IT'S A BABY-BONANZA!

[paradisamods]

Good morning, residents! Did you sleep well? You're going to need all the energy you can muster because congratulations: You're parents! Again! The Paradisa Stork has paid some very lucky residents a visit last night, and even moved them to a more kid-friendly environment.

Some of you may already recognize your little bundle of joy and--my, how they've grown! Others will have to get acquainted with their little rugrats. You may not know them, but they certainly know you. By they way? They're bored. And hungry! And they want all the attention you could possibly give them.

It's going to be a long week.

(ooc: Use this as a catch-all post! This will be the only mass post for the Sunny Skies Retreat, so you may use it for any day that you'd like. Feel free to make your own posts and/or sections whenever you'd like!

SECTIONS: BEDROOMS | PLAY ROOM | PETTING ZOO | POOL | GARDENS | THE CASTLE)

Comments

[youfallback]

[It's more that she doesn't want Jack to make a scene while they're still in relative public. As she carries him, the beginnings of crying start to echo and she's grateful she grabbed him when she did.]

The movie will still be there, Jack. We need to clean you up.

[encryptedlock]

He's such a baby.

Well, honey, that's because he is a baby still. Or close enough, anyway. [But he's sure to speak with a low enough tone that Jack won't hear him.]

Everybody's like that at that age. Come on, let's go up and pick out your PJs so you can take a shower when Jack's done.

[youfallback]

[Carolina takes Jack up to the hotel room and grabs some clean PJs for him before taking him into the bathroom for his bath. He's already crying when they get in there,] I wanna see the movie, Mommy! I wanna see the movie!

[With all the crying, she tries to get him cleaned up as quickly as possible.] We're still going to watch it, Jack.

[encryptedlock]

We won't even pick which movie until you're done, okay? [York will talk through the door if Carolina's closed it, otherwise he sticks his head in.] Spaceships, right?

[youfallback]

[Jack responds with a miserable verbal nod as Carolina continues to wash him off. The only thing she's actually worried about is the air-conditioning possibly being too cold for him when she's drying him off. Soon enough he's all cleaned off and she sets about wiping him down with a towel.]

York, turn down the air conditioning out there.

[encryptedlock]

All right.

[He shrugs and turns it down, then helps Laura pick out a frilly yellow nightgown from her bag.]

Now are you big enough to take showers by yourself, or do you want Mommy in there with you?

I can do it myself! I'm a big girl!

Course you are, honey. Just let us know if you need anything, and be sure you have a towel to dry off with before you turn the water on.

Okay!

[youfallback]

[Once she gets Jack all dried off and dressed, she'll head out of the bathroom, a little soaked herself from the tantrum. Despite the air-conditioning being turned down, Jack is still shivering despite being dry and wrapped up in a towel. He makes the saddest face on the planet as he looks over at York, complete with his red eyes and snotty nose.]

Here, York.

[If he'll take him, he'll hand the clean and fully-dressed Jack over to York, wrapped up in an extra towel to keep him warm, as she figures York won't be opposed to snuggling with his son.]

[encryptedlock]

[Aww, the poor kid. Of course York takes him and gives him a great big hug, followed by carrying him over to the couch so they can sit down together. He'll grab the remote and pull up one of the hotel's many kid-appropriate on-demand menus.]

Now what kind of movie do you want to watch, again?

[He knows the answer, but he'll let Jack pick. Laura hands Carolina the saved cookie and then goes to take her shower.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina blinks down at the cookie for a moment before smiling at Laura and dropping her voice down to a whisper,] Thanks.

[Jack, meanwhile, is busy sniffling and snuffling as he leans up against his Daddy for warmth and hugs after Evil Mommy made him clean up. Wiping his nose, he points at an illustration of a spaceship.] Spaceship, Daddy.

[encryptedlock]

[York reads out the description of the movie.]

"Rod is a normal kid, until aliens in a tiny ship crash through his window and into his science project. Can he help them with their mission and get a good grade at the same time?"

[youfallback]

[Jack nods excitedly and would be clapping his hands if his other hand weren't tucked up inside the towel to keep warm. He lays his head on York's shoulder again, trying to figure out just how long he can wait for Laura to get done with showering. Carolina grabs a set of PJs for herself and silently signs herself up for showering after Laura.]

[encryptedlock]

DO you want us to wait for you or should we start as soon as Laura's out? [Directed at Carolina, of course.]

As for you, let's make sure you're all warmed up! [York grabs the towel and starts rubbing vigorously all over Jack with him in what can really be called more of a tickle than anything else.]

[youfallback]

Start once Laura's out. [Carolina responds as she grabs a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from her suitcase .
Jack just smiles at first when York suggests warming him up, but the rubbing makes him giggle and once one of those ticklish spots are hit, he bursts out laughing and squirms in his father's grip.] All warm! All warm! Daddy!

[Watch out, Carolina might be actually smiling again from where she's standing across the room, waiting on the bathroom.]

[encryptedlock]

[Which won't be too much longer. Laura's about finishing up, and when she opens the door she looks more or less dry and her nightgown's even on right.] Will you brush my hair during the movie, Mommy?

[Meanwhile, York continues to be a tickle monster for a few moments until Laura joins them on the couch, and then they're ready to begin the movie. York grabs a blanket to replace Jack's towel now that he's a bit warmer.]

[youfallback]

Sure, I'll be out in a few minutes. [And she disappears into the bathroom to clean up and get warm.

Jack continues giggling and laughing as long as York's a tickle monster and some echoing giggles continue after York stops, too. He's plenty warm, but he still tugs the little blanket around himself and leans up against his Dad.]

[encryptedlock]

[Laura snuggles up on his other side too, and York sighs in a happy contentment for a few moments. But of course it's time to start the movie and he brings it up on the TV. He whispers something to Laura to the effect of "go on the other side so Mommy can brush your hair when she's done", which will have the added effect of putting him on the opposite side of the couch from her so she won't get all touchy about it. Laura quickly acquiesces.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina's not long in the shower and is out, dressed, and holding a brush in less than 10 minutes. She brings a towel with her as she nears the couch. Honestly, she's really not all that comfortable joining the rest of her family on the couch, but she swallows and sits so she can at least brush Laura's hair. Keeping York in her peripheral, she slides the towel around Laura's shoulders (to keep her from getting her nightgown all wet during said hair brushing) and then starts.]

[encryptedlock]

Thank you, Mommy. [Laura's hair is fairly long but not too tangled - it's clear that she's well taken-care of most of the time, at least as far as her hair is concerned.

For his part, York is just sitting there watching the movie quietly. The plot is pretty predictable, but he has a wiggly little blanket bundle that's where his attention is really held.]

[youfallback]

[Said little wiggly blanket bundle continues to wiggle in excitement as he watches the movie. At one point, Rod has to try and hide the alien and the spaceship from his parents, so Jack gasps and snuggles closer, his eyes absolutely glued to the screen.

Carolina gently brushes Laura's hair out in smooth, natural movements, despite never having any siblings to practice on. Once all the tangles are out, she asks quietly,] Do you want me to braid your hair, too?

[encryptedlock]

[York chuckles a little and snuggles closer to his little boy. Of course he knows that everything is going to be all right in this movie, but Jack clearly doesn't.

Laura nods and smiles brightly up at Carolina, though she's watching the movie fairly intently, too.] Yes, Mommy!

[youfallback]

[Carolina does manage to smile over at York for a moment, before beginning to braid Laura's hair into two pigtail braids in an effortless motion. Jack stands up a little to stand closer to York, pressing his face against York's neck while still trying to see the movie from his safe place.]

[encryptedlock]

[York misses the smile, sadly, but tries to pull Jack into a sitting position on his lap so he can keep the height without standing on the couch.] C'mere. Sit down.

Shh, Daddy!

[York shoots Laura an apologetic glance but then finds himself smiling at the braids. Cutie.]

[youfallback]

[Jack just snuggles up closer, not sitting at all. Instead, he stands up further, pressing his face more against York's neck.] I don't wanna, Daddy!

[Carolina affords another smile at York as she finishes up the braids and plants a kiss on top of the girl's head. For a moment, everything is perfect and it feels like they have a real family, a real life here together.]

[encryptedlock]

Well, just don't fall. [He'll keep one arm around him to steady him, and this time he does catch Carolina's smile.

Confuses him, though. Wasn't she in a bad mood? Hopefully she won't notice in the low light.]

[youfallback]

[The kids just have this magic of being able to brighten her mood even when she really doesn't want to smile. They're a sort of tangible proof that maybe one day she could deserve love, earn it, and keep it. She grabs a blanket to wrap around Laura and herself and goes back to watching the movie, her smile eventually dimming into her usual frown.

Jack squirms against his dad further at an exciting part, unable to watch but unable to look away either.] Daddy, what's gonna happen?