Anahi does this every morning. She goes in Judie and Alex’s room and cries until one of them gets up (usually Judie🙄). She’s become so good at it that she can now cry on cue. Of all the skills a 3 year old could pick up🙄🥴 This particular morning she woke Judie up at 4:30 for a pb&j and orange juice (I dont know why she doesn't like pb&j’s with milk she usually knocks the milk off the table when I have them give it to her🤣🤣 )
Most weekdays pass in the some pattern for a while. Milton is read to sleep but inevitably gets up despite being exhausted, meaning he sleeps in a lot. He mostly goes to daycare while his parents are working but looks at books when he gets home since he can't read just yet.
Mortimer and Bella continue sleeping in separate rooms but when they both have a day off she finally gets him to cross the road.
Mortimer: It's snowing pretty hard
Bella: A little snow never killed anyone
Mortimer: Except everyone who has ever frozen to death
Bella: Just go knock
Knock, and the door will open!
Mortimer: Anyone here?
Cassandra: Of course father
Mortimer: Are my granddaughters...
Rahul: In the main bedroom
Mortimer goes in and coos at both of the twins. This unfortunately wakes them up and the girls get upset.
Mortimer: Shush, calm down
Cassandra: Father I've got this
Mortimer: I'll talk to Rahul *leaves*
Cassandra: There there, did you just need a comfort bottle?
Bella: You're so good with them
Cassandra: I learned from you remember. What I don't know, Rahul and I puzzle out together, as a team
Bella also gets Mortimer to go visit James when Alexander is in the neighbourhood.
Mortimer: This place is huge
Alexander: It's been in his family for generations apparently
Bella: You'll need a map when you move in
Alexander: Tell me about it, there's so many rooms
Mortimer: How's teaching
James: It's fine but I'll probably stop once Alexander moves in
Milton: ander! ander!
Alexander: Yes Milton
Milton: Car, Car! Vroom!
Bella: It's his favourite toy right now, he'll probably name it soon
Alexander: It looks very... red?
Milton: *giggles*
James: He's so good with kids
Bella: I was afraid when I got pregnant that he and his sister would struggle but they love Milton
James: Families should love each other
Bella: In an ideal world, yes
James: If things with Mortimer ever get more difficult, you're welcome here
Bella: I would never give up my home without a fight but thank you
Alexander: What are you two discussing
James: The wedding of course
Bella: Are you thinking big do, small affair, tell me your plans
James: We're still brainstorming
Bella: Whatever it is, I'll be there
Happy to report that Milton can now talk. For the moment it's the end of the Goth round. Mortimer and Bella are still in their rough patch and are no longer soulmates. Will Milton reaching toddlerhood make things better or worse in the coming weeks? I do not know.
It's Milton's birthday today, he's ready to become a toddler. However it isn't lunch yet and Mortimer has already passed minding duties on to son-in-law Rahul. Get your stress ball ready for Mortimer being a *insert accurate swear word*
Rahul: Hello Milton
Milton: Hello
Rahul: Wait wait wait, buddy! Was that your first word?
Milton: Hello
Rahul: Say it again, I need to take a video for your mummy
Milton: Hello Mummy
Rahul: Perfect!
Milton: *giggles*
Rahul: You hungry buddy?
Milton: ood! ood!
Rahul: You ever tried rice pudding? I had it all the time in Henford
Milton: um, um
Rahul: I like it to
Milton: Out
Rahul: You want out already?
Milton: ileone
Rahul: Okay buddy I'm getting you out. I better grab my phone, hold on
Milton: *blows raspberry*
Rahul: Aww, adorable, your mummy will love it
Milton: *giggles*
Rahul: I wish I had time to clean you up but I got to get back to my girls, bye bye buddy
Milton: ye ye
Upstairs Mortimer is working on his piano skill, oblivious
Bella was promoted to government agent today but doesn't feel like celebrating. After checking on a napping Milton she goes to find Mortimer.
Bella: Did you see what our son did today?
Mortimer: No but I made the cake
Bella: That's what's important?
Mortimer: It's what you asked
Bella: He said his first word
Mortimer: Boy is a genius already
Bella: Yes but I got told by Rahul, not by you
Mortimer: I had friends over, I was busy
Bella: You're always busy. If you're not writing the next groundbreaking novel you're up here clunking away
Mortimer: Be careful
Mortimer: The piano is delicate
Bella: That's the concern?
Mortimer: I'm not the one who arrived home and picked a fight. You asked me to make a cake, I made it. You didn't ask me to watch Milton 24/7
Bella: We're his parents, that's the job
Mortimer: Where were you then
Bella: I was at work
Mortimer: Exactly If you're so concerned about missing milestones maybe YOU should stay home
Bella: But I love my work
Mortimer: You're his mother, you're meant to put him before everything else so why don't you watch him
Bella: *gasps softly*
Bella: I spend most of my time home with him, if I've somehow failed-
Mortimer: There's no if about it. Mothers tend to the children and fathers bring home the money
Bella: When did this become about me
Mortimer: Since you tried to make it about me, I'm just returning the favour
Bella: Stop acting like a child
Mortimer: Takes one to know one
Bella: I don't think I want you in my room tonight
Mortimer: Maybe I don't want you in MY room tonight
Bella: Enough! I'm going to go make sure our son has good memories of today, you stay up here alone if you wish
Bella goes and wakes Milton up. Mortimer decides not to be stubborn and goes down, gets the cake out of the fridge and adds the candles. Then Milton decides to squeeze in a last milestone, waving. There is no picture because a creepy glitch happened so imagine a wave.
Bella: Time to blow out the candles sunshine
Milton: Why
Bella: So you can grow up. Come on, big breath in and make a wish
Milton: Cake
Bella: Just copy me sunshine
Together the two extinguish the candles and Milton is all ready to become a toddler. Cue the magic sparkles...
Milton spins into a toddler. He has rolled the charmer trait which fits nicely with him having been a sunny infant. The colour of his top will be his second favourite colour as soon as I figure out if it's meant to be pink, red, or orange...
A few minutes later and Milton has his toddler look sorted, his curls are back! He also had glasses in one outfit so needs glasses like his older siblings. After Bella reads him to sleep she calls in a vacation day at work before going to sleep in a different bed than Mortimer.
Not long after time speeds up, a notification appears. Milton hates bedtime and is up to cry at Bella. To try cheer him up Bella plays with him before tucking him back into bed. Let's hope he stays asleep this time as Bella is exhausted.
Success, Milton sleeps until the morning. Breakfast is mashed peas since as an infant he disliked yoghurt and applesauce.
Mortimer: What are you doing home
Bella: Looking after my son
Mortimer: I didn't mean to guilt you into missing work
Bella: Then you shouldn't have said it
Mortimer: I let my pride get the best of me
Bella: I'll go to work after his bath if you mean it
Mortimer: I'll look after him
Bella: Is it all right to use the bath Sarah
Sarah: Absolutely Mrs Goth, almost finished in here
So after the bubbles get everywhere Bella heads to work.
Milton: Up up
Mortimer: Here we go
Milton: fat her, fat her
Sarah: What did he say
Mortimer: Fat her, maybe he meant father
Sarah: I'll be going
Mortimer: Milton, you have to be careful what you say! Mind your manners!
Milton: *confusion*
Mortimer: Stay there and think about it!
Milton doesn't know what Mortimer means, it was a lot of big words. He decides to babble to himself (he loves sounds) while Mortimer follows Sarah to make sure they don't lose another maid.
Mortimer: You have to understand, he's young
Sarah: I do understand, my kid was the same
Mortimer: Is there anything I can do to make it better
Sarah: Well, I'm a big fan, can I have an autograph
Mortimer: Absolutely, I have a photo right here
Sarah: Thank you! If you ever need me to do anything to make things better, just let me know
Mortimer: The clean house helps
Mortimer: Have you thought about your manners
Milton: annas?
Mortimer: Manners. Do you need a drink?
Milton: ilk!
Mortimer: You mean milk, milk starts with M like Milton, milk
After a quick snack Mortimer helps Milton learn to potty for a bit before he goes back to writing.
Milton wobbles to the study and encounters the bookcase. While playing he discovers he loves books, just like his father and Alexander. The boys have an awkward dinner which establishes their difficult family dynamic. Bella gets home to a sleeping Milton still in his high chair.
