It is difficult to accept, after so many centuries, that the final child has been born into my house.
It's hard to believe I planted a seed that grew this large, isn't it? I almost always sort of worried that I'd fail, but the option was never there. As soon as Carlotta had moved in, zeroing me in with her deep blue eyes, believing in me, cuddling baby Mona Lisa and whispering confidence in her little ears, and now here we are, and the last is a wriggling little baby girl.
We are almost out of space here in the house. (Can you believe that!) We added the nectar makers to the butler's room. I know it seems a bit rude, but we have a rotation of butlers, so no one lives there full-time.
We also have a rotation of care for little Champagne. Eden's enthusiasm with the baby powder has already caused two maids to quit.
When she's a little older, we'll renovate Eden's nursery for Champagne. For now, she's sleeping in Mata Hari's crib in Allegra's room. It's a risk to go into build/buy or CAS at all these days, so late in the game, so there's no need to risk it so early in her life.
Though that life is already flashing by at light speed.
The girls are always so enthusiastic when there is a birthday.
And someone generally cracks wise about how I'm not, but allow me to explain. With every new life stage, we're closer to the end of a project I thought would never end. I cannot see past that. What then?
Uncertainty frightens me.
And suddenly here's baby Champagne, sparkling and becoming her own person.
Her hair color is a bit of a mystery. Pretty, though. And those eyes. We all know where those came from.
She lists black as her favorite color, but Mata Hari insists it was a "clerical error," and Bubbly loves pink.
So, she's covered in all things pink. Adorable.
And has a hard time staying still.
I got a letter the day she was born, you know. An impossible letter. A letter from Ophelia, my lost adoptive daughter. My sister in the building of this dynasty. It was a gift. Another little doll, for Champagne. Its name is OJ. I will give it to her when the moment is right.
For her part, Mata Hari burned off her baby weight in no time.
She started work as a snitch for the police department. Bizarrely, her work uniform is also Eastern in style.
She is away a lot, but there's no concern for attention to little Champagne. She is awash in cooing grandmothers.
Rosetta has taken her general position of taking over hygiene and potty training.
Champagne loves the walker, and we thought like Mata before her, she'd teach herself to walk.
But, Rosetta couldn't resist the lure of spending even more time with her, especially as my daycare center is no more. We all have a bit of toddler withdrawal.
Well, I honestly can't blame her. In all honesty, I'm a bit jealous!
Eureka has taken on speaking. Champagne reacts most favorably to things that relate to luxury.
She's also quite fond of her own reflection.
If ever we aren't attentive often enough, she waits patiently, but with a guilt-inducing pout that'll melt your heart into a puddle.
It's the cycle they've all been through. All of my girls have been adorable toddlers in my arms. All of them have gone through the motions.
And oh how I'll miss those days when they're gone. Oh how I wonder what comes next.
