29 March 2014

1.24 A Bevy of Birthdays

At least I know the new baby will be close in age to the twins, so she'll have someone to play with!


Having a new baby on the way doesn't change my responsibility for my current little ones.


Or my love for them.


And I manage to keep my sanity with a little bit of practice thrown in.


It's not that I blame them for the way I go a little stir crazy.


Because I love my babies far too much for that.


But I get so wrapped up in them that I forget I can have a life outside of them.


But I want to hold them close while they're still young enough to let me.


And they make such a good audience for my music.


Birthdays are upon us once more! It's a little strange, seeing Harry as an elder. Especially since I know I'm technically older than he is.


But look at my beautiful babies! Beverly inherited her father's hair, isn't it wonderful? She's an incredibly Friendly baby, and I think a bit Athletic, though I have no idea where that came from.


Bernie couldn't be more different from his twin. He seems to have inherited my hair, and I think he's just as Clumsy as his mother. Something of a Loner, like some of his siblings, too.


The teenagers are so good at looking after the babies. Beverly loves her big brothers.


And Blair started teaching her to walk, all on her own.


I don't know which is more remarkable, my beautiful Blair taking the initiative to help her baby sister, or my sweet Beverly being so trustful of her big sister.


All I know is, it fills my heart to see them together.


Laughing and smiling, having fun.


And the way Beverly clings to her! I don't think any age difference could stop these girls from becoming fast friends.


Of course, before you know it, your baby boys are grown men. Bailey has become a Heavy Sleeper over the years, something I envy him when the babies are crying to be fed.


And after all these years, Brett decided he likes solitude. A Loner, just like his brother!


But he's still so good with his younger siblings.


I do get a little time with my babies.


But sometimes it feels like I have to fight their big brothers and sister for attention!


It's quite all right. It makes me happy to see how much they love each other.


And it gives me time to practice first thing in the morning.


Well, it would.


If I didn't go into labor in the middle of practice.


It was sort of sweet, how Blair freaked out on my behalf.


But I'd done this a few times. Before too long, I held a baby girl in my arms. We named her Blythe, and she joined us just in time to see her oldest brothers graduate!

*Author's notes*

No more babies! Seriously, Addison had a wish for another child shortly after Blythe was born. Fortunately it faded before another spot opened in her wishes. I so don't have time to have that sort of wish hanging around, taking up valuable space.

Regarding the traits for the little twins: I did not select them. My current method is that, for each family member, they get one trait in each category (physical, social, mental, and lifestyle) in addition to the family-oriented trait. For the babies born with traits I didn't get to choose, it's worked out well so far, and the rest of the kids have done well enough growing up that I got to select traits. So I randomize traits until I get ones in a category they haven't filled yet. So I did get to "select" traits for the twins, but I randomized them. It was purely by chance that they came up with such different traits! So, I'm pretty set on continuing this tradition, with the exception of the Family-Oriented trait. I think it'll be fun to have such different twins, where Bailey and Brett are SO MUCH ALIKE.

28 March 2014

1.23 A Mother Again

The contractions kicked in this morning shortly after the kids left for school.


I was grateful at least Harry didn't have to go to work today.


Because I seriously don't remember the first labor being this difficult!


A baby girl! Finally, a sister for Blair! We named her Beverly.


But, no, labor wasn't over. Another set of twins! We named her little brother Bernie.


Harry seems to love playing with his son.


I'm glad he gets to be around the kids when they're this little this time around.


As for me, I needed to get in a little bass practice.


I'd agreed to play for a few corporate parties tonight. At least I'd already had the babies. I'd been worried about going into labor in the middle of a set.


Harry did such a good job looking after the twins by himself.


And they took to him so well.


I was sure to give them my love when I got home.


It had been so long since I'd held my first babies in my arms. It was nice to have more.


Especially ones so precious.


We also invested in a rocking chair this go around. A smart move. I caught up on so much rest just rocking with the babies.


Which made up for all the times they woke me in the middle of the night.


Crying for their bottles.


Where tending to the children was punctuated by jam sessions in the living room.


Occasionally joined by one or more of my children.


Blair really knows how to rock out!


And Brett was good enough to bring Bernie downstairs to enjoy the music. We have to train them young here.


And Bailey loves looking after his sister.


Of course, remembering how good it feels to have small children in the house, things have definitely warmed up between me and Harry.


I really can't help it.


He's so wonderful.


And so good with the kids!


Yeah, we went there.


Harry had invited over a few people for the holidays, and the teenagers were so good about helping out and looking after their newest siblings.


Which was good, because I wasn't feeling so well tonight.


I had a slice of pie, hoping that would settle my tummy.


And even got in a little more practice.


Before I had to drop my bass and run to the toilet. Oh, great. I knew what this meant.


It looks like the family's not complete just yet!

*Author's notes*

The funny thing about Family-Oriented Sims? They seem to like developing wishes for more children shortly after one is born. Seriously. I mean, I went with it, because I had one spot left in the household, so no risk of twins this go around. And there will essentially be the two groups of kids: the first twins and Blair, then the second set of twins and the new baby!

It's a very good thing her musical lifetime wish is skilling and not a career, because her relationship with her coworkers is dangerously low with all this maternity leave she's been taking.

Oh, and the dip kiss? I decided to let Harry finally be the one to dip Addison since he was the one wishing for a Woohoo.