August.

In just two weeks the kids would be starting school.
Autumn is going into the 6th grade, Landon is going into kindergarten, and Julia is starting preschool.  Theodore will also be starting "School".  He's only two years old, but both Jessica and Sam feel sending him to daycare a few days out of the week would be good for him.  Theodore has a completely different personality than his older siblings.  Jessica felt she needed to push Theodore a bit more.  She wanted him to get used to being without her.  She also wants him to grow a thicker skin.  Being deaf, Jessica knows kids will tend to pick on him a bit more.  She wants him to be able to stand up for himself.

In the past few weeks Jessica has noticed Theodore has began to stutter.  She hoped this would help him.

Today they are shopping for school clothes.

"Aw Sam, look at these little pants for Teddy!"

"Those are too cute!"

"I know!  Ugh my little man!" Jessica pouts.

"Having second thoughts?"

"No.. I'm just sad.  It'll be hard."

"It's only Monday, Wednesday and Thursday though, momma.  Plus, he's gonna have so much fun!"

"I know.. it'll be harder on me than it is on him!"

"Yeah.."

"I'm not worried about Juju.  She's ready!"

"Oh I know!" Sam laughs.
"She's ready to teach the class!"

"Mhm! I'm just sad today!" Jessica pouts.

"Aw baby, don't be sad."

"All my babies are growing up..
  and Simba would be starting kindergarten this year.."

Sam walks over and wraps his arms around her.
"I should be buying his little clothes."

Sam didn't say a word.  He just tried his best to comfort her.

"But then if I had him, I wouldn't have Juju! I mean, maybe I would, but.. I don't know.. I'm just sad."

Sam rubs Jessica's back and kisses the top of her head.

"I hate it when you're sad."

"Me too!" Jessica looks up to Sam and cries.

"Aw baby girl! Don't cry!  He's in a much better place, love."

"I know.. I'm just selfish and want him here."

"You're not selfish!  You're just a damn good mommy!"

Jessica lifts her head and says, "You're right!  I am!"

Sam chuckles and kisses her forehead.

***

First day of school.

Everyone is running crazy this morning.
Julia is rushing everyone, Theodore is lazy, Landon is perfectly fine, Autumn has a hair dilemma, and baby Evangeline is super cranky!

"Mommy, I gonna be late hurry up!"

"Julia, stop moving so I can finish your hair!"

"HURRY UP!"

Jessica sighs and continues.

"Mommy, why the baby cry so much? I getting nanoyed wih her."

Jessica chuckled.
"She's just fussy because daddy's changing her diaper. She'll calm down soon."

"Hope so! OWWWW! Stop pulling it so hard!" Julia screams.

"I wasn't pulling it, Ju!"

"You WAS!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't think I was."

"Well you was!"

"I know!  I said I was sorry!"

"It okay. Jus no do it again!"

"I won't. I promise!
.. There! All done. Go to the kitchen for breakfast. Don't get into anything, okay?"

"Okay, mama! Kiss!" Julia looks up and puckers her lips.

"Muah! Sweet girl!" Jessica smiles and pats her back.

She then walked into her bedroom and smiled at Theodore who was laid out on hers and Sam's bed.

"Hi buddy!"

"Mama!"

"You make me want to get back in bed and snuggle up with you!"

Theodore sits up and points to his ears.

"Oh!  You can't hear me!  Where are your hearing aids?" Jessica signs that last part.

Theodore lifts his little hands cutely.

"Didn't mommy put them on you?"

Theodore smiles softly and reaches for Jessica.
Jessica had left his hearing aids in his little nightstand.

"Silly mommy! Let's go get them, buddy!"

"Momma!" Autumn runs into her.

"Sishyyyyyy!" Theodore kicks his legs and reaches for her.

"What's wrong, baby?" Jessica asks as Autumn takes her little brother in her arms.

"My hair is not working out!"

"Okay, I'll help you. Just give me a second, okay?"

"Okay. Do you need any help?"

"Actually! Can you help daddy with the kids, please? He has Eva, Landon and Julia!"

"Oh geez! Sure, I'll help him."

"Thank you, love."

"You're welcome!"

**

"There! Now you can hear mama! I love you, Theodore Alexander!" Jessica smiles as she speaks in a soothing voice.

"Mmmma! Mama!" He smiles.

Jessica smiles and kisses his cheek.

"Now let's get you ready for your first day of school!"

"YAAAAAY!"

"You're so excited!"

**

"Hers is still screamin!" Julia says, giving her baby sister a look.

"Yeah, I think she wants mommy." Sam says.

"MOMMY! Come get yo Baby!"

Sam laughs at Julia's cuteness.
"Sham!" She tilts her head and looks at him like he's crazy.

"What?"

"No laughing at me."

"Sorry!"

**

"Bye Auttie! Make good choices!"

Autumn chuckles.
"I will, momma! Love you guys!"

"Love you more, baby!
.... Aw Sammy! Look at our little girl." Jessica pouts.

"She's not so little anymore! She's growing up!"

"I hate it! She was just a little baby!"

"I know, Button. But they all have to grow up sometime." Sam softly runs his hand up and down her back.

"I know." Jessica sighs. "Let's go to the other side to drop these two off."

"Me and Juju!" Landon smiles.

"Yep! Are you ready for kindergarten, buddy?" Jessica asks.

"Yep! I'm SO ready!"

"Me too!" Julia smiles.

"Juju, you're going to Pre K three!" Jessica says.

"No I BIG!" Julia makes a face like Jessica is absolutely insane.

"Yes you are big! But you can't go to kindergarten until after Pre K four!"

"This is dumb!"

"Julia Summer!" Jessica tries hiding her laughter while Sam just cracks up.

"Enough! Now let's go."

**

"Mama.. w-we p-p-play?"

"Yeah you'll get to play, baby." Jessica smiles.

"YAY!"

Jessica giggles and continues walking him into his daycare as Sam follows behind with Evangeline.

"Here we are! You're in the Jellyfish room! How cool, buddy?"

Theodore looked around and became extremely shy.

"It's okay, baby. Let's go say hi to your teacher and meet your new friends!"

"No.. I-I tayyyy wi-wih yewwww.."

"Honey, mommy has to leave. You have to go to school like the big kids."

"Wha? No.. me b-b-babyyyy.."

Jessica looked down to her baby boy, and felt a huge lump in her throat.

"Baby boy, you're okay."

"Mama.."

"Mommy will be back." Jessica kisses his cheek.

Theodore grabs onto her shirt and shouts.
"MAMAAAAA!"

"It's okay! He'll be okay. Bye, baby."

"Bye buddy.. we'll see you soon. Have fun!" Sam smiles, but has a sadness in his eyes.  He felt so bad for him.

"DADDYYYYYY!"

Sam's eyes widen and he quickly hands Evangeline to Jessica.

"He just called me daddy!" Sam takes Theodore from his teacher and hugs him tightly.
"Little man! Oh my goodness, you just said daddy!"

"D-d-dada n-no gooooo.."

"Aw man.. Jess, do we have to do this?" Sam looks at Jessica with such a sadness in his eyes.

"We have to do it, honey.."

"Man! Theo.."

"Dada.."

"Oh he's really working me!" Sam look at Jessica once again.

"Daddy st-st-stayyyy.."

"Teddy, we'll be right back, okay? Mommy, Eva and I are going to go buy you presents! Then you can play with them when you get back home! Doesn't that sound fun?"

"F-f-fuuunn."

"Yeah! So let mommy and I go shopping for you, okay?"

"O-otayyy." Theodore nods before wrapping his arms around Sam's neck and hugging him as tight as he possibly could.

"Luh yew, Dada.."

Sam smiles softly as a single tear rolls down his cheek.  He rubs his back and takes in this special moment.

"I love you more, son."

Jessica watches, tears running down her face as well. She was so blessed to have such a wonderful man like Sam in her life.