Chapter Text
“Ryland, do you think it’s time for Hope to start trying solids?” Eva was looking at the formula can. It was almost empty; they were planning to go to the store tomorrow so they could get more. However, even with the ration slips, formula was getting difficult to find. It wasn’t a matter of cost; they had enough money. It was simply supply. There were only so many cans of formula. She supposed they had been very lucky with Hope, she tolerated any formula that was put in her bottle.
“Do you think she can handle it? She’s only six and half months old.”
“She tried to steal your egg at breakfast. The only reason you got to keep your egg is because I saw her going for it.”
“Do you want to try then? She’d still get her formula, but we can start introducing them to her.”
“Okay. What do you want to try first?”
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They’d decided on some strawberries from the mini-house, there were a few that were super ripe and mashed up easily. As Eva mashed them up into a baby-friendly puree, Ryland went upstairs to get Hope from her nap.
“Did you have a good nap, my love?” Ryland ran his hand over Hope’s head and through her hair to make sure she was awake. Her eyes were blinking open, slowly gaining their focus. When the brown eyes landed on her father’s face though, a gummy smile breaking out on her face. Arms started waving in a “pick me up” fashion. Well, who was he to deny his daughter such a simple request. “Daddy’s got you!” He brought her up for a big hug, loving the giggles that came from Hope as he did so.
“Yeah, it was a good nap then?” He propped her up and showed her two different outfits. “Which one do you want to wear this afternoon? The outfit with kittens, or the one with flowers?” There was more kicking when he held up the dress with flowers, so flowers it is. “Good choice! I think Mommy will love that one too.” Hope was quickly changed and dressed and ready to go downstairs.
As they got downstairs, Carl came back from his perimeter sweep. No matter how many times they said it wasn’t needed Carl still did the sweeps daily. At least it was only twice a day now. When they had first moved in, it had been at least six in a day.
“Hey, Ryland. Hey Miss Hope!” Hope just about launched herself out of Ryland’s arms trying to get Carl to hold her. “Woah there, Hope! If you wanted to come see me, you just had to ask!” Carl loved the girl’s antics. He could tell that as she got older, she would bring so much joy into the house.
“Thank you, Carl. Good catch. She’s getting scary good at that.” They walked into the kitchen where Eva was ready with a bowl of strawberry mush. “Eva! Your daughter tried to jump away from me again.” Carl sat Hope in her highchair and buckled her in.
“It’s true. She launched herself at me.”
“My precious baby girl would never do something like that, would you, my Starlight?” Eva laughed at her family. She was very well aware of Hope’s gymnastic abilities. Maybe when she was older, they could get her into a program to channel that energy for good.
“Little Sunspot is very determined, much like her Mama.”
“Oh hush.” She turned to Hope. “Okay, Mommy has some special food for you my sweet girl. You get to try some strawberries today! Mommy went ahead and made it so you can eat them.” She held up the little bowl. Scooping a little bit with her spoon, she showed Hope what it looked like. “Strawberries are kind of red and pink and they are very sweet. They grow in Mommy’s greenhouse.”
Ryland sat down next to Eva, and she held the spoon up.
“You are going to start learning how to eat with a spoon like a big girl! You are still Mommy and Daddy’s baby girl, but you will not always be.” Taking a small bit of strawberries on the spoon, she held it out to Ryland, who opened his mouth. “Until you are big enough to hold the spoon, Mommy, Daddy, or Carl will help you, okay” She put the spoon in Ryland’s mouth and then pulled out an empty spoon. “The spoon goes in, and the food goes into your mouth. You then swallow it like your milk.” She took a napkin and wiped at Ryland’s mouth even though he didn’t need it. “Sometimes you will make a mess and we will clean it up, that is okay.”
Hope looked fascinated by this demonstration. In her little brain, Mommy and Daddy were being silly. But their food did look more fun than just her bottles, so she waved her arms and made her happy noises. As Mommy brought the spoon to her, she opened her mouth like Daddy had. The spoon went in, and a tiny bit of the strawberries was put in her mouth. Hope smacked her tongue like she did with her milk, and decided that yes, this was okay. She swallowed the strawberries and clapped her little hands.
“Well, I think she likes it, what do you think my Star?” Eva was amused at what Hope was doing. As far as her first attempt at solids went, this was going okay.
“I think so too, Sunset. You might want to get a few more strawberry plants going to keep up.” They both laughed at this.
The rest of their afternoon and night continued. Hope finished her little bowl of strawberries, complaining in the way babies do when it ran out.
“It’s all done. That’s all there was, my sweet girl.” She was young yes, but in the world, they lived in, they had to start introducing the concept of ‘not enough’ early. There was enough right now, but for how long?
Hope wasn’t upset for too long though. Daddy came and got her for playtime in the living room. Hope loved playtime. She got to see all of her soft friends that Mommy and Daddy had made her. Daddy had started playing a game with her where he would move one of her friends and Hope had to go get it back. She would wiggle forward enough to get her friend. Daddy, Mommy, and Carl were always so happy when she was able to get her friends back.