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After more mobile-time, more bottles, another small nap, and … of course… another diaper change, it was dinner time. Ken and Karen were excited over the new item because they loved it in their previous lives: butternut squash! To their dismay they both gagged and made reflexive yucky-faces at the bitter mash brought on because they did not expect to be that strong on their sensitive little taste buds. It tasted exactly like squash but for whatever reason did not register right at all with either of them.
“Forgive us, Maribel, and mommy. We will get used to it again,” responded the infant girl.
“We know that, Karen,” responded Maribel, continuing to feed them persistently. Hunger was a stronger feeling which encouraged them to persist in swallowing the bitter yuck in their mouths anyway.
“I used to love to bake it for Thanksgiving,” said Karen. “It still puzzles me why we as children are programmed to hate things that are only slightly bitter.”
“I don’t know either. Who does? Sweet things are so much sweeter at your age too. A banana tastes as good to you as banana ice cream does to a bigger kid like me. Enjoy being babies when you can.”
All four managed to eat dinner at the same time despite two of them having to feed the other two of them in addition to themselves. Then there was a brief total free time where the two of them get to do what they want. It was ‘net time for the Hendersons. When they caught up on the news, they started their bonding again with each other only to have it interrupted because they spent much more time on the news than they thought and free time was now over. It was mommy-child time now. Maribel cleaned the table and washed the tableware, no small feat for a small body, and then proceeded upstairs to get their bath ready. She had a cup with a small spout and a kids toy watering can. She had always been nervous about this time because it was hard to gauge when the little ones use their diapers after dinner. It goes without saying that it was definitely preferential that they soil before they get in the tubs. Thankfully she hasn’t had too much drama with regards to that in her profession.
When the baby tubs were full, Maribel and Emily went to work on Ken’s and Karen’s baths, removing the CCVSes, clothes, and diapers, and placing them in their bath seats. The baths were relaxing to both babies, mommy, and the little helper. Just a month ago, the infant couple were always nervous about being in water when they couldn’t sit up. After they were clean and rinsed, Maribel took out a the cup with the pour spout and dribbled warm water on their tummies, chest, head, and after leaning them forward: their upper backs, all the while watching the infants let out loads of cackles and giggles. She also used the watering can in the same manner as before, as it had a shower head on the spout and got similar results from the infants. Then, Emily and Maribel got them dry, put clean diapers on them, and got their footed sleepers on. Ken’s was pale with Yosemite Sam on the front. To Ken, this was still funny that Disney’s logo was on the tag, even though it had been two decades since Disney bought Warner Brothers. Karen’s sleeper was white with patterned pink hearts and flowers. It was noticeably funny to her how footed sleepers for 4-month-olds had treads on the bottoms of the feet, even though they were a long way from being used for walking.
Maribel got ready in her own Cinderella print night gown and laid out her sleep mat and blanket in the nursery. She was going to spend the night in the infants’ room. Ken and Karen each got a bottle prepared by Maribel. Then, Maribel grabbed her tablet and a watch, and said goodnight to Ms. T. and her two fellow regenerates, shortly before the lights went out. Ken was puzzled why there wasn’t a glow by the tablet which he presumed she would read before going to sleep herself, and also why did she wait until bedtime to wear a watch?