Chapter 1-7 Green with Envy!

In our last chapter our little family is growing. Noel is now a child, and a new baby is on the way. Casseil and Trevor are both working hard for their next promotions but they also take time to pay attention to the more important things in life. While work is important, family always comes first.

 

Finding some time to head out fishing hadn’t been easy with a new baby in the house. Trevor knew that with the arrival of a second child he might not have another chance to fish anytime soon, so off to the waterfall again. He’s still working on tier one of his aspiration and needs to catch a few more fish. It also counted as the last of 4 different places to fish that he wanted. Now on to tier two of his fishing aspiration. He needs to at least catch 20 fish this time around.

The sun hits the water just right causing a rainbow to appear. The sound of a train was a bit of a surprise. Distracted by the train the fish he was trying to bring in gave him the slip.

Somehow this crafty fish managed to unhook itself and tangle the line up in a log. 

What the? Trevor had a good chuckle at the sly fish and vowed to catch it someday.

At home Casseil and Noel were discussing the new baby. “There’s a what in here? How did it get in there? How does it get out?” Casseil wasn’t prepared for these kinds of questions, but smiled and said, “We’ll talk about all those questions when you’re a bit older, but for now just know that your dad and I love you very much and will love you the same when the baby comes.”

After his day of fishing, Trevor came home and helped Noel with her homework. “Ugh, why do I have to do this stuff? Homework is silly dad.” 

“Well, you want to grow up smarter than your old man don’t you?” 

“Say dad, where do babies come from? Do you think I can find the answer in this book?”

Trevor is startled by her question but doesn’t show it. He takes a moment to think about it, “Well, probably not in that book since your studying math. You might learn about it in biology, but that won’t happen until you’re in high school. I tell ya what, if you don’t learn about it in biology we’ll have that talk just before your Young Adult birthday.”

“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal, I’m old enough to be a big sister, but not old enough to know why!”

Trevor and Noel finish up the homework and he tells her that he loves her very much, and no matter what, new baby or not, that won’t ever change. They even take a selfie together. 

The next day is a Saturday, and Casseil wakes up early after a long restless night, still exhausted she tells Trevor the baby is coming. He woke up with her, but since there isn’t anything he can do for her he crawls back into bed and sleeps through the whole affair. 

Casseil brings in another girl. This one takes after her mother in skin tone at least, but it will be a while before we get a good look at her features. Welcome to the family Jolene. After a quick bottle and a cuddle, Cassiel goes back to sleep. 

Noel came in after her mother crawled back into bed. She had heard all the commotion and wondered what was up. She wasn’t exactly thrilled to have a new baby, and certainly wasn’t prepared for what she saw in the bassinet.

“I do not want a sister! It’s not fair that there are now two girls. She doesn’t even look like me. She has to go!”

She stomps out of her parents’ room, stomps across the living room to her own room and heads for Mister Bearskins. 

I HATE THE NEW BABY!

I DON’T WANT A SISTER!

IT’S NOT FAIR! SHE ISN’T EVEN GREEN!

After a few good wallops to poor Mister Bearskins’ head she finally begins to calm down but she isn’t quite finished with voicing her displeasure, she’s just able to do it without feeling the need to cause bodily harm. “I don’t want to share mommy and daddy.”

 “Why did they have to have another baby?”

“I know they said they still love me, but what if now that the baby is here they forget all about me.”

Eventually she talks it out with herself, and she remembers all the things her parents have told her. And while they might be busy with the baby, she decides to give them a chance to show her that what they said was true. Like a good friend, Mr. Bearskins listens and he wisely doesn’t agree or disagree with her. She soon feels better and even begins to think about what it might be like to have someone to play with that is just her size."Well it might be nice to have a friend living here all the time, and since I'm bigger I can always sit on her if she isn't any fun!"

1-6 Gnome is Where the Heart is

Noel was a very easy baby. She hardly ever fussed, and she only cried loudly when she was really hungry or needed her diaper changed. Of course neither parent set her down for very long. They both loved to cuddle her. They were such attentive parents that she was never bored, or lonely.

Trevor managed to get the kids room completed before Noel was ready to start school. It was the first completed room in the house. 

Two twin beds, in hopes of another child before Casseil was too old to have them. 

On the other side of the room was an art table, a huge teddy bear, and seating area with bookcase.

Noel’s birthday came quickly. Casseil wasn’t sure she was ready for her baby to grow up, it meant she was getting older as well. 

Noel has her mother’s hair, nose and ears I think. I’m not sure about the eyes, cheekbones and chin, but I think they are closer to Trevor’s. The first item on her list was a nice long nap. Her energy bar was in the red even though she had just woken from a nap. I guess growing up so quickly is tiring for a troll.

Trevor and Casseil took some pictures together to celebrate the day, and then went off to celebrate some more now that Noel wasn’t sleeping in the room anymore. 

Trevor wonders where Cass gets her inspiration. There is the picture of the freezer bunny in the forest, and now the gnome looking up into the light. He asks her about the gnome.

“Well, when I was a little girl my daddy used to tell me wonderful stories about magical places, and amazing creatures. There were gnomes and fairies and elves. He told me about a mystical cave guarded by a gnome that protects the realm of magic. I guess having little Noel has brought out the fairy tales in me.” She watches Trevor closely as she tells the story, but she can’t tell what he is thinking. He stares at the painting and a flash of light explodes in his mind. He jumps, and shakes himself.

“What is it Trev? You’ve never told me anything about your life before we met, tell me where you’re from.”

“I wish I could Cass, but I can’t remember any of it. Just feelings, and the occasional image, but nothing that I could say was anything more than just a dream. It's okay though, this is where I want to be. As long as you are there, where ever we are, that will be home to me.” He heads to the room to cry as a wave of sadness hits him. He is happy, but the loss of the life before saddens him sometimes still. Cass watches him slowly shuffle away, hurting because he’s hurting, unsure how to help him. Then slow understanding hits her as she realizes, he hasn’t told her, not because he doesn’t trust her but, because he doesn’t remember. 

She heads to the shower but only gets in the door when she realizes that she is pregnant again. 

And joy of all joys, it’s the morning sickness again. Hello old friend you have not been missed. 

Feeling better, Trevor tackles the sink. Now that they have one the darn thing breaks like every day. Noel joins him excited that she can actually carry on a conversation with him and not just gurgle or smile at what he says. When he leaves the pile of rubble on the floor she says “Um daddy, are you done with this? Or can I play in it?” “Oh I’ll grab the spare parts in a minute, poppet. But right now I have to blog about my feelings. Today is a special day and I want to remember everything about it.” He tells her. 

She decides to ditch the hat and finds a cuter shirt, pulls her hair back in pigtails and wanders outside. The sun feels so good to her she feels rejuvenated. Noel has rolled Loves the Outdoors, and Artistic Prodigy. She is like a mix of her parents already. In looks and in spirit. She sees a pile of rocks and heads over to check it out. By the time she heads home she has found 6 different collectables and decides to ask her parents for more toys.

Casseil brings in her lunch and eats while she helps Noel with her homework. Noel seems to want to tell  jokes and stories more than study, but eventually she gets her homework done. 

“Oh yeah, who’s a champion? I am! Look out world here I come.” 

Casseil is thrilled with her little girl. The glorious red hair, the prominent cheekbones of her father, cute little nose, and it looks like she also does have mom’s ears. She couldn’t be prouder of her daughter. She decides to share her secret with her. “Noel, you are going to be a big sister soon, mommy and daddy are going to have another baby.” I’m not sure if Noel heard her or not. I think in her mind she was ruling over the kingdom and listening to her adoring subjects.