Generation 1: Chapter 4

Now that Emilie was a toddler, Jeannine spent a lot of time doting on her. Even more than she did when her daughter was an infant.

Jeannine marveled at every new thing that Emilie did, and she loved making her laugh. It wasn't the full-bellied chuckle of her father or the lighter chortle that Jeannine herself made. It was more of a lilting giggle, and Jeannine felt that she could listen to that sound all day.

In between their tickle sessions, Jeannine taught Emilie the things she would need to know, like walking. Emilie took to it quickly, happy to have another mode of transport instead of just crawling or relying on her mother to take her everywhere.

She also loved to play on the blocks. Jeannine had bought a xylophone as well, but Emilie didn't touch that, and Jeannine enjoyed playing with her daughter no matter what they played with.

Emilie was also taught to potty, and that was another thing she quickly got the hang of. Jeannine figured it was mostly because her little girl was embarrassed and didn't want Mommy in the bathroom with her.

Soon, however, Jeannine needed to be in the bathroom, though not in the way that Emilie did. Jeannine hadn't been sick since the beginning of her pregnancy with Emilie and she started to worry that maybe the one time with Calvin in the shower had left her pregnant again.

Although, once she thought about it . . .

it wasn't really just one time.

Soon enough, Jeannine's suspicions were confirmed, and she discovered she was pregnant. She had mixed feelings about this baby. Emilie was the best thing that had ever happened in Jeannine's life. But she didn't know if she wanted the added pressure of another baby. She didn't know if she could do it.

Of course, life didn't stop just because Jeannine was pregnant. She still needed to teach Emilie her skills.

Emilie did not take immediately to talking like she had to walking and the potty. She would pout and cross her toddler arms and not say a word. Jeannine tried time and time again to find words that Emilie would repeat back to her.

"Come on, sweetheart, say 'Mommy'."

"How about 'water'."

"'Love', Emilie. Say 'love'."

"How about 'food'? You like food, Emilie."

"Food!" Emilie repeated. "Food, food, food!"

Jeannine sighed as Emilie continued. Why hadn't she thought of that earlier?

"Eat! Eat!"

Just like the last time she was pregnant, Jeannine went to the library to read up about pregnancy. Sure, she'd already gone through this, but she wanted to make sure that everything was fine. This baby was kicking far more than Emilie had, and at weirder times. With Emilie, it had been regular almost. The new baby just seemed to want to kick and punch whenever.

While Jeannine read, Emilie took the oppourtunity to play with the block table. Jeannine was sure that they had one exactly like it at home, which Emilie had never touched. This one, however, the toddler would not get away from.

Finally, Jeannine was able to pull Emilie away from the block table at the library and get her home and into her crib. She kissed her baby goodnight just like she did every night. She loved Emilie and wanted her daughter to know that.

Once Emilie was asleep, Jeannine went about her nightly routine. Emilie mostly slept through the night now, and Jeannine was able to sleep a full eight hours most nights. Of course, once the new baby came, it would be back to 2 AM feedings and staying up till eleven because the baby just wouldn't sleep.

Just as Jeannine stepped out of the shower, the first contractions hit her. The pain was just as bad as with Emilie, but this time she knew what to expect and she was able to keep her screams in. She didn't want to wake Emilie.

Over the last few months, the problem of what to do when the baby came had occurred to Jeannine. She couldn't leave - she couldn't just leave Emilie at home. And she couldn't bring Emilie with her - it wasn't like she could watch her at the hospital. And she couldn't hire a babysitter - they didn't have enough money. But every time the question came up, Jeannine had just ignored it, waiting for another time. And now it was too late. What was she going to do? The baby was coming.

                                                                                                                         

Aaaaaaaand that's the end of the chapter!

I hope you liked it. Jeannine has to have three kids, so here comes #2.

I know I haven't really mentioned money as an issue for Jeannine, and that's because it's really not. After buying the house and selling the time machine that spawned in the front yard, she had >$1000. After building the room for Emilie, that dropped to ~$300. Which isn't bad, but it's still low enough that I didn't at that time want to just throw money at a babysitter.

Btw, here's a picture I wasn't able to include but liked:

Look at Emilie in the corner. It's like she knows that she's gonna have to share her room soon, and she doesn't like it.

Generation 1: Chapter 3

When Jeannine was told that her baby was a little girl, she had to admit that she'd been a bit disappointed. She'd built up her baby boy in her mind so much, and now he didn't exist. She almost felt like crying.

That all disappeared as soon as Jeannine held her child in her arms. The baby opened her mouth and closed it a few times. Her little arms waved back and forth and Jeannine's heart was lost. It all went into the tiny amber eyes that alternated from staring openly at everything and squeezing shut, and the soft baby noises that came from a mouth still not used to making sounds.

Jeannine named the child Emilie after one of her favourite composers.

Calvin had made it to the hospital in time, and though Jeannine's fantasy image of him waiting anxiously in the waiting room hadn't come true, it did make her feel better to see him sitting on a bench outside the hospital. The three got into the car, and while the ride back to Jeannine's place was awkward, she feared that it might be more her fault than anything. After all, how could she make small talk when the only thing in her head was that this might be the only time they would be together as mother, father, and baby?

Once they got home, Jeannine laid Emilie into the crib. For a moment, she just watched her infant daughter. Her daughter. Every time she thought those words, Jeannine's chest filled with warmth. Then she heard Calvin's footstep behind her, and she pulled away. They needed to talk.

"I'm sorry," Jeannine began, "I didn't know that I was that close to giving birth."

"Jeannine, it's okay," Calvin assured her. "Everything I said before still holds. I freaked out, but I'm fine now. I want to be here for you." But not Emilie. His silence spoke louder than all of his words. Jeannine understood perfectly. He'd wanted kids. He'd wanted a family and a normal family life, but the world just kept throwing stuff at him that he couldn't deal with. He had to raise his siblings. He had a kid with his girlfriend. He wasn't married. He was still stuck in a part-time job.

As much as she wanted to give Emilie a father, Jeannine couldn't ask him to have more responsibility.

"I understand," she said, "We're going to be perfectly fine. I promise. Just -" she took a breath "- just promise me something back, okay?"

"Anything," Calvin vowed.

"Come over for Emilie's birthdays?"

He nodded. They didn't exactly have much to say after that, and he left without once looking at his daughter.

Once he left, Jeannine picked up Emilie again. "I will never let you down," she whispered, even though the newborn couldn't understand. "I will make sure you never feel like your life is lessened just because your father isn't part of it."

Jeannine quickly found that the love she'd felt for her daughter was not a passing thing. She loved Emilie. She loved playing music for her - even if Emilie couldn't really appreciate it.

She loved seeing Emilie's little arms wiggle when Jeannine pulled out the bottle.

She loved watching her little bundle lie still as she slept.

And while waking up in the middle of the night to Emilie's crying wasn't Jeannine's favourite thing in the world,

the knowledge that Emilie was unhappy and knew that the only person who could fix it was her Mommy was the best feeling in the world.

One day, when Jeannine was out getting the mail, she found a present for Emilie. It said it was from Calvin's Aunt Eugenia, and while Jeannine had never heard of such a person, she gladly accepted the gift.

It was an odd little toy that Jeannine put in Emilie's crib.

Not long after Great-Aunt Eugenia's toy arrived, Jeannine made up enough money to build onto the house.

The new room housed the crib, and a few toys that Emilie would grow into. The wallpaper was clouds over blue that Jeannine hoped would trick Emilie into thinking it was the sky. She knew that most kids spent a lot of time inside, and didn't want to start her daughter on that path.

Eventually, the baby times would have to end, and Jeannine found herself calling Calvin to let him know that there was going to be a birthday party for Emilie.

Once she got dressed, Jeannine went to hold her daughter. It would be the last time she would hold Emilie like this, and she wanted to savor every second of it.

The doorbell rang, announcing the first guest. Things were still a little awkward between Jeannine and Calvin, but it was better than just after Emilie was born.

Zac Whipsnake crashed the party, which Jeannine thought was odd, but he brought PB&J sandwiches, so he was allowed to stay. She wasn't really going to throw anyone out of her daughter's first birthday party, after all.

Jeannine's boss, Johnny Johnson, also showed up. Jeannine felt a bit guilty at using her daughter's birthday as an opportunity to schmooze, but she needed to make Johnny like her.

Not long after all the guests arrived, Jeannine brought Emilie to the cake. The only person to celebrate with her was Calvin, but she didn't really expect any differently. Either way, she was excited, if not a bit nervous. This was a huge step in Emilie's young life, and Jeannine was taking it with her. There was so much that was going to happen, and so much that Emilie was going to participate in, and Jeannine wanted to be there every step of the way.

Emilie turned out to be adorable. And blonde. Where that hair came from, neither Jeannine nor Calvin could figure out, but it somehow just helped make Emilie more cute. You can't tell from the picture, but she has Calvin's eyes, which are a lighter brown than Jeannine's.

One of the first things Emilie did was play with her toy from Great-Aunt Eugenia. She made toddler noises at the thing and kept touching its triangle nose.

All the guests dispersed pretty quickly after that. Except for Calvin. While Emilie played on the floor, their parents talked. And flirted.

And did other things in the shower that are not what showers were designed for. All in the name of cementing their relationship.

That night, after even Calvin had left, Jeannine held her daughter in much the same way she'd held her that morning. Even though things had changed, there were some things that were the same.

"I think we're going to do alright, don't you, Emilie?" Jeannine said. Emilie just waved her arms around and made happy sounds, but Jeannine took that as a 'yes'.

                                                                                                                            

Third chapter done!

Emilie is the heir. The composer she's named after is Emilie Simon, whose music I just love (though Jeannine probably wouldn't, actually, but I like the name too, so whatever).

Emilie's traits are Genius and Excitable, and her roll is:
Couple
1 Kid
Astronomer (Astrophysicist)
Farmer
Hobby, or Obsession
Runs in the Family

I'll probably mention that again when she takes over, which will not be for a while. Her hair being blond instead of any normal colour that would result from her parents genetics is actually a thing that happens to me way too much. Like, more than what I think should be normal.

Thanks for reading!

Generation 1: Chapter 2

It didn't take long for Jeannine to find out the reason for her sickness. She was pregnant. Since the only person she'd had sex with was Calvin, it had to be his baby.

A practical person, Jeannine knew that she didn't know much about babies. Or anything, really. So she went over to the public library. She was sure that somewhere among the books on horseback riding and murder mysteries, there had to be something about children and pregnancies.

As she was walking in, Jeannine noticed a woman holding a toddler. She'd never seen this woman before, so she wasn't sure if the face she was making was just her normal face, or if it was due to the baby in her arms. Either way, it was a good thing that the little boy was so young. Jeannine vowed that she would not make her baby feel like it was a hardship on her. She would love this child. In fact, she already did.

Jeannine found what she was looking for rather quickly. It was actually a pretty good read. Full of information, but not too science-y. Jeannine might be a genius, but she hadn't paid much attention in biology class, so if the book had been more like a textbook, it wouldn't have made much sense to her.

Just as she was finishing the book, Calvin's little sister, Chantrelle, walked in. Jeannine thought it might be rude not to go and talk to the child, so she made her way over.

 After a bit of talking and some rude mentions on Chantrelle's part about Jeannine's growing stomach (which she was forgiven for, after all, she was just a little kid). Jeannine explained very clearly that Chantrelle should not tell Calvin about the baby. She didn't want it to seem like she was hiding it from him.

"Okay," Chantrelle agreed. "But, can I feel it?"

Jeannine wasn't sure exactly how much Chantrelle would be able to feel this early in the pregnancy, but she let the girl try anyways. It lit up her face, and Jeannine couldn't help but smile back.

Back at home, a crib arrived for the baby. Jeannine didn't have room anywhere for it, so it just went in the corner next to the door. It was cute and blue, and Jeannine wished for a baby boy to lay his head on the robin's egg fabric and sleep the sleep of babies.

Of course, just because there was a baby coming didn't mean that Jeannine could just forget about her job. She might be on forced maternity leave, but she could still practice her guitar. She wished that her baby boy would enjoy music just as much as she did.

Maybe it was the excitement, maybe it was the nervous feeling that the idea of telling Calvin gave her, but whatever it was, it took a while for Jeannine to make it over to the Riffin residence. Before the pregnancy, she'd been over there every day, but since she found out, she hadn't seen her boyfriend once.

He obviously knew what she had to say as soon as he saw her, but he still invited her in and let her explain.

"Look," Jeannine said as soon as the door closed behind her, "I know you have a lot on your plate. And I know that's not going to change any time soon. I don't need a husband, and the baby doesn't need a father there all the time. But I would like to keep 'us'. Whatever 'us' is, and however 'us' changes, I want to keep it."

Calvin nodded. He reached out a tentative hand and Jeannine pushed her stomach out a bit more so he could feel it better.

"I don't know if I can be a father, actually, I don't know that I want to be," he said. She wanted to believe him, but the way his face lit up just told her that this, this little fist punching his hand, was all he wanted in life. As many times over as possible. But she also knew that he felt a duty to his little siblings. They were so much younger than he was, and he almost thought of them as his children.

"But I can be here for you," Calvin continued, "I can be your boyfriend however much and however often you want me to be."

"That's all I needed to hear," Jeannine said as she pressed her lips against his. It wasn't a heavy kiss like the ones they'd shared before making her stomach grow. It was sweet and innocent and encapsulated everything she loved about him.

A blood-curling scream destroyed the moment. It almost took Jeannine a second to realize that that noise, that horrible noise had come from her. She clutched her belly. She didn't know what was happening. Oh, God, the pain hit her like a train. She screamed again.

Calvin was even more useless, just jumping around, freaking out.

Somehow, that scared expression was what made Jeannine calm. She stood up, walked out of the house and hailed a cab. She was having a baby, but she wasn't having it in a living room.

The cab driver looked at her, "Where you headed, miss?"

"The hospital," she gasped out, "and make it quick."

"Anyone else coming?"

"No," Jeannine said. If Calvin had been that freaked out just by her first contractions, he would likely still be screaming. In any case, she couldn't wait. She really couldn't wait.

 Up front, the driver mentioned something about no-good boys who can't even be there for their own kids being born. Jeannine ignored it. Calvin was a good man, he was just also a bit of a coward.

Jeannine walked herself into the hospital, glad she'd made it on time. She wasn't sure if Calvin was coming - he certainly wouldn't be in the room with her - but she hoped that when she walked out with her baby boy, his father would be waiting for them.

                                                                                                 

Hey! Thanks for reading!

Just a little thing - I am aware that the crib fabric switches between one picture and the next. That's because my game crashed just after I put in the crib and took the picture. So when I put in the next crib, I didn't bother to make it the same and just bought a different one.