[PLOT] Back To The New Normal (Tirzah, Rhoea, Menahem, tots)

[Menelie]

Mene

A season or so had passed since the four infants had come into the world. Everyone had settled into routines. The babies were growing like weeds, and it seemed that every day they were up to something new. Nurit still didn't want to sleep unless she was snuggled up with one of her parents, which had necessitated the creation of a wrapped carrier which meant one of them could carry her around, snuggly and safe, without having to hold her in their arms all the time. Ziv had become an expert at breaking out of even the tightest swaddle, and as he'd begun to roll, sit, and otherwise move, they'd mostly quit bothering to swaddle him in the first place. Most exciting, however, was the babies' ability to begin to eat pureed fruit and vegetables, as well as drink water. Nobody was a bigger cheerleader for the children at mealtimes than Menahem.

The change happened while he was sleeping. As the children were able to keep their bellies full for longer, their parents were able to resume a somewhat-normal sleep schedule, although they rotated who would be responsible for getting up with children in the night. This particular night had been Mena's turn, and so he was able to sleep in while Rho and Tirzah woke and went about their day. It was partway between the breakfast and noon meals when he awoke. He stretched his arms over his head and rubbed his face with his hands. He felt particularly well-rested, which was odd given that he'd been up at least 5 times during the night. He started to sit up, but then lost his balance and fell backward onto his pillow. "The ******** sat up again, this time using one leg for leverage, and now he realized he felt very different. Not strange. But different. Wait a minute~

Menahem burst out into the living space where Rho and Tirzah were with a joyful whoop.

 

[Menelie]

Dai

The days and weeks since their little bundles of joy - and absolute chaos - had come into the world all seemed to blend together after some time. The fatigue had faded actually rather quickly once they'd determined a sleeping rotation, and their respective workplaces had all been more than accommodating for the new parents. A little wary, perhaps, but accommodating. As they were taking more produce in their meals, soon the four would be old enough to be left at the nursery while the adults transitioned to their old workloads.

They were waiting on one key indicator - one small, yet substantial change - before continuing to this stage in their lives. A change that would show the babies were old enough, that they were capable of living without their mothers' milk.

They waited for the day Mena was once again male.

Rho was sat at the table, speaking sweet nothings to Tirzah (or other sorts of trivial, everyday topics) as he drank from a cup of infused water. Irit was on the ground nearby with her siblings - she became fussy whenever she was separated from them - while Chaim seemed to enjoy riling up his brother to no good. Now that they had begun gaining more mobility... it was certainly becoming troublesome. At Mena's whoop - curiously nostalgic, yet strange in tone - Rho glanced over to over a wave and "Good morning" before turning to continuing his conversation. Except he didn't. He did a whole-a** double-take and looked back at Mena with distinct surprise plastered aaaaaaaaall over his expression.

Mene

"I'm me again!" cried Mena. He was practically beside himself and didn't know how to act. He did a little dance around the room. He had missed this form, to be ******** sure, but it had been hard to articulate just how much until this moment. It was all the little things, like the way his voice sounded and how his weight sat on his hooves when he stood or walked. "It's a very good morning! Earthmother's hooves, I've missed feeling like this."

Tirzah found herself smiling--Mena's joy was contagious--and blushing just a bit. He'd certainly made an attractive female, but it was definitely good to see him as himself again. She giggled at Rho. "Rho, your face," she said, nudging him a little. She made a little cheering motion at Mena. "Welcome back, darling," she said, smiling warmly with a little laugh. "We should do something special to celebrate today!"

Mena scooped up Ziv from where he was playing with his siblings and snuggled him to his chest. And when the little guy put his arms around his neck? That was a level of parent feels he'd so far had yet to experience. "Hey, little man," he said softly, his earlier jubilance softening into quiet joy. Was this how Tirzah and Rho had been feeling the whole time? He glanced back over to them, eyes a little wet.

 

[Menelie]

Dai

Internally, Rho paid respects to Mena's wonderful female form that he was likely to never get to experience again.

So long, boyish curves. It was fun.

Having done his internal due diligence in his internal monologuing, he solemnly nodded to himself before returning to the situation at hand. He grinned as he switched mental gears. "Bruh, have your gains changed from seasons ago, or what?"

Seemed some things never changed.

Chaim looked up aghast as his brother was picked up without him by someone who looked very similar to one of his moms, not quite old enough to recognize them as the same person. He stomped his little hooves in place and pouted.

Mene

Tirzah hid a snorty giggle behind one hand, watching Rho's facial expressions change. Poor guy.

Mena looked down at Chaim, then over to Rho, and back at Chaim. "Uh," he started. "Yeah, no, I gotta get back at lifting," he said, then lifted Ziv above his head as a joke. "Actually that kinda works." He did it a few more times.

Ziv giggled, delighted at this game. For his part, he was vaguely aware that his "mama" didn't look quite right but he smelled the same.

Nurit, jealous, crawled over to Mena and whined, holding her hands up.

Mena looked down at Chaim and Nurit. "You guys wanna play too?" He sat down, cross-legged, in front of them, and then alternated hoisting them into the air, tossing them up so they left his hands for only a second, then catching them. "Irit? You want to play?" he asked, holding one arm out to her.

Tirzah put one hand on her heart and touched Rho's arm gently with her other hand. This was the happiest she'd seen Mena in seasons.

 

[Menelie]

Dai

"Guess we'll have to get back to it, yeah? Get some meat back on those bones... I've been slackin' too much recently too." The challenges of child rearing had eaten away at some of his swole hours. Especially if they could start sending the kids to the nursery, why, they'd be able to work out! Take back some of that bro-bonding time and stuff.

Chaim jumped once in place while pouting once Ziv continued to get more attention, little puffs of frustration practically flowing off him. Not fair! Not fair!

The following bit of attention quickly satiated the boy, who may have wiggled a bit enthusiastically, arms and legs extended, each time he was prepared for 'liftoff.'

Irit had been slightly distracted playing with her toy 'doll' (blanket) sewn by auntie when she heard her name and turned around to see everyone was over there now, not over here. Oh no! She pouted and picked up her blankie and running over, but stumbled over her hooves (seemed she didn't have them quite under her yet) and ran into Mena's side as she approached.

Rho looked over at Tirzah when prompted and softened, warmed, his smile as he read her expressions. Yeah, Mena really did have his old vibe about him, now didn't he?

Mene

Mena had a little system going now where he rotated through the kids, tossing then, catching them, setting them down, picking up the next one. He wasn't watching his surroundings, instead focused on not dropping the toddlers, and so when Irit bonked into him he lost his balance a little and fumbled Ziv. He didn't drop him at any point, but the result wound up being Ziv and Irit clonking heads. "Oop!" Exclaimed Mena, swiftly lifting Ziv up and away. "Everyone OK?"

Tirzah stood up and had started to move to where everyone was. She took Ziv, who had started to cry, and cuddled him to her shoulder so that Mena could handle Irit.

 

[Menelie]

Dai

Irit, after taking a hit to the side of her head, fell squarely on her tush and blinked in astonishment before quickly starting to tear up and then cry.

Chaim glanced to his crying brother, then crying sister, before beginning to join in the screaming. He wasn't sad or hurt, and tears didn't fall down his cheeks. He was mostly making noise for the sake of making noise with his siblings. Aren't kids wonderful?

Rho stood up a couple seconds after Tirzah to go help with the chaos that had quickly started unfolding by reaching down to pick up Irit and start rocking her. Goodness gracious. He glanced down at Mena and shrugged.

Mene

Mena squinted at Chaim. He was...pretty sure he hadn't also bonked him, but here he was crying. Mena shifted to a sitting cross-legged position and turned his attention to Chaim. "Son, are you hurt?" He asked, moving to pull him into his lap.

Nurit, however, had seen the opportunity and taken it, and had sat down in Mena's lap before he could put Chaim there. She put her hands on her ears. Why was everyone crying?

Tirzah made comforting shh-ing noises to the whole group, then began to sing. It was a simple song in praise of Artemis, one of like 3 songs in total that she knew, and one she had sung often as a lullaby to the children. It wasn't quite naptime but it seemed like maybe an early nap wouldn't be terrible. At least maybe the song would calm them.

Mena shrugged up at Rho, one arm curling around Nurit instinctively. He was still reaching out to Chaim. There was room for both.

 

[Menelie]

Dai

Chaim, still not crying but def still screaming, looked over at Mena and shook his head no but didn't stop with the noise. Aren't children wonderful? That said, as Tirzah's tune started cutting through the mayhem, he quieted down to go sit on Mena's lap. That song meant nap nap, and Chaim likes his nap naps.

Irit's crying started to quiet down to little sniffles and she nuzzled into Rho's chest.

Mene

Having plenty of room for both children, Mena lifted Chaim into his lap next to Nurit, putting an arm around both of them. He rubbed their backs in small circles.

Tirzah kept singing as Ziv quieted down, dropping off to sleep almost immediately. He'd always been an easy sleeper.

Nurit had no interest in napping but she was happy to cuddle with her dad and brother.

After it seemed everyone had settled down, Mena continued in a gentle voice. "I want to cook something for us," he said, already putting together a menu.