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Kelly and Stella weren’t sure if they were agitated or relieved that they were at home stuck in a snowstorm rather than out on shift. On one hand, they couldn’t help but think about the dozens of people who probably needed help, what with the relentless storm, power outages, and lost heat. They both knew that there were plenty of first responders out there doing their job and helping Chicago citizens who found themselves in trouble. And they let that be their comforting thought and allowed themselves to be grateful for not being apart from their baby boy during his first winter.
Their son, Drew, was only seven months old and found himself entranced by the falling white flakes. The trio had spent all day outside bundled up so that Drew could enjoy his first Chicago winter. When the sun began to set, the trio found themselves back inside of their toasty loft.
Stella was making tomato soup for herself and Kelly while also making a mixed vegetable puree for Drew. He had only just started on solid foods in the puree form for a few weeks now. Mostly, it was the store bought form, the small Gerbers glass jars that enclosed flavors such as chicken/gravy and banana. But since Stella was already making the tomato soup from scratch, she decided to cut up some other foods in the house and mix it together to form a puree medley for their little boy. Meanwhile, Kelly was busy making grilled cheese sandwiches and catching hockey highlights on the TV.
“You burn those sandwiches, you’re going out into the storm to get some pizza.” Stella joked as she looked on at him continuously switching his attention between the NHL and the pan in front of him.
Kelly playfully threw back, “And if you keep making googly faces at Drew, you’re gonna cut one of your fingers off. My paramedic cert is expired, so you’re on your own.” He shot her a grin before turning back.
Drew looked on and giggled at his two parents’ interactions, getting excited in his high chair as he took in their cheerful smiles.
“Daddy’s so funny, isn’t he?” Stella cooed at him while letting him taste a tiny spoonful of the puree. She used his facial expressions as a barometer for how well the puree was coming along and was satisfied with the enlivened banging on his high chair tray as his hands repeatedly hit it. The squeals were also an indication, but that also just may have been his fascination with his parents’ jokes.
Soon enough, dinner was ready. The trio settled around the small circular table just off the kitchen. Instead of keeping him in his high chair, Kelly lifted him up and allowed him a seat on his lap. He took turns between taking spoonfuls of soup and bites of his sandwich while feeding Drew spoonfuls of his own meal. If he didn’t move quick enough, the two were served with small squeals of annoyance from their son. It made Stella chuckle as she watched Kelly have to rapidly stow food in his mouth so that he could hurry up and gather a spoonful for Drew.
“Oops, forgot drinks.” Stella rose from her seat to grab a bear for Kelly, Sprite for herself, and a sippy cup filled with blueberry juice for Drew.
Almost as quickly as her back was turned, Drew grabbed for a small piece of remnant bread from Kelly’s sandwich. Kelly grabbed it back from him, remembering Stella’s warnings to be careful with the chunks of food given to him in fear of a choking incident. But Drew started whining when the bread piece was taken from him. Kelly gazed at him in fear and trepidation as he looked back to Stella who was pouring their drinks into their respective cups. He made a quick decision based on her turned back and his inability to withstand Drew’s cries.
He tore the piece in half and gave it back to Drew.
“What’s going on, baby boy?” Stella asked her son as she began to screw his sippy cup top back on.
His whines stopped as he popped the piece in his mouth and explored the taste on his tongue. Kelly watched him closely, making sure that he was chewing and that it was being swallowed without issue. Stella, none the wiser, returned to her seat, and passed everyone their drinks.
She looked on in amusement with the way his small hands wrapped around the children’s cup. At his age, he was still unable to hold it on his own without difficulty, but it was still fun to watch him try and learn how. Kelly helped him and allowed him a few sips before putting it down and gesturing to the food again. He picked up the spoon and fed him another bite.
Dinner continued without much fuss and the parents allowed their son to crawl around where they could see him as they cleaned up the kitchen together.
“My mom’s coming into town next week. Guess we don’t have to worry about taking him to daycare, since she’s already decided to have grandma bonding while we’re on shift.”
Stella hummed in response and made note to call the daycare tomorrow to let them know.
“Might be able to squeeze a date night in there somewhere if we play our cards right.” The suggestive eyebrow raise from Kelly sent Stella giggling.
“We’ve gotta come home from shift looking dead tired. Maybe even throw in a few digs about our non-existent social life these days. That’ll get her going.” Stella responded. Her mother-in-law wasn’t exactly meddlesome, but she definitely didn’t hesitate to make her opinions known either. The last time she visited was right before Stella gave birth and when she heard Stella complain about her swollen feet, Jennifer stood up to search for Kelly and suggested he either rub her feet himself or book her an appointment to go to the spa. Jennifer knew Kelly was his father’s son and that meant he could be a little absent-minded at times. A little less on the romantic side. But pregnancy was supposed to be the most life-changing time in the life of a woman and she thought that an expecting mother was deserving of nothing less than being pampered 100% of the time. She didn’t know that Stella wasn’t always the type to want to be doted on, but the intentions were sweet nonetheless.
They both knew that if Jennifer got even the slightest whiff of tension or tiredness between them, she’d suggest a date night away from the loft and baby.
Before Kelly could reply to Stella’s playful scheme, she grabbed his arm and gestured for him to look up. When he did, he noticed Drew throwing the sofa’s blanket over his head and gleefully squealing as he did so.
Stella ’s eyes met Kelly’s when she turned her head and he was immediately curious at the bright excitement on her face.
“I have an idea.” She said as she walked around the kitchen island and into the large loft living space.
She leaned over her blanket-covered son and started grabbing the pillows off of the couch.
“What are you doing?” Kelly asked as he casually followed behind.
She picked up Drew and laughed alongside him as he yelped at his sudden lifting into the air. She looked at Kelly as she continued lifting him up and down and reveling in his laughter.
“Let’s make a blanket fort!”
The idea wasn’t particularly enticing to Kelly, but he couldn’t deny the soft feeling in him as he listened to his wife and son giggle together as they played around with the pillows and blankets. He joined in with a chuckle and shake of his head, grabbing Drew from Stella and lifting him even higher while Stella began to situate the fort.
She got so engrossed in the project that she ran to Drew’s room to grab his crib sheets to add more fluff to the fort. Drew looked in wonderment as the contraption came to fruition with blankets hanging from stacks of pillows and creating small alcoves for them all to relax in. He giggled excitedly and patted on Kelly’s arms to be let go.
Stella moved some to allow Drew to maneuver and crawl around as he explored the fort. Stella eyeballed it and made changes for it to be able to fit the three of them together. Drew grabbed at sheets and pushed at pillows, which led to Kelly helping solidify the fort from falling apart from the young boy’s force.
Once it was all said and done, the trio got under the tented contrivance and snuggled together under the warmness together. Stella had also grabbed some small tea lights to illuminate the space after turning off all of the other lights. It only served to cozy up the space and make it all the more wondrous for Drew. He looked around in amazement as he crawled between Stella and Kelly’s laps and marveled at his surroundings.
“What have we done?” Kelly whispered as they watched him tire himself out with all of his exploring.
Stella giggled and looked at her husband with a grin, “I think we just started a new tradition.”
Kelly shook his head with a chuckle, “Snow storm fort nights?”
“Snow storm fort nights.” Stella confirmed.
Before long, they were all asleep under the fort and tea lights.