'You put the pacifier in here? And the wipes in case she gurgles up?'

'Yes Papa.'

'What about the-'

Alexis laughed as she finished buckling Petra into her carrier. 'Is Papa nervous? I think he is,' she told their little girl in a high-pitched squeaky voice. 'I think he's a little nervous about his first ever papa-daughter day out without Mumum, isn't he? Yeah, he is.'

'Nice, my girls are already ganging up on me,' Shane groused playfully, even though they both knew she was right - Shane could tell that Alexis needed a day just to have a little time to herself to catch up on some sleep and make sure her whole world didn't become nothing but mommy now that their baby was here. And, okay, he really wanted the one on one time with his little girl; was that such a crime? No, especially when the activity he had in mind would be one that was both practical and a good bonding moment.

With Petra fastened into the carrier, he shouldered the baby bag and softly nudged Alexis to the side. 'So what do you have planned while your two favourite people are out on the town?'

'Oh it will be Mumums Gone Wild here, I'm having a nice hot bath, express some milk from bottles, and then I'm parking myself right there -' Alexis pointed to the sofa '-and doing my nails while I catch up on Dallas Lieutenant Eve.'

'Look out scout, she's a crazy one.' Shane leaned over, gave his wife a kiss. 'I promise I'll make Petra behave. The way you ate while you were pregnant she is probably gonna demand chicken salad and pitas and poutine for her first brithday party.'

'Give me a kiss little one.' Alexis leaned over, gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead, was met with a happy little coo before the baby wound up for a monster sneeze. 'Oh, sweetie, that was a big noise for a little lady!'

'Alright, off we go. We'll bring you back a treat.'

'Okay we got Mumum's veggies and fruit, and now we need to pick out our fish for supper tonight.'

'Blb.'

Shane grinned at Petra in her carrier atop the grocery cart as they headed for the seafood counter. He'd been a little apprehensive as any new dad would be taking the baby out on his own for the first time, but once he'd settled Petra's carrier onto the cart, it was far less nerve wracking than he imagined. The noise of the store didn't bother Petra either, it appear she was having fun. But that could have also been the way that Shane was talking to her about everything that he picked out from celery to blackberries.

He stopped the cart in front of the fish counter, turned to see the specials and was in the middle of decided on the halibut or haddock filets when he heard a noise of approaching feet behind him, the kind that were targeting him specifically. Instantly he turned around, ready to protect his daughter from any danger, then grinned when he saw Lanie and Finn with a mini-cart.

'Hey guys,' he said brightly, saw the makings of a day of baking in their cart. 'What's happening?'

'We are getting ready for a bake-sale at school to raise money for Terry Fox. Daddy says he was a brave Canadian boy who raced on one leg to fight cancer and now we raise money with yumminess to help keep his dream going!' Finn replied, stretching to his tip-toes to see the baby. 'Hi Petra! Are you helping your papa with the groceries? That's a big job already!'

'How is everything going Shane?' Lanie smiled sweetly, wondering if Shane knew just how much he beamed these days. 'I know it can feel a little bit like a tornado after you are done at the hospital and then there are all the get togethers to see the baby.'

'So far so good, we've been switching off the late nights so at least one of us can always get a solid sleep. It's been helping Alexis handle her hormones a lot better.'

'Yeah, she was pretty bouncy when she was pregnant?'

'Very,' Shane agreed, then saw Finn jumping up and down trying to see Petra. He boosted the boy to his hip so he could get a good look. 'There she is, almost ready for a nap.'

'Man, she is so little,' Finn breathed, saw her yawn. 'And sleepy too.'

Can I help you sir?' The counter attendant looked at him, and Shane turned to Finn; the boy was a major fan of fish and knew he'd be a trusted little-person opinion.

'What should we get for making fish and chips tonight? Halibut or haddock?'

'Umm, holly-butt, because that stuff is fancier and if you are making homemade fish and chips, you should make it as fancy as you can,' Finn reasoned.

'I'll take four fillets of the halibut,' Shane told the attendant before letting Finn slip back to his feet. When his order was wrapped, he put it in the basket and gave Finn a wink. 'I'll be sure to tell you at Canadian Thanksgiving how Alexis liked it.'

'Okay! Tell her too about the bake sale, maybe she can tell RJ and Jojo to come to our school to try some of our treats!'

'RJ and baking is a winning combo, he'll wanna help you cook.'

'Ooo, can he, Mama?' Finn turned to Lanie, brown eyes shining. 'Please? Carey and Violet got to have friends over to our house last weekend.'

'I'll have to ask RJ and Jojo's mama, not their brother-in-law,' Lanie laughed, then tugged his hand. 'Let's let Shane and Petra finish their shopping, we've got our own supplies to find.'

'Okay. Bye Shane, bye Petra!'

Shane waved bye-bye to them, then looked at his little girl. 'I don't know about you but I think I'm okay with just you for the next few months.'