our perfect paradise*
chapter twenty-six
A week later...
It was the day before Alishia�s first birthday. JC�s parents were on their way to the house from the airport.
JC and Danielle sat in the living room with Alishia. She was squatting on the floor in front of them playing with her toys.
�I can�t believe she�s going to be one years old tomorrow.� Danielle said.
�I know...she�s grown up so fast.� JC said.
�Yes she has.� She looked up at him. �I love you.�
JC smiled. �I love you too.� He lightly kissed her on the lips.
Alishia stood up and started to walk towards the other couch.
�Alishia where ya going?� JC said
�Here.� Alishia said.
�Baby girl, come here.� He said. She walked towards her Daddy. He picked her up.
�You excited to see Papa and Nana?� JC asked her.
�Hi.� She said grabbing for his ears.
�She always grabs your ears.� Danielle said
�I know, ow!� He said, Alishia look at him.
�Ma.� Alishia said reaching for Danielle.
Danielle picked her up from JC�s lap and put her on her own lap.
�Do you know how old you�re going to be tomorrow?� She asked her.
�No.� Alishia said. Her most frequent words being, �no�, �ma�, �da�, and �hi�.
Danielle chuckled. �You�re going to be 1...You�re growing up so fast.�
Alishia laughed.
The door bell rang. JC stood up to go get the door. Alishia wiggled out of her mom�s lap. She ran to the door following JC. She tripped on her way there and fell down. She began to cry. JC picked her up.
�Oh sweetie, you�re ok.� He held her in his arms, lightly patting her back.
�Is she ok?� JC�s mother asked.
�She�s fine. She�s been falling a little bit lately. She just started walking a few weeks ago. She�s getting good at it.� He said.
�Good for her.� JC�s dad said.
�Come on in.�
They walked inside the house. Danielle walked up to the door.
�Hey, how are you two?� She said giving them hugs.
�Good, how are you dear?� Karen, JC�s mom, asked.
�I�m great.� She said
�I can�t believe my grand-daughter is going to be a year old already.� Roy, JC�s father, said.
�I know, we were just talking about that.� JC said closing the front door. Alishia hung onto him. She lightly sniffled.
�Is she ok?� Danielle asked.
�Yeah, she just tripped and fell, she�ll be fine, she�s a big girl, huh?� He said looking at Alishia, he caressed her hair and kissed her forehead.
�Mom, Dad, come on let�s take your stuff upstairs.� JC said. He handed Alishia to Danielel so he could help with the bags.
�Are you ok? My poor baby.� Danielle told Alishia, she kissed the top of her head.
She rubbed her eyes, yawning.
�Oh somebody is getting sleepy.� Karen said.
�Yep, it�s about time for her nap.�
�No.� Alishia said shaking her head.
�Yes.� Danielle nodded her head. Alishia rested her head on her mom�s shoulder, her eyes were becoming heavy.
Danielle walked her upstairs to her room. She laid her down in her crib and stayed there for a few minutes watching her, until she fell asleep.
She walked out of Alishia�s room turning the light off. JC walked by.
�She finally take her nap?� He asked.
�Yep. She always falls asleep when someone comes over and wants to see her.� She said.
�It�s ok, they can see her when she wakes up.� He grabbed her hand and they walked downstairs to talk to their parents.
*****
The next day. Alishia�s 1st Birthday.
She unexpectedly woke up bright and early that morning.
JC walked into her room. She was standing up in her crib waiting for someone to come and get her.
�Da.� She said reaching towards him, so he could pick her up.
�Alishia why are you up so early?� He asked her picking her up. �Daddy wanted to sleep in, but no you had to wake up bright and early...but it�s all good we can hang out.� He smiled at her.
�Hi.� She said
�Hi. Happy Birthday baby girl. You�re the birthday girl today.� He kissed her cheek and she laughed grabbing JC�s face. He changed her diaper, then went back into his room where Danielle was sleeping still.
�Let�s go wake up Mommy.� He said walking into the room.
�Ma.� She said with a confused look on her face.
�Yeah.� He set Alishia down on the bed next to a sleeping Danielle.
�Go on wake up Mommy.� JC told her.
Alishia touched Danielle trying to wake her. �Ma.�
�Hmm...� Danielle mumbled as she began to wake up.
Alishia squealed. �MA HI!� She laughed.
Danielle turned around to look at Alishia.
�Hey baby, why are you up so early?� She asked her.
�Hi.� Alishia told her.
�Hi sweetheart, yeah it�s your birthday today! Happy Birthday!� Danielle clapped her hands, Alishia mimicked her, laughing.
�You�re such a cuttie.� Danielle kissed her forehead. She sat up, picking up Alishia.
�Does she need to be changed?� Danielle asked JC.
�I just changed her.� He said.
Danielle stood up with Alishia in her arms. �You�re such a good Daddy.� Danielle told JC, stepping up on her tip toes and kissing his lips.
�You�re such a sexy Mommy.� He grinned.
�Yeah...uh not now.� She laughed. He chuckled. They walked downstairs together.
Karen and Roy were already downstairs in the kitchen. Karen had made breakfast.
�You made breakfast?� Danielle asked.
�Yes, it�s ready. Go ahead and eat.� Karen said. �I�ll take the little one, I know she wants her Nana, huh?�
Danielle handed Alishia to Karen and she sat down at the table, Alishia touched Karen all over her face, getting familiar with her.
Danielle and JC got their plates and ate breakfast. After breakfast Danielle and JC went to get ready as the grandparents watched Alishia.
An hour later.
JC and Danielle were finally all dressed and went back downstairs.
Kimberly, Justin and Joey were all ready there.
�Hey guys.� JC said.
�Hey, good morning.� Joey said
�Morning...what are you three doing here all ready? Where�s Chris and Lance?� Danielle asked.
�They�ll be here later. They both wanted to sleep in longer.� Kimberly said.
�Oh ok.�
Everyone helped to decorate the backyard. It was beautiful day in Orlando, not a cloud in the sky.
Since Kimberly couldn't do much, she sat in the grass playing with Alishia who was amused with the grass.
"Hey anyone home?" Someone said from inside.
Luke walked out into the backyard.
Danielle looked over seeing him.
She smiled. "Luke!" She ran over to him, giving him a big hug.
"What a nice surprise." Danielle said.
"I had to be here for Alishia's 1st birthday party. I'm her favorite uncle ya know." Luke said.
Danielle laughed.
"Hey! Now man I might have to disagree with you. I'm her favorite." Justin said.
"You trying to start something?" Luke laughed. "Just kidding...how are you man?"
Justin and Luke shook hands.
"I'm great. How about you?"
"Life is treating me well."
"That's great."
Luke walked over towards Kimberly and Alishia.
"Don't even say hi to me huh, Kim?"
"Well I'm sort of stuck down here because of this." She said pointing to her stomach.
"I'll come down there then to give you a hug." He leaned down and gave her a hug.
Alishia came up to him and fell onto him.
"Hey cuttie, what you doing?" He picked her up swinging her around. She squealed in excitement. He kissed her cheek then put her back down. He walked away to go say hi to everyone else.
**********
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Alishia, Happy Birthday to you!!!" The guys sang to her. Alishia sat on her Daddy's lap as she watched them sing to her in amusement.
She laughed excitedly, clapping her hands. All the guys gave her a kiss on the cheek and she smiled at them. Chris was the last to give her a kiss and she had put her hands in the cake and was eating it. He leaned down to kiss her and she smashed her hand in his face. She laughed.
"Oh." Everyone said, laughing at what Alishia did.
Chris kissed her on the cheek still and she giggled. He washed the cake off of his face. Danielle helped JC wash Alishia's hands and face. She struggled with them not wanting to be cleaned. They walked back into the living room and everyone sat down and began to pass out gifts.
Like all kids they don't really like the toys, they like the boxes they come in. That's exactly what Alishia did, playing with the wrapping paper and boxes. After a few minutes she slid off the couch and started running to the other room with her new stuffed animal in her hands.
"She's going to try and go up the stairs again." Danielle said standing up following her.
"She can walk up the staris?" Chris asked.
"She crawls up the stairs Chris." JC said.
"Oh."
Danielle got to the stairs and Alishia was already trying to go upstairs. She was on about the 4th stair.
"Where are you going sweetheart?" Danielle said walking up to her.
"Up." Alishia said.
"Don't you want to go to your birthday party?" Danielle picked her up. Alishia sat in her arms holding her stuffed animal. Danielle walked back into the living room.
"She's talking pretty good now." Justin said.
"Yeah, she says like one word words pretty much...She said 'me day' this morning or at least she tried to." JC said.
Danielle sat down again next to JC. Alishia stood next to her. She walked over to Luke, wanting him to play with her.
"Now who's her favorite?" Luke said being a smartass.