January 2016

Kids' Ages

Jack Hotchner - 10

Henry LaMontagne - 7

Elaine Hotchner - 3

Olivia Garcia - 3

LaMontagne

"He looks jus' like you, Ma Cherié," Will commented, breaking the comfortable silence that filled the small hospital room.

JJ smiled briefly at her husband before looking back down at the bundle in her arms. "What can I say? The Jereau genes are strong." The newest addition to their family: a little boy whom they named Michael Lincoln LaMontagne, did remarkably look like his mother.

Baby Michael stirred in his sleep, rustling the delicate blue blanket he was wrapped in. JJ layed her head back against Will's shoulder. The moment seemed almost surreal. For a long time neither she or her husband were sure they would ever be here. Almost four years ago, they had began trying to expand their family. Month after month a new disappointment arose with each negative test. 19 months in the first positive came. They had been over joyed. Clothes had been bought, plans made. Then it had all come crashing down on them. They debated quitting, deciding it would be too painful. But in the end, they chose to continue on, believing their family wasn't complete yet. The first negative after their positive was crushing. It had taken more than a year for them to get another positive. JJ remember how terrified she had been. She held her breath for each and every appointment, breathing only when the doctor assured her the life inside of her was growing just as it should. Only now that he was here, sleeping peacefully in her arms, did JJ feel like she could properly relax. Life finally felt like it was getting better. She had a loving husband. A brand new son, and one who would be here later in the day once he woke up. Her friends would be here likely as soon as the daylight broke and family members were flying in from other states to help out. Yes, she thought, feeling almost overwhelmed by the love she felt, life is good.

Hotchner Household

When Emily and Aaron walked through their front door, they were immediately bombarded by their children.
"What is it? What is it?" Jack questioned, both he and his sister jumping withexcitement.

Emily and Aaron had just gotten back from a doctor's appointment for their third baby. Though Emily was eight months along as of yesterday, their stubborn baby hadn't been willing to show exactly who he or she was until today.

"Go sit on the couch and you'll find out," Aaron told them.

The pair raced to the living room while the adults followed behind slowly, making them wait torcherously while they paid and dismissed Jessica.

In the living room, Emily and Aaron handed each of the kids a small white gift bag. "There's a card with the gender in Jack's bag, but look at the other things first."

They began digging out small candies and then a t shirt. Jack's read Big Brother while Ellie's said Big Sister. Now all that was left was the envelope. Jack snached it with fevor, tearing it open and yanking out the card. He began to read out loud with Ellie, who couldn't yet read, looking over his shoulder.

"Dear Jack-Jack and Ellie-Bellie,

I can't wait to meet you!

Love;

Your Baby Sister"

He looked up at the his parents. "It's a girl!"

Emily nodded at him, tears forming in her eyes. "You're going to have another sister Jack-Jack."

"What do you think about that Ellie?" Aaron asked his daughter.

"I'm 'cited, Daddy."

"Wait! Since it's a girl, that means I get to name her," Jack mentioned.

Emily and Aaron turned their attention to their son. Truely that was the agreement they had come up with. If the baby turned out to be a boy, Ellie, with the help of her parents would have gotten to name him, but since it's a girl, the right went to Jack.

"That's right, Buddy," Aaron agreed. "So what do you think Baby Sister should be named?"

Jack thought for a moment. "Grace. Like Simon Grace from The Spiderwick Chronicles. And her middle name should be Penelope, after Aunt Penny."

"Grace Penelope Hotchner. I like it. What do you think, Em?" Aaron asked, turning to his wife.

"I think…" she paused and rubbed her bump. "I think Grace and I love it."

Garcia-Reid Household

The Garcia-Reid household was bursting with activity. Whilst Spencer attempted to make waffles, Penelope was busy attempting to wrestle clothes on her daughter. Today was a very special day because it was Olivia's first day of preschool. Olivia was a very intelligent child, but was also painfully shy, refusing to talk to the other children at daycare. Penelope had made the tough decision to start her a semester early in hopes that without her best friend there, she would begin to make friends with other children.

Olivia was not thrilled about the occasion as her mother and uncle. Fully dressed, she slothed her way to the kitchen island, hopping up on the stool. Her face rested in her small hands, her brown eyes down cast and gloomy.

"Good morning, Livvy!" Spencer greeted her, piling waffles onto a plate "Would you like one or two waffles?"

"One," Olivia grumbled. "Are they chocolate chip?"

Spencer shook his head. "Not this time. You could have chocolate milk though, instead of your typical orange juice." He put a plate with her waffle and two pieces of bacon, and a cup of chocolate milk in front of her.

The little girl raised her head only slightly to pick at her food.

Penelope joined the duo soon, dressed in her normal bright work outfit. She took a look at her daughter's sad face and sighed.

"Muchkin, I promise school won't be as bad as you think it's going to be. You're mostly going to be playing. Besides, it's only for a couple of hours everyday. You'll be home by lunch time."

Olivia only shrugged. They all ate for a few more minutes before it was time to go. Penelope snapped about a thousand pictures of her daughter before she headed out.

The drive was short. Before they knew it, they were driving away with out their favorite little girl.

"I can't believe she's in preschool now," Spencer remarked.

"I know. Our girl's getting big."

Morgan Household

Derek stepped through the front door of the home he had recently bought and had been renovating. He pulled out his phone and checked for messages. Specifically from Savannah. It was stupid, he knew. He hadn't heard from her in over two months. Not since the weekend they shared together when he flew up to Michigan to surprise her. He thought about about calling her, but what would he say? I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left your bed? You should quit your job that you love so much just because I'm lonely? No that's rediculous. Suddenly the front door flew open and Derek turned around to find the woman always on his mind standing in the doorway.

"Savannah!" He croaked out, his voice betraying him. He wasn't sure who moved first but they found them selves in the middle of the room, locked into one another. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm home Derek. For good. I'm home."

Derek wasn't a cryer. It just wasn't something he did often. But now, standing in his living room, holding the woman of his dreams, he cried. He said the one thing he could think to say. The one thing that would keep the love of his life in his life forever.

"Marry me. I can't lose you again. These last four years were the worst of my life. Please, marry me. I'll buy you a ring. You can pick it out. Anything you like, all you have to do is say yes."

Savannah, smiled softly, holding Derek's face in her hand. "I will. But, Dere, there's something you need to know."

"I don't care," Derek said. He began to ramble.

Savannah cut him off. "Derek. I'm pregnant."