Hi lovely readers,
Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews on the last chapter, it means so much. I cannot believe that this is my 50th prompt, to think I've managed to write 50 of these is crazy but it's all thanks to you guys. Thank you so much for your requests, for keeping me inspired and for all of your lovely comments on my writing. It means the world to know you love this little Shamy family I've created just as much as I do.
This prompt was requested by two guests. I'm unsure if it was the same guest or just pure coincidence but thank you so much for requesting. I really hope this is okay.
Enjoy!
Growing up, Sheldon Cooper never really enjoyed birthdays. He enjoyed the part where his family would fuss over him, make him centre of attention for the day (his siblings would argue Sheldon was centre of attention everyday) and celebrate a whole new year of his life however, what he absolutely hated was the fuss and insistence his parents went to every year to throw him a party.
It was a Cooper tradition to party or so he was told and from an early age Sheldon wondered whether or not he was your typical Cooper. His mother would tell him to invite friends from school, even though he told her he didn't have any and that just like the previous year and the years before that, no one would show. By a certain age, Sheldon had just got used to the fact that no one would come and would lie to his mother about handing out invites. It was easier this way, this way, he couldn't end up disappointed because his hopes were never raised.
What he did enjoy was getting older, looking back he could remember feeling so excited each year to be one step closer to adulthood. One step closer to finally having his incredible brain truly understood and appreciated by adults around him and not by ten years old who could barely solve simple equations. He realised that at times in his adult life this still wasn't always the case but his field of work had led him to his best friends, who had subsequently led him to his wife. Without them there would be no Amy, no Emily and Arthur. No right now. No party planning.
Amy was meticulous when it came to details, he knew this way before he married her, it was one of the many things he loved about her. Really, he had to admire her love for detail, precision and organisation but what Sheldon really couldn't get on board with was her need to celebrate their children's first birthdays. He understood their birthdays as they grew older, Amy was insistent on creating memories and making special moments but their first birthday, surely no one, not even someone as intelligent as him could remember that.
Yet here they were, a week before their son, their youngest child's first birthday and Amy was well into planning mode. She had decided that the party would be a family event, held in their backyard, Sheldon and his brother, who would be visiting from Texas would be in charge of the barbecue and there would be ton of things to keep Emily, Arthur and all of their nieces and nephews entertained.
Amy sighed loudly from where she was sitting at the kitchen table, as she hung up her phone call. With her notepad positioned in front of her, Sheldon watched as she took her pen and seemed to scribble a thick line through whatever was written down.
"That was the bounce house company, they've double booked and as we were the last booking" she sighed again, "no bounce house" she shrugged her shoulders, hands flaying in the air. "I'm not going to be able to get another bounce house with a week to spare" she was stressed, he had learnt how to tell this throughout the years.
"Amy, we don't need a bounce house" he was trying to help but as soon as the words left his lips, he knew she would just become annoyed.
"You're not helping" narrowing her eyes, she glanced up at him before returning to her notes. When she heard the scratch of the chair opposite being pulled out, she looked up again.
"Amy, it's his first birthday. He won't remember this" although he knew he was already losing the battle, he tried to reason with her.
"That's not the point Sheldon"
"I just…"
"This is the last time we'll do this. He's our baby, we're never going to have a first birthday again" Sheldon knew things like this left her all emotional, anything regarding the children left her emotional. She was extremely sentimental and even now, at times it took him a long time to understand that emotion.
Sheldon found it odd that she had already announced this would be the last time they celebrated a first birthday. He had always been clear on wanting three children and even though he knew that now time wasn't entirely on their side, he didn't know that it was already a completely no go. However, he knew better than to bring something like that up now, now he just had to make her realise that this bounce house wasn't the be all and end all of the party.
"But we also have a ton of other birthdays to come. It really doesn't matter if this one doesn't have a bounce house."
Amy sighed again, running her fingers through her hair, she hated admitting when Sheldon was right but this time, he really was. Maybe she was pinning a little bit too much on this being perfect day.
"I guess you're right"
"Of course I am" he smiled. "I'm always right"
—
"Hmm" Emily bit the corner of her lip as she made her decision, eyeing up the four small bottles of food colouring Amy had pulled from the cupboard. "I think… I think…red" her little hands reached forwards grabbing the small bottle. "I think red is his favourite colour."
"You do?" Amy asked, as she took the bottle from her and set it aside.
"He likes red paint and his fire truck" Emily smiled using her hands in a dramatic fashion as she spoke. Amy hadn't really given much thought to her sons favourite colour, she knew like any child he enjoyed bright, colourful things but maybe his older sister at just five years old was much observant than they gave her credit for.
"I suppose you're right" Amy smiled. "He'll love this cake then, won't he?"
"Yep"
Making her children's birthday cakes was as tradition she had started when Emily's first birthday approached. It was something that she had carried on with throughout all of her birthdays so far and now Arthur was a part of that tradition too. Amy wasn't an exceptional baker but she was pretty good and she loved doing it. She loved admiring her creations and this year was even better because now she was able to have herself a little assistant in the form of her daughter, who had jumped at the chance to help her mother with the task whilst her little brother was taking a nap.
"Can I mix?" Emily asked arms held out, ready and waiting for the spoon.
"We just need to add in the eggs" Amy explained. She carefully took the eggs and expertly showed her daughter how to crack them against the edge of the bowl.
"Can I try?" Emily asked, she was inquisitive so desperate to get involved with everything and give anything a try.
"Of course" Amy handed the egg over, watching as she tightly held in her hand and wrapped her fingers around it, Amy was a little worried that her grip would cause the egg to crack already. "Be really careful" Amy warned gently.
Amy watched on, her heart bursting with love as she watched Emily carefully try to crack the egg on the edge of the bowl. Her daughters eyes were narrowed as she concentrated and her tongue was poking out from between her lips. It was a face that Amy had seen may times before, right now she was the image of her father when he pondered over some equations he just couldn't make sense of. That resembles alone, made her heart burst.
"Mumma, I did it" Emily squealed excitedly, breaking her mother from her thoughts of how much their daughter reminded her of Sheldon. When their eyes met, she was greeted by her daughters bright smile, her eyes sparkling.
"You did, well done!" motherhood amazed her, she didn't know it was possible to find so much joy in the simplest, smallest of moments but yet here she was feeling ridiculously happy over an egg being cracked.
"Now I can mix?" Emily asked hopefully, gazing up at her mother.
"Sure"
—
Arthur's first birthday arrived and even though they knew the event was approaching, Amy and Sheldon could not believe how quickly the time had gone, it only seemed like yesterday since he was this tiny little newborn with big dark eyes interested in everyone and everything around him. Yet, it also felt like he had been in their lives forever, he was their family and to think that just a year ago it was the three of them was crazy.
Their morning started with pancakes for breakfast, another birthday tradition. Emily covered hers in syrup and Arthur sat in his high chair waving his pancake in the air and taking small nibbles unsure why everyone was making such a fuss over him. This was then followed by the opening of presents.
Both Amy and Sheldon were a little apprehensive to how Emily would handle the day. She had been the centre of their world and everyday had been about her before Arthur's arrival and although they had shared celebrations before like thanksgiving and Christmas this was the first day that was really all about Arthur. However, as always their daughter had surprised them and was already embracing the day, she was so full of love and excitement for her brother, cooing over him as he opened his presents and was full of so much enthusiasm. She really was like a third little parent.
The afternoon rolled round before they knew it and it wasn't long until Amy and her little family were surrounded by family and friends in their backyard, all here to celebrate Arthur's first birthday. For Amy this was total bliss and how she had always dreamt of her life being but that was just the thing, back then that's all it was, a dream. Now it was very much her reality and at times she had to pinch herself to believe it was all true.
"Oh would you look at them" Mary appeared at Amy side, standing next to her on the patio, surveying the scene before them. It was one that made her heart simply burst, her grandchildren and their little friends all playing together, running round like crazy with their infectious little giggles filling the air. The birthday boy himself, sitting on his uncle Georgie's hip as he tended to the food on the barbecue. "It makes my heart just want to burst watching them all" she carried on as she held her wine glass in her hand.
"I know, I feel exactly the same way" Amy replied staring out, watching as they played together. "Sheldon is always laughing at me because I just get so emotional whenever I see them all together" she admitted.
"It's a very special thing my darling" Mary smiled and Amy knew that even though Sheldon may joke around with her about her emotions, she knew Mary understood completely.
"Who wants a burger?" They heard Georgie call from where he stood at the barbecue. As quick as a flash he was surrounded by tons of little children, all with excited faces and hungry bellies, holding up their little paper plates.
"I should probably go and give him a hand" Amy laughed, she knew how overwhelming lots of little children could be and George wasn't exactly an expert in this field.
—
Once the food had been eaten, everyone retreated on to the patio to sing happy birthday to Arthur and watch him open a few of his gifts. Emily was excitedly telling everyone that would listen that she was the one that made his birthday cake, claiming that she had cracked the egg all by herself.
Arthur sat amongst a sea of smiling faces and a huge pile of gifts. He really didn't have much of an idea as to what was going on but he was smiling, laughing and clapping his hands the whole time. Amy liked to think that was a sign he had enjoyed his day.
When the sun had set and dark clouds started to drift across the sky, the guest departed and left the little family of four to themselves. Once all the excitement died down, Emily quickly grew tired and it wasn't long before Sheldon offered to put her to bed.
"Out like a light" Sheldon announced as he entered the living room. Amy turned her head, pressing a finger to her lips as she gestured down to Arthur who was lying sound asleep against her chest. He had been so excitable, she had worried how much sleep her littlest boy would actually get.
"I think all the excitement finally wore him out" Amy smiled as Sheldon carefully sat himself down next to her. As soon as he was close enough, Amy flopped her head onto his shoulder, she too had been so swept up in the excitement of the day that she hadn't really had time to be tired, now that was hitting her at full force. "Do you think he enjoyed the day?" Amy asked, keeping her voice quiet as she carefully stroked her hand up and down her little boys back.
"I'm sure he has" Sheldon nodded. "Emily told me that today was her best day ever" he quoted his sleepy daughter, some of the last words she had said to him before she drifted off to sleep.
"Well at least that's one of them" Amy smiled. She sighed deeply, it was a sigh of pure contentment and peace.
"And that's all without a bounce house" Sheldon joked, giving her gentle nudge but also being careful of not waking Arthur. Amy laughed too, she had finally realised that they didn't need anything fancy just each other.
"Can you believe it's been a whole year" she glanced down at Arthur, taking in his beautiful sleeping form.
"I know, right here" Sheldon gestured to the space in front of them, right where Arthur had been in born in the pool a whole year ago.
"It went so fast. I really did think you'd have to deliver him" Amy laughed, remembering how terrified she felt at the thought of her clueless husband having to deliver their son. Thankfully, the midwives had arrived with minutes to spare.
"Now that would have been a story" Sheldon could still remember that horrible, nervous feeling in his stomach.
"It's been the best year ever hasn't it" she asked looking up at him.
"It has"
Thank you so much for reading.
As always reviews are always welcome and so appreciated. I love hearing your thoughts.
Stay safe
Lots of love