A Time to Grow

Being Santa

Addie - Age - 3 1/2 years old

"Hey Addie girl, how was your nap? Did you sleep good?" Maks said softly entering his 3 year old's room. She had been laying down for her afternoon nap and when he came up to check on her, he noticed she was awake.

"Mmhmm." She said reaching for him. He scooped her up and she snuggled into him. It was one thing he'd never complain about. His baby was a cuddler and he was perfectly fine with that.

"Let's go potty and then we'll go see Momma." Maks said pressing a kiss to her crazy nap curls.

"We play on swing?" She asked him.

"Maybe for a little bit. You're going to see Uncle Val, Aunt Kelly and Sophie remember?"

"No, stay with you and Momma." She said adamantly as she shook her head. Maks sighed but let it be for now. She was still half asleep from her nap so he didn't want to push his luck. He and Peta were going to do all of Addie's Christmas shopping that evening while she went and stayed with Val, Kelly, and Sophie.

"There's my sweet pea. Did you have a good nap?" Peta said as she reached for Addie once her and Maks came into the room.

"Good sleeps Momma. Papa said we can play on the swing." She smiled as she snuggled into Peta.

"He did?" Peta said looking at Maks confused. The plan had been for them to let Addie wake up and then take her over to his brothers. Not to play in the meantime.

"Someone wasn't too keen on the V-A-L idea and that someone is still sleepy so I didn't want to upset her. And I figured 5 minutes wouldn't hurt."

"Gotcha. You wanna get your snack baby?" Peta said as her arms wrapped around the little girl.

"Yes peas. I have yogurt peas?" She asked.

"Yes you can, you want to go pick out what kind?" Peta asked.

"You come too?"

"I'll come with you." Peta took her out and let her pick out her yogurt flavor and they dumped it in the bowl with some granola and blueberries before they headed back into the room with Maks. They let Addie eat while she woke up the rest of the way from her nap. She eventually finished and leaned back against Peta.

"Play on swing now Papa?"

"We can go play on the swing for a little bit but Sophie is waiting for you okay? She told me, she picked a new movie for you guys to watch."

"No. Stay with you and Momma, peas?" She said looking at Maks with that look that he always caved too. He knew he couldn't this time.

"Not this time sweetheart. Momma and Papa have to go do big people things and so you're going to have fun with Sophie okay? And then Momma and Papa will pick you up before bedtime. Does that sound alright?" He said holding his breath that it would.

"Promise?" She said looking at him skeptically.

"I promise we'll get you before bedtime."

"Okay."

"Good, now let's go swing while Momma gets ready then we'll have to get ready okay?" Maks said as he scooped her up and took her outside for a little bit before it was time for them to head out.

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A bit later Maks and Peta were standing inside Toys R Us with a cart. This was kind of the first year that Addie truly understood presents and knew what she liked and didn't like. There wasn't much she didn't like right now, just some things were her favorites while others she just liked them.