Alyssa woke up Christmas morning to the sound of her daughters fussing. She got up off the air mattress on the floor and scooped them out of the play pen before sitting on the basement couch to nurse them.
"Merry Christmas ladybug," Megan smiled walking out of the guest room, they had decided to spend the night at Owen and Teddy's to have their traditional Christmas all together.
"Merry Christmas mom," Alyssa smiled.
"How are my grandbabies this morning," Megan asked.
"Starving," Alyssa shook her head, "I'm not keeping up with them again."
"More solids," Megan replied, "when you hit that point that you wanted to eat a ton I upped your solids."
"This is comforting for them," Alyssa smiled at her daughters, "they both went through phases of nursing less the last couple weeks then yesterday and the day before it's all Alex wants so I need to adapt again. More water."
"Look after yourself," Megan reminded, "do you want me to get your water bottle?"
"Please, it's on the floor by the air mattress," Alyssa replied.
Megan grabbed the water bottle and refilled it in the basement bathroom before bringing it to Alyssa. She knew Alyssa usually filled her water bottle from the tap.
Upstairs the two older kids ran to Teddy and Owen's room.
"Where's your sister," Teddy asked.
"We can't get her," Leo replied.
"I'll go," Owen smiled.
"Dada," Hannah beamed as Owen picked her up.
"Merry Christmas," Owen smiled, lifting up the small girl and quickly changing her diaper before taking her to Teddy.
"All three of my babies," Teddy smiled when Hannah crawled over to her.
"75% of the kids," Owen smiled.
"Lyss is too old," Teddy shrugged, "she's got her own babies."
"They're here," Owen assured.
"They are," Teddy said, "I just hope she's okay."
"She will be," Owen said, "Meg has a handle on it. Tough love she's calling it but maybe it's what she needs."
"We baby her that way," Teddy replied.
"Mommy it's christmas," Leo said, "can we open presents?"
"Let's see if everyone is up," Teddy replied.
"We are," Alyssa called from the doorway with a baby on each hip.
"Merry Christmas," Owen called.
"Are we all up," Alyssa asked.
"We are," Teddy replied, "is your mom and brother?"
"Mom's making cocoa and Faroke is up," Alyssa replied.
"We just need your grandma," Owen said.
"And good morning hugs," Teddy replied.
"Merry Christmas," Alyssa smiled as Owen took Celeste from her arms.
The girls now had a bit more hair and it was getting easier to tell them apart with Alex's red hair longer and thicker than Celeste's brown fuzz. Alyssa was thankful her girls looked very different, it would be easier as they got older to tell them apart and for them not to get mixed up by teachers and classmates. They were starting daycare in a month because Alyssa had to go back to work. Her maternity leave and savings were almost gone, and child support was spotty at best.
"There's Alex," Teddy smiled, taking the baby.
"And it's your first Christmas with us Hannah," Alyssa smiled lifting up the little girl.
"They're only 4 months apart," Teddy replied.
"I know they'll be good friends," Alyssa smiled, "I can't wait for them to be able to really play together and start making friends."
"They will be," Teddy smiled, "and you?"
"I'm working on it," Alyssa said, 'going back to work and working in the office will be good. I want to go to the office 4 days a week even if it means daycare."
"It's going to be good for all of you," Teddy replied, "you need to be with people who are not family. Alyssa you are your best when you're busy and have things to do. You've been home for the last 15 months so go back to work 4 days a week. We'll help where we can."
"I know," Alyssa smiled as Hannah snuggled into her.
"Are you ready for snuggles," Alyssa asked Hannah.
"Mama," Hannah asked.
"Go to your mama," Alyssa smiled, putting Hannah back on Teddy's lap.
"Mama," Alex yelled, "mama."
"Come here," Alyssa smiled, pulling her daughter close.
"Lets go," Leo yelled, grabbing Owen's hand and pulling him towards the stairs.
"Okay," Owen smiled, "Christmas presents."
They made their way to the living room as Evelyn let herself into the house.
"Merry Christmas Grandma," Alyssa beamed hugging Evelyn with her free arm.
"So many babies," Evelyn smiled seeing the three youngest.
"Coca is ready," Megan called then ran to hug Evelyn.
That afternoon the kids played together in the living room with Alyssa, Teddy and Owen taking turns to watch the youngest three and help them play and get along. Alyssa smiled as Alex and Celeste tried to play with the same little car, each polling it closer to her and making her sister lean over, taking turns to go back and forth.
"Matt," Teddy asked sitting down beside Alyssa.
"Next weekend," Alyssa replied, "it's his scheduled weekend so hopefully he takes them and I go up to Vancouver tomorrow to go to to the Jarrett's boxing day party."
"Good," Teddy smiled, 'will you see Matt's family?"
"I've let them know I'm going but don't have plans with them yet and I'm okay with that," Alyssa replied.
"Okay," Teddy answered, 'as long as you're good."
"I am," Alyssa smiled, "or I will be."
"I know you will be you always are," Teddy replied.