Post by BRANDON GARCIA on Sept 9, 2014 19:20:08 GMT -5
“They’re not the only ones who need a firm hand, sailor.”[/i] Brandon grinned, giving River a playful and exaggerated shocked look as Jo smacked his butt when she passed. “Mel? You and Kevin mind getting folks from outside?”[/i] “I didn’t say you could shirk it off onto my sister and her fiancé,” he protested humorously, getting laughs from Melanie. She and Kevin agreed to get the people outside and Brandon made a face at her. “Pushover.” “Lazy.” Melanie stuck her tongue out at him before grinning and walking out with Kevin. Brandon gathered up the men and Kimberly, letting them know it was time for presents. When everyone was well gathered, Brandon and Jo sat down on the floor with River to work on opening all of the gifts. Melanie took score of who gave what for Jo to send thank you cards, a chore which Brandon was certain to have to participate in. No doubt he would be licking plenty of envelopes and sticking on plenty of stamps in the near future.
Some of the gifts weren’t really for River, like Garrett’s gift of rum and Jake’s gift of fishing gear. Hey, anything that could make daddy happy too was fine by Brandon! He promised to try out the fishing gear with River when he was old enough. As the presents were unveiled one by one, Brandon took pictures, making sure to get plenty of their guests as well. He got a really nice shot of Jo and Zoe smiling at River while he beamed at them as he reached for a gift. That was definitely going to be framed. River got plenty of clothes too, which was a blessing. The kid was growing so fast they couldn’t keep him in clothes for long! Now if only they could have another boy to reuse them with…maybe farther down the line. He definitely wanted to see a barrage of pink at the next first birthday party. There were even some books in the pile of presents, which Brandon was happy to see. He wanted his son to be a reader even if he wasn’t and he liked the idea of bedtime stories in the near future. Melanie’s gift was one of the last to be opened and completely over-the-top. “Jesus, Mel, how much did you get him?” he asked with a laugh as Jo pulled out one piece of the present after another. It was a beautiful vintage toy set with River’s name on some pieces along with clothes and books and diapers. “I wanted to get him a little of everything! Come on, I don’t have any other babies to spoil.” Her comment, though it wasn’t intended to pain, briefly reminded Brandon that she had lost her own child. This was what she had dreamed of for her own unborn baby. He didn’t make any more comments about the extravagance of her present after that, continuing to smile and snap photos. At the end of the pile of presents, they had a fantastic booty to show for their party. He was surprised and grateful for everyone’s generosity. They weren’t hurting for money, but any little bit they could save was wonderful.
“Okay, everybody! Cake time! We’re gonna do this outside!” The partygoers piled out into the backyard, huddling around the table they moved out into the grass. Melanie had helped make and decorate both of the cakes they had made for this occasion. One was an average sized sheet cake for all of the guests decorated with a red airplane on a baby blue sky, Snoopy the Ace (or Mel’s closest conception of him) flying among puffy clouds with his crooked grin. The message said, “Happy birthday, River!” Their second, fairly small cake was for River only. It was baby blue with more puffy white clouds, but a bright yellow, smiling sun instead of Snoopy. This also read, “Happy birthday, River!” Jo carefully planted a candle on the smaller cake before taking it out to the yard and setting it on the table beside the Snoopy cake. Brandon led everyone in singing Happy Birthday and when everyone clapped at the end, River clapped too, grinning at all of the people laughing at him. “Okay, River Rat, time to blow out the candle! Like this.” Brandon came up next to him and pursed his lips, letting out a puff of air at River’s face. He giggled and Jo coaxed him to do the same. It took a couple hesitant moments before River finally did his best impression, letting out a tiny little puff of air. “Good boy! Now do it at the candle.” Brandon pointed to the flame and River focused on it. When he blew the air out, it only made the fire twitch. The candle was dripping wax on the cake and Brandon decided to help his kid out. “Okay, me and mommy are going to help.” He motioned for Jo to get ready. “One, two, three!” And they all blew together, extinguishing the flame at last. Everyone applauded and River mimicked them with his heartwarming little grin, showing off the few little teeth he had.
“Alright, buddy! Now you get to dig in!” Brandon picked up his son while Jo grabbed the cake. There was a tarp already laid out on the grass, brand new at Jo’s insistence, and Brandon plopped his boy down right in the middle of it. His cake was placed in front of him and he hesitantly reached out to touch it. Those brown eyes of his looked to his mom, who encouraged him to eat it. She mimed bringing the cake to her mouth and making yummy noises, and River understood—this was chow time. The one and only time he would have the chance to tear into a whole cake without feeling an ounce of shame. He didn’t hesitate a moment longer. To everyone’s vast amusement, River sank both of his hands right into the chocolatey goodness in front of him and shoved it into his face. In second his cheeks, chin and mouth were blue, white, and brown and he chewed on it ponderously. Yep, this stuff was awesome. He went in for more, slathering it again all over his face. Brandon was cracking up, loving that his son was getting so much satisfaction from a pile of sugar. Thank goodness Melanie started dishing out the other cake because Brandon was too busy capturing baby’s first taste of cake on video. “Mmmmm…” he hummed before laughing at his son putting his fingers in his mouth. This kid was loving it. And before he could be stopped, he put a big old handful of cake right on top of his head. Brandon laughed before saying, “Ugh, I just want to BATHE in this stuff!” River offered a handful to Jo, who was laughing herself. “Mom, you’ve GOTTA try this!” Brandon voiced, completely absorbed in watching his son wallow in cake.
Some of the gifts weren’t really for River, like Garrett’s gift of rum and Jake’s gift of fishing gear. Hey, anything that could make daddy happy too was fine by Brandon! He promised to try out the fishing gear with River when he was old enough. As the presents were unveiled one by one, Brandon took pictures, making sure to get plenty of their guests as well. He got a really nice shot of Jo and Zoe smiling at River while he beamed at them as he reached for a gift. That was definitely going to be framed. River got plenty of clothes too, which was a blessing. The kid was growing so fast they couldn’t keep him in clothes for long! Now if only they could have another boy to reuse them with…maybe farther down the line. He definitely wanted to see a barrage of pink at the next first birthday party. There were even some books in the pile of presents, which Brandon was happy to see. He wanted his son to be a reader even if he wasn’t and he liked the idea of bedtime stories in the near future. Melanie’s gift was one of the last to be opened and completely over-the-top. “Jesus, Mel, how much did you get him?” he asked with a laugh as Jo pulled out one piece of the present after another. It was a beautiful vintage toy set with River’s name on some pieces along with clothes and books and diapers. “I wanted to get him a little of everything! Come on, I don’t have any other babies to spoil.” Her comment, though it wasn’t intended to pain, briefly reminded Brandon that she had lost her own child. This was what she had dreamed of for her own unborn baby. He didn’t make any more comments about the extravagance of her present after that, continuing to smile and snap photos. At the end of the pile of presents, they had a fantastic booty to show for their party. He was surprised and grateful for everyone’s generosity. They weren’t hurting for money, but any little bit they could save was wonderful.
“Okay, everybody! Cake time! We’re gonna do this outside!” The partygoers piled out into the backyard, huddling around the table they moved out into the grass. Melanie had helped make and decorate both of the cakes they had made for this occasion. One was an average sized sheet cake for all of the guests decorated with a red airplane on a baby blue sky, Snoopy the Ace (or Mel’s closest conception of him) flying among puffy clouds with his crooked grin. The message said, “Happy birthday, River!” Their second, fairly small cake was for River only. It was baby blue with more puffy white clouds, but a bright yellow, smiling sun instead of Snoopy. This also read, “Happy birthday, River!” Jo carefully planted a candle on the smaller cake before taking it out to the yard and setting it on the table beside the Snoopy cake. Brandon led everyone in singing Happy Birthday and when everyone clapped at the end, River clapped too, grinning at all of the people laughing at him. “Okay, River Rat, time to blow out the candle! Like this.” Brandon came up next to him and pursed his lips, letting out a puff of air at River’s face. He giggled and Jo coaxed him to do the same. It took a couple hesitant moments before River finally did his best impression, letting out a tiny little puff of air. “Good boy! Now do it at the candle.” Brandon pointed to the flame and River focused on it. When he blew the air out, it only made the fire twitch. The candle was dripping wax on the cake and Brandon decided to help his kid out. “Okay, me and mommy are going to help.” He motioned for Jo to get ready. “One, two, three!” And they all blew together, extinguishing the flame at last. Everyone applauded and River mimicked them with his heartwarming little grin, showing off the few little teeth he had.
“Alright, buddy! Now you get to dig in!” Brandon picked up his son while Jo grabbed the cake. There was a tarp already laid out on the grass, brand new at Jo’s insistence, and Brandon plopped his boy down right in the middle of it. His cake was placed in front of him and he hesitantly reached out to touch it. Those brown eyes of his looked to his mom, who encouraged him to eat it. She mimed bringing the cake to her mouth and making yummy noises, and River understood—this was chow time. The one and only time he would have the chance to tear into a whole cake without feeling an ounce of shame. He didn’t hesitate a moment longer. To everyone’s vast amusement, River sank both of his hands right into the chocolatey goodness in front of him and shoved it into his face. In second his cheeks, chin and mouth were blue, white, and brown and he chewed on it ponderously. Yep, this stuff was awesome. He went in for more, slathering it again all over his face. Brandon was cracking up, loving that his son was getting so much satisfaction from a pile of sugar. Thank goodness Melanie started dishing out the other cake because Brandon was too busy capturing baby’s first taste of cake on video. “Mmmmm…” he hummed before laughing at his son putting his fingers in his mouth. This kid was loving it. And before he could be stopped, he put a big old handful of cake right on top of his head. Brandon laughed before saying, “Ugh, I just want to BATHE in this stuff!” River offered a handful to Jo, who was laughing herself. “Mom, you’ve GOTTA try this!” Brandon voiced, completely absorbed in watching his son wallow in cake.
