noaai: "Hi! In the last prompt about Julian's world you kind of tip-toe through the fact of Bowen saying dada for the first time. Could you write a prompt about everybody expecting excited for Bowen's first words and what these could be? THANK YOU! especially for writing what you love, for writing first FOR YOU and for let us meet these amazing worlds! Glad to be invited to them! 3 3"
Thanks for this sweet message! Though they are my wolds, they wouldn't exist or be half as interesting without support and people respectfully discussing them with me! Wanted to do this earlier but I just got this idea. Pretty sweet, simple fluff but I needed that right now!
100 Encore, Day 75: "Geeju"
"What's up everybody…how was your day?"
"Good mama! Daddy pick us up from daycare an' we all taked nap acause we needed it, readed book, daddy maked ninis fer dinner fer big peoples. Bowen haves sweet botatoes an' carrots an' spi-nich an' peachies. Daddy watchin' her real close 'acause we startin' her tryin' big peoples food too, mama. It not baby food. She ready we thinks so."
"You do, huh?"
"Yeah, but you still can have you baby-mommy time in da morning I asked daddy what about you feedin' her milk."
"Oh he said that? So glad I have you to ask all the tough questions, J!" She messed up his curls and kissed his cheek. They'd been thickening up Bowen's baby food for weeks and April was slowly weaning her off of breast milk. It was harder for mommy than baby.
"An' we playin' a game trying to get Bow a say 'dada' acause she keep tryina say crazy things…just goo ga ga ga goo…"
"I bet you were trying to get her to say 'dada.' Daddy likes to win." April smirked.
"Oh please! Pot's calling the kettle black right now…"
"Whatever…move over, I wanna say hi to my girl. I can finish up dinner with her."
Jackson turned away from the highchair to kiss his wife hello. "I got it. Don't you wanna shower? Eat?"
"Yeah mama, don't you have guts on you and blood?"
April wrinkled her nose at Julian. "When do we ever come home with blood and guts on us J? There's showers at work."
Julian just shrugged, taking a bite of his panini. "That good, bud? What's on it?"
"Oh daddy put on chicken an' rella cheesy, and 'mato and spinach…Yummy mom! He gon' make you one hot!"
"He's so good to me…" She turned to Jackson. "Please? I'm starving. And you've had all day with her. Anyway, who cares what word she says first?"
Jackson gave her a skeptical look, but relented, getting up to fix a plate. "Hi my girl, how's my baby Bowen today? Can you say 'mama'? Say 'ma ma ma,' mama."
"Hey!" Julian said, mouth full. "You just said who cares! Now you tried to get her a say 'mama'."
"It's just a game we're playing, Jul!" Jackson said. "If she says 'mama' first mom wins. 'dada' I win."
"What da winner wins?"
"If I win I get to plan a date…if mom wins she does."
Julian sighed. "Why don't you do da funner one?"
"Because mine's the fun idea!" April said, helping Bowen eat sweet potato. "That yummy Bow? Say 'mama.' Mama."
"Actually mine is though…"
"See? We just can't decide."
"Do bof."
"We probably will, bud. Just a fun game to keep things interesting." Jackson put a plate of food in front of April. "Let me at her, we had a good system going."
"Good system…whatever dude. Move your feet, you lose your seat. Say 'Mama' Bow…'Mama'"
"'Dada' Bow…say 'dada.'" Jackson stood next to April, putting a spoonful of spinach out for the baby.
"Gagado…"
Julian threw up his hands, finishing his sandwich and going to the sink with his plate. "See, she says nothin'…"
"You just gotta be patient, Jul. Watch…"Bowen, you want sweet potato? Say 'Mama'…"
"Bow, you were loving this spinach before..say 'dada." The baby just blinked between her two parents, confused and hungry. The new food was yummy, but she couldn't feed herself.
Julian rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen table, moving his mom's sandwich over to the spot he was just he was just sitting. "Move your butt." He stared his mom down.
"Excuse me?" April's eyes widened.
"My sister want to eat an' you jus' rid-ic-aless fightin'. I will feed her. Bof of you move you butts, please!"
Neither Jackson or April could argue with that. They were just playing, but Julian was sort of right, and being sweet. April listened.
Julian moved the chair close to Bowen's high chair, getting on his knees. "You ready Bow? Don't hafta say anythin. I sorry they bein' crazy."
His parents shared a smile. "Do you know how to do it buddy? Go very slow because she's not used to the food."
"I know." He kissed her cheek before feeding her a spoonful of sweet potato.
"Jul, you should talk to her too…try and get her to talk…"
"Who cares what she say? She wanna eat…"
"Yeah but it's good for her to try…."
"Just say your name really slow for her bud, after you feed her a bite say…'Bowen, say Julian. tell me how your day was Bow…'
"I knows her day, I was at da daycare. She don't know it."
"Just make us happy Jul," Jackson said. "Try."
"Fine." He fed his sister another spoonful of food. "Bow, say Julian. Julian. Jul…"
"Geeju…" Bowen smiled and pointed right at her brother. "Geeju…"
"Jul!" April swallowed quickly, excited. "She said it!" She said your name!"
"No she did not. She sayed Geeju…"
"Yeah bud, but she was pointing at you and smiling, she's trying to say your name," Jackson reassured. He and April deserved this.
"Geeju!" she smiled and pointed again.
"OK, fine….she sayed my name first. But I don't win fer bein' brother. I don't."
"Fine," April kissed the side of her son's head. "But you get a star for helping feed her, that's a good responsibility you took on all by yourself."
"Ok, even if I'm tired of this now?" he asked.
"Yeah come on, I'm tired too. I'm gonna help you with your bath and jammas. Let daddy finish this up, they had a 'good system' going." She rolled her eyes. "This isn't over.." she whispered, to Jackson, when Julian ran to the bathroom, finally giving him his original seat back.
"That's Ok, it can go on however long…..dada's gonna win, right princess? Say 'dada.'"he tried, finally feeding Bowen the peaches she'd been eyeing throughout her crazy family's antics.
"Geeju."