Party BabiesThis one's mostly a filler chapter because a lot has happened but I didn't take very many screenshots.
Gabrielle: Rawr! Rawr! Rawr!
Iris: Ahhhhh! Mummy help!
Nothing like a bit of child-scaring to start a chapter, is there?
And yep, Gabrielle's pregnant again, as most of you guessed.
The twins become toddlers. Which is a good thing, as I hate the burrito stage. Toddlers you can have some fun with.
Gabrielle: You hate the burrito stage? You're not the one cleaning up their nappies and getting woken up in the night by twins screaming in tandem.
No, but I have twin younger siblings, I have a pretty good idea what it's like.
Meet Ethel. She seems to mostly have inherited her looks from Kris. I like that they've gone down another generation. I don't know where the hair colour is from though, probably Great-Granny Lexa.
Her favourite colour is black, and so she ends up looking slightly like an orphan from the Victorian era. I suppose with the naming theme I've got going for this generation, that's kinda to be expected.
I don't think I gave you her traits; they're Athletic and Clumsy. I random roll for all the spare's traits.
And Mary. Her hair is from Daniel, and I think she favours Gabrielle more in looks but I can't really tell yet.
Her favourite colour is spice berry and her traits are Genius and Virtuoso. Toy xylophones and peg boxes all round, then.
Ethel: Eurgh.
Yes, well, you can't train athletic skill as a toddler, can you?
Gabrielle: You do realise you're talking to a baby who can't talk, don't you?
Shut up.
Gabrielle CrumpleSteel's guide to toddler trainingAlways toilet train your toddler first. Not only does it reduce the amount of messy nappies you'll have to clean up, but it also means they can't talk back to you while you're doing it.
Get your husband/partner/anyone to help you. It's important to have regular breaks from the toddlers, else you'll go insane. It's also good for the toddler to bond with their other parent, and try out different teaching styles to see how they learn best.
And, your husband gave them the stubborn gene so he should at least try to deal with it.
Choose a safe location for your training. The nursery is a good idea. The kitchen, with it's well documented dangers, is a terrible idea.
Although being near the fridge for bribery purposes can be useful.
When teaching to talk, talk about topics which may interest your child. For example, when dealing with a toddler expressing musical genius, do not talk about topics such as sport. Instead, discuss music or Fermat's Last Theorem.
And that is how to train your toddler.
Back to the story...Iris turns child. Daniel's thrown a formal party for the occasion. Iris, being insane, does not dress up.
Daniel: Stay tiny. Please. If I don't let you blow out the candles, you won't grow up and then it'll all be fine.
It doesn't work like that.
Gabrielle: No, please age her up. It's one less lot of nappies. Not that you do nappies.
Kieran: Eurgh. Toddlers are smelly.
Yes, Kieran's back! He was in Daniel's relationship panel but not able to be invited over for ages, and then randomly the day of this party could be invited round again. He's suffered some kind of weird aging bug though, and has become an elder already even though he's Daniel's twin and so shouldn't be an elder for another few days yet.
Kieran: Please stop talking about me like I'm not in the screenshot.
Sorry.
Iris sparkles up into a child.
Iris: Tickles.
Gabrielle: It's coming!
You've had three already, this one should be a doddle.
Gabrielle: You... try... it...
Daniel: I can't believe you're here. Sophie, Cait and I thought we'd never see you again. How could you worry us like that?!
Kieran: I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault.
Daniel: No, you just upped and left us. Not your fault at all.
Kieran: Let me explain, please? Your watcher thinks it was a glitch, but actually... well, it's weirder and more exciting than that. Give me five minutes and I promise you it'll make sense.
Kieran: Brothers?
Daniel: Brothers.
Gabrielle: I'm having a baby here! Can't you take your emotional moments and plot hints elsewhere?!
Daniel and Kieran: Sorry.
Here's child Iris.
Her new trait is Photographers Eye. Yep, trying to supermax Photography. I do have a backup though, if I can't get some of the challenges to register like I know sometimes is a problem.
Iris: It'll be the shark's fault if they don't. Not yours or mine.
Sharks???