More food than a person can eat.
Decorations hang around every inch of the house.
Full stockings and wrapped presents cover the floor under the tree.
It's basically a Hallmark film.
There's always holiday music or a movie playing.
Grandpa's always stealing cookies before they've cooled.
Grandma's snagging a baby to hold all night.
People are spread out all over, snacking on food and eggnog.
The house echoes with laughter and fun story times.
And I love every second.
Luckily, this year is no different.
The only vast change is I'm pregnant and will be included in all the baby talk for once. Ivy's due to pop in less than two months, and since she's having twins, she's gotten uncomfortably big. Kane set his plate on her belly and thanked her for holding it for him. I thought the death glare she gave would set him on fire.
Payton knows better than to do something like that, considering I'm still struggling with my body's changes. I'm excited we're having a baby, but between the hormones and feeling huge all the time, I didn’t anticipate feeling insecure.
"We need to plan your shower, Kaitlyn," my mom tells me over dessert.
We started eating an hour ago, but we're still munching on all the sweets Maize baked.
"Well, we're registered, so feel free to plan away," I sing-song. Everyone in my family loves parties and will use any excuse to throw them.
"Did you pick a theme for the nursery yet?" Grandma asks.
"Well, I don't know if you'd call it a theme, but I wanted cute forest animals—bunnies, squirrels, foxes—and Payton wants deer. But not the Bambi type, the big bucks that you hunt. With arrows and guns."
A round of gasps echoes, and Payton glowers at me.
"Veto," Grandma says. "Sorry, honey, but killin’ animals isn't exactly an appropriate theme."
I chuckle at Payton's embarrassment.
"That's not what I suggested." He directs his gaze at me.
"Close enough!" I argue. "A hunter hiding in the bushes while aiming his gun at a deer drinking from a pond is traumatic!"
"It was much cuter than she's makin' it out to be," he argues.
"My granddaughter will not be surrounded with camouflage anything. Sorry, Payton. Gotta agree with everyone else." My mom tries to give him a little sympathy, but it's not working.
Knox comes over, chuckling as he shoves cake into his big mouth. "Amateur."
Payton rolls his eyes.
"You'll eventually learn. They don't really want our opinion."
"That's not true," I argue. "Well, perhaps it is for you because you suck, but Payton actually has great suggestions."
"Ignore him," Hadleigh says, squeezing her way through the crowd of people. For her third time being pregnant, she looks amazing. "He's just annoyed I won't let him hang dead animals in our house."