said trying to soothe her.
"I not wanna be big girl I want Mommy I baby," Rachel sobbed.
"No your mommy's big girl! You'll have fun with Quinny and Jesse I bet if you're a good girl they'll even take you to the zoo in Columbus," Shelby soothed.
"Really?" Rachel said her eyes growing wide.
"But only if you're a big girl because babies don't get to do big girl things like that," Shelby said.
"I Big Girl Mommy I not baby," Rachel said smiling.
"I thought so," Shelby said. "Now let's make some lunch."
Xxxxxxxxxx
Jesse and Quinn showed up Saturday morning and Shelby went through everything with them the hotel she was staying at, the location of the convention, a little mention of a trip to the zoo.
"Okay Shelby, she's in good hands don't you worry" Quinn said as Shelby gave her some more instructions on Rachel's daily routine.
A whimper was heard from the baby monitor.
"Sounds like she's awake," Shelby said,
Quinn followed her up to the nursery while Jesse waited in the living room.
"Morning Baby," Shelby cooed.
"Mornin Mommy, hi Quinny," Rachel chirped standing in the crib,
"Are you ready to be a big girl for Quinny and Jesse this weekend?" Shelby asked.
Rachel nodded. Shelby laid Rachel on the changing table and diapered and dressed her.
"Mommy has to leave now baby," Shelby said placing a kiss on her forehead.
Quinn picked up Rachel and they followed Shelby to the front porch where they were joined by Jesse.
Shelby said her goodbyes and the trio waved from the porch.
"So Rachie are you ready for some fun cutie?" Jesse asked.
Rachel nodded happily.
"I think that it's breakfast time first," Quinn said tickling her under the chin.
Rachel giggled and hugged Quinn tightly. They all walked into the house Quinn went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Jesse took Rachel to the living room to play. Rachel stopped playing and crawled to Jesse.
"Jesse! I hafta go potty!"
Jesse looked at her quizzically.
"What do you mean baby," he said as Rachel placed her hands between her legs and hopped from foot to foot.
"I hafta potty!" she said again.
"Rachie that's what diapers are for you silly girl," Jesse said ruffling her hair.
"No Jesse I use big girl potty I need to be big girl so can go to zoo babies use diapees big girls use potty," Rachel whined as she continued her potty dance.
"But I say that you're still a big girl if you use your diapee," Jesse said picking her up and setting her on his lap.
Rachel wriggled for a few more moments before Jesse felt the her bottom grow warm
"Let's get you changed big girl and then I think Quinny has some breakfast for us," said carrying Rachel up the stairs and changing her.
He carried her back downstairs as Quinn was finishing breakfast. Quinn set a place for Jesse and herself. She sat a plate of cut up pancakes and a sippy cup of milk on Rachel's hair chair.
"Smells good in here," Jesse said as he entered the kitchen "In you go big girl," he cooed to Rachel as he lifted in the high chair.
"I think that after lunch we can hop in the car and take our trip to the zoo!" Quinn said.
Rachel's eyes lit up "Really Quinny?" Rachel asked.
"Yup I love going to the zoo!" she said.
Rachel smiled brightly and took a drink from her cup. After breakfast Quinn cleaned up the kitchen while Jesse packed diaper bag for Rachel and cleaned her up.
"Alright are we ready?" Quinn asked
"We sure are," Jesse said tickling Rachel's stomach.
By the time they reached to zoo Rachel had fallen asleep in the backseat. Quinn grabbed the diaper bag while Jesse got Rachel.
"Wake up Rachie," He cooed "We're at the zoo,"
Rachel rubbed her eyes and blinked wildly before smiling Quinn rolled the stroller around to the other side of the car. Jesse placed Rachel in the stroller and they entered the zoo. Rachel squealed wildly as they passed each of the animal exhibits. After they stopped for lunch they stopped to see a show where seals balanced balls on their noses Rachel giggled wildly at all of their antics. By the time Rachel's afternoon naptime rolled around Jesse decided that a trip to the gift shop was in order before they left he bought Rachel a stuffed seal and a stuffed giraffe for Quinn which she insisted that she didn't want but Jesse insisted on getting in anyway.
"Tank wou for takin me to da zoo," Rachel said around her pacifier from the back seat
"You're welcome sweetheart," Quinn told her.
Rachel slept all the way home and about an hour more once they got home. Jesse and Quinn lounged in the living room until she woke up. Quinn walked up to the nursery and got Rachel out of the crib.
"Have a good nap baby?' she asked.
Rachel nodded, she changed Rachel's diaper and took her downstairs where she played with Quinn while Jesse made dinner.
"Dinner is served," Jesse called
After dinner Quinn gave Rachel her bath and out her in her pajamas. Quinn had Rachel cuddled her on the rocking chair in the nursery. She began to sob.
"What's wrong baby?" Quinn asked
"I…miss..my..Mommy," Rachel sobbed.
Rachel cried and cried for several minutes and now amount of soothing words and coos or lullabies from Quinn or Jesse would calm her. Finally Quinn called Shelby and aloud Rachel to talk to her. She finally calmed down and took her nighttime bottle and fell asleep peacefully.