Easter time is here
"OK, I think that's everything," Stella said as she placed Maya's stuffed diaper bag with the plethora of other stuff near the front door. "We should be good to go!"
Kelly checked from his spot in the kitchen. His attention was fully on finishing feeding Maya, the six-month-old just having started experimenting with eating solids, but he spared a playful look towards Stella. "I hope so. I don't think there's anything else in the loft you could pack."
Stella rolled her eyes and went back to checking each of the bags.
"Stel, seriously, we're not even going to be gone for a full weekend. I promise we have everything we need."
Stella sighed but left the bags alone. She made her way over to the kitchen and leaned against the counter. "What if we forgot something?"
"We're going to my mom's house, just a few hours away. If we did forget something, we could easily run to the store and grab it." Kelly soothed, walking over to stand behind Stella. He put his hands on Stella's shoulders and started massaging gently. "Relax honey."
"It's Maya's first Easter, I just want it to be perfect." Stella moaned, leaning back against Kelly.
Stella had never been incredibly sentimental, even for Maya's first few holidays, but then she got RSV and had to be hospitalized and it freaked Kelly and Stella out far more than they were willing to admit. They weren't close to losing Maya, something both of her parents knew and were thankful for, but it was a wake-up call for them. Now, Stella was bound and determined to enjoy every day with Maya and celebrate all the holidays and milestones even if Maya wasn't old enough to remember them.
Kelly was just along for the ride, there to love his girls and keep Stella grounded when the stress of all the "special moments" got to be too much. Times like now. He wrapped his arms around Stella's waist and hugged her close, placing a kiss on her temple. "We're going to have a nice weekend together as a family and Maya is going to have as much fun as her little six-month-old body can handle. All of that is going to make this weekend perfect."
Stella hummed and turned around to face Kelly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "All these years and you still know just what to say."
Kelly smiled but before he could respond there was a screech from the kitchen and the messy baby currently trapped in her high chair and wanting attention. The parents chuckled and broke away from each other.
"Do you want to get the yogurt monster cleaned up or pack the car?" Kelly asked playfully, eyebrow raised.
Stella laughed. "I'll take Maya."
Kelly nodded, gave Stella one last kiss, and moved away to start loading all of their bags into the car. Stella made her way over to Maya and groaned, noticing the baby had somehow gotten yogurt all over her face and in her hair despite being clean when Kelly fed her.
"How'd you get so messy, huh?" Stella asked, grabbing some wipes to try and clean Maya off.
The only response Stella got in return was a smile, a giggle, and more yogurt.
… … …
The Severides were on the road an hour later than planned, thanks to the needed but unplanned bath Maya needed, but it was still early enough that the roads were surprisingly clear. Thanks to her early morning wake-up, Maya slept for most of the car ride, allowing her parents a few quiet hours to talk.
They made great time and arrived at Jennifer's house with plenty of time for Jennifer to love on Maya before the baby went down for her nap. Kelly and Stella talked with Jennifer over lunch and when Maya woke up the real fun began.
A giant spring festival with music, games, Easter bunny pictures, and Easter egg hunts was happening in the city square. Even though Maya wouldn't be able to participate in too many things, the family decided to go. The weather was perfect and some time outside would do them all some good.
It was a very child-friendly festival and had activities and egg hunts for kids of all ages, even infants. Maya loved getting to play with other babies her age, looking at the animals at the small petting zoo, tasting the tiny bits of food her parents would share with her, everything….except the Easter bunny. She hated the Easter bunny and every single picture Kelly, Stella, and Jennifer got of their meeting had Maya giving the poor guy the meanest stare she could manage.
Jennifer tsked playfully at Kelly as she looked at the pictures they got. "She definitely got that look from you."
Stella cackled and soon Kelly joined in. He couldn't argue—Maya might look like Stella, but she inherited his facial expressions.
Maya started losing steam after a few hours. The family headed back to Jennifer's so Maya could nap and they could all rest up for the next day's activities. It was going to be a long day, complete with the long drive back to Chicago, and they all needed to rest.
… … …
Easter morning dawned bright and early with Maya waking up just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. Kelly brought her into bed so Stella could feed her. When she was done, Stella laid Maya in between her and Kelly, hoping the little girl would fall back asleep for a little while longer.
Unfortunately for her tired parents, Maya found playing with her feet and giggling at her mommy and daddy to be way more entertaining.
The little family of three spent a few lazy, peaceful hours in bed before they could no longer ignore the need to get up for the day (and the need for coffee). They met Jennifer in the kitchen and the three adults worked together to make breakfast, Maya being passed between them for cuddles and attention.
They had a few minutes after finishing breakfast before they needed to get ready for church. As Kelly, Stella, and Maya relaxed on the couches in the living room, Jennifer slipped into her room before returning a few seconds later with a large, pink basket in her hands and a huge smile on her face.
"What's all that?" Kelly asked as he watched his mom sit the basket down on the coffee table. It was a BIG basket, overflowing with toys, snacks, books, and clothes, with more that Kelly couldn't see.
"Maya's Easter basket," Jennifer answered as if it was the most obvious thing. She laid a blanket out on the floor before moving the basket and setting it up on the ground.
Stella, who had Maya on her lap, sat the baby on the blanket in front of the basket. Everyone laughed when they saw Maya's eyes widen at the sight in front of her and her chubby little hands immediately started reaching for all the contents inside.
Kelly shook his head with playful disbelief. "Mom, she's six months old…. That basket is three times her size!"
"It's her first Easter, Kelly," Jennifer declared, glaring at her son before turning her attention back to her granddaughter. "She deserves a special Easter basket."
Kelly scoffed but didn't say anything else, just sipped his coffee and watched the scene in front of him. He knew better than to try and talk his mom out of spoiling his daughter—she'd been doing it since before Maya was even born.
They all watched Maya explore her basket for a few more minutes before they had to start getting ready for the rest of the morning's activities.
Church wasn't really Kelly and Stella's thing; they usually only found themselves in a church for special occasions like weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Jennifer, however, attended regularly and insisted that Kelly, Stella, and Maya join her for the Easter Sunday service while they were visiting.
Kelly and Stella eventually agreed but it led to Stella having a minor freak out about an Easter dress for Maya. That, in turn, developed into coordinating outfits for the family.
The sanctuary was packed, as was typical for holiday services, and Maya did surprisingly well at keeping quiet during the service.
Jennifer, ever the proud grandmother, took Maya around after church was over and introduced all of her friends to her granddaughter. Maya thrived at all the attention, smiling and giggling with every introduction.
"Thank god she never went through the 'stranger danger' phase." Kelly joked as he and Stella watched from a distance, smiling at the sight of Maya. "She might've withered away from lack of attention."
Stella snorted. "Stop it. Everyone loves cute babies. She just happens to be the cutest baby ever. And the happiest."
Kelly couldn't argue with that.
After Maya's parade through the sanctuary, they headed out for an Easter lunch before saying goodbye to Jennifer and heading back to Chicago. The trip home wasn't nearly as peaceful, with Maya fighting her nap and fussing the entire way home.
Even with an overtired baby crying in the backseat and a 24-hour shift waiting for them the next day, there were no regrets about the weekend—Maya's first Easter was a success.