Happy Birthday

Jane Rizzoli's birthday was coming up. Her first birthday, and the Rizzoli's had decided to have a little party. They had invited all their neighbors and friends and Angela was so busy in the kitchen, cooking and baking for the guests. Frank was also busy, he wasn't exactly helping with the party, but he had just gotten promoted at the plumbing company he worked for, so now he wasn't only plumbing but he was also in charge of the new, young plumbers who had just joined the company.

Jane on the other hand was crawling all around the house. Sometimes she grabbed a chair or a table and pulled herself up so she was standing. But she still wasn't walking. When Frank was home, he was always trying to get her to let go and walk on her own. He knew she was ready, but there was something holding her back.

When Angela heard Frank trying to pressure their little girl she got mad and told him that she'd just walk when she was ready. But Frank didn't listen. His friend also had a daughter. His daughter was born three days before Jane and seem to learn to do everything before Jane. She smiled first, she spoke first, she rolled over first. Frank had to listen to his friend Carl, bragging about his baby all day long. When Frank tried to brag about his daughter, Carl wasn't impressed and said that Kelly had done that weeks ago.

The only thing Kelly didn't know how to do yet was walk. Frank really needed Jane to walk before Kelly so he could just rub it in Carl's face. Angela had no idea that Carl and Kelly were the reason Frank was pushing Jane so hard. She and Kelly's mother, Nancy were good friends. They talked about baby stuff all the time, and often sat together in either one's house and let the girls play with each other while they drank coffee.

Jane was a happy kid who enjoyed crawling around, playing with balls and exploring the house. She hardly ever cried, and when she fell down she said: "BOOM." And got up again. She liked taking baths but she hated it when her mother tried to brush her messy hair and dress her in clothes. She always kicked around and screamed so Angela often just let her wear only a diaper with her messy hair all out in the air.

When Frank came home that day, Jane crawled to the front door to greet him.

"I can't wait till you come running to me when I get home from work." Frank said and picked up his giggling daughter.

"Hi honey." Angela said to her husband when he entered the kitchen.

"Wow. How many guests are we expecting Ang? You're baking cakes for at least a hundred."

"I just want there to be enough."

"It is. Just, stop baking now. The guests are coming over tomorrow. Is everything else ready?"

"I think so. I just need to give our little princess a bath tomorrow and put her in the new pink dress you got her."

"She'll be the star of the party."

"If I can get her to wear it, or put a hair tie in her so her hair won't look so messy."

"I'll help you. I got the day off tomorrow, so I can help out."

"Thank you sweetheart." Angela kissed her husband on the lips, causing Jane to make a kissing sound.

"Oh so you want a kiss too?" Frank said and kissed his little daughter on the forehead, causing her to giggle.

When Angela had put Jane to bed she was so tired, she fell asleep immediately. Frank decided to clean a little bit up after his wife, because he knew she'd been working hard all day to host a perfect party for their little one. He then joined his wife in bed and fell asleep himself.

Jane woke up early in the morning but she just started singing and clapping her hands together instead of crying out for somebody to pick her up. She was lying in her crib for almost an hour before her mother woke up.

Angela woke up feeling a little dizzy, but she stood up and walked towards Jane's crib. Jane shrieked wit happiness when she saw her mother and put her hands up, wanting to be picked up.

"Hello birthday girl. You're awake. Come on. Let's take a bath."

Jane had such a fun time in her little tub, splashing the water all around. Angela washed her hair gently and then took her out and dried her with a towel. She then slowly and really gently started brushing through her hair and put a little hair tie in her hair. Jane didn't seem to mind. And even when Angela was dressing her in the pink fluffy dress she just sat still and played with her hands.

"We'll. You can't wear that all day without spilling on it. So Let's just show your dad how nice you look."

"Hi princess. Happy birthday. Wow you look so good."

"Yeah. I'm gonna have to dress her in something else though. The guests aren't coming until after naptime. We just wanted to show you."

"She's the cutest little baby in the world."

"Yes she is."

Angela took Jane out of the dress and put her in another everyday dress while she was feeding her breakfast.

While Angela decorated the place and put out plates and glasses, Jane crawled around the room and played with her toys.

"Come on sweetheart. It's naptime."

Jane yawned and looked tired from all the crawling. She fell asleep in Angela's arms on their way to the bedroom and Angela gently put her down into the crib.

While Jane was sleeping, Angela took a shower, put on a dress and did her hair and make-up. Frank also took a shower and found some medium fancy clothes to wear.

When the first guests arrived, Jane was still napping. Angela checked on her every now and then though.

The living room was soon filled with guests and presents for the little one who was still sleeping.

"I'm just going to check on her. She's always so quiet when she wakes up." Angela said and stood up.

Jane woke up as soon as her mother entered the room and was ready to meet the guests.

"Come on Janie. You're going to wear your pretty new dress that daddy bought for you." Angela picked her up and dressed her. Again, Jane didn't seem to mind. "Let's go meet the guests."

Angela held her little birthday girl and walked into the living room. Everybody stood up to greet her and see her pretty dress. Jane laughed and smiled for everybody. She loved all the attention she was getting from all these people.

"Hello birthday girl. Say hello to Kelly." Nancy said. Holding Kelly up in front of Jane. Both girls giggled and their mothers then put them down to play on the floor.

"Well since the birthday girl is awake, I'm going to start serving food and if anyone want's coffee, it's right over there."

Angela served all the beautiful cakes she had baked and also some traditional Italian food that she'd made.

Jane and Kelly were playing on the floor. Kelly started crawling away from Jane, so Jane pulled herself up holding the coffee table and started walking after her.

"Angela, you didn't tell me Jane had started walking."

Angela looked at Jane walking, trying to catch Kelly.

"Frank look!" Angela yelled. "She's walking."

"Would you look at our little athlete? She's walking all by herself. Well done Janie."

Right at that moment, Jan tripped on the carpet and fell down. She didn't start crying, only pushed herself back up and turned around.

"Come on Janie." Frank called and opened his arms.

Jane didn't walk anymore. She ran towards her daddy and leaped into his arms.