#rivervale_lodge

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Gerd blinks "Wow.. how can such a little guy.."

"nononono... shhh..."

After a few false starts, she picks him up.

They like to be jiggled, right?

"No no.. no shaking..." Gerd says "That's bad. "

Bouncing!

Pacing.

Footsteps...

"No, no, no... shhh...." Is... is _Dagmar crying?

"Hey, not your fault. we.." gerd says

"Shh, baby, shh, it's okay... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Jaymes comes in "Not your fault. Babies cry."

"I.. he's crying..." Bounce bounce bounce.

"I got him.. let him cry on me" Jaymes says taking the baby gently "There we go... see, he's not getting any quieter, so it doesn't matter who carries him. It's my turn to get an earful. mmm?"

Dag shrinks back and nods.

Jaymes nods "You did well" He assures "I couldn't get him to stop fussing either earlier.. I'll check his diaper and see how he is doing for food if need be. T here's bottled breast milk at our house"

"Should I... should I get someone?"

"No no.. I'm good. he'll.. be okay. " Jaymes with his free hand, as he does bounce the baby lightly as well, touches his daughter's hair "He likes you. You're good with him"

"But he's crying..." DIstressed.

"Yes, " jayems says matter of factly, bouncing still , "They do that... all you can do is go through mental check list of why he might be crying. Dirty diaper, Is he hot? Cold? Hungry? I am told that's a big one, hungry. It's frustrating because that's the only way he lets you know something is wrong, and sometimes.." patting on the back "There's nothing wrong. Just the world is big. And new and confusion."

CJ gives a baby burp!

And his crying eases.

Gerd says "Gas. Huh, you were right to give him a little bouncing, " Gerd looks to Dagmar

"...oh..."

"Yes. " the baby fusses

"Yo uwant to hold him again? Tell him there's no hard feelings but he worried you?" Her father offers

"I... i dunno..."

"He's happy now."

"He's still fussing a bit actually," Jaymes observes "But that's better than crying. You can go and play if you want? Get yourself something to eat. Or you can stay here with the baby and me.. I don't mind "

Gerd says "He SMELLS good, is that weird?"

Jaymes sniffs, then nods "yes."

"I.. uh..." Frown.

Jaymes tils his head at his daughter ("It's okay. Won't judge whatever you say")

"I'll... I'll go..." Retreat!

Gerd follows "Hey? You do know he wasn't banishing you right?" She heads to the kitchen "Come on. I'll cook something for us. Oh wait.. what am I saying.. we'rep robably SWAMPED with food. So many dropping things off"

"I know. Just... I dunno.. I'm not good with babies..."

"You kidding? You're great!" Gerd says .." Your'e Gwydion..check it for truth. You're great. You're gentle, and protective, and attentive. Your dad said it. Sometimes babies cry"

By this time, Kerri and Tove have likely gotten back to the Lodge.

And Kerri catches Gerd's last sentence. "Baby's have to cry. It's how their lungs develop."

"Mmm..." Uncertain.

Tove nods "Yes... and I'm hoping I can sucker him into learning to sing so, strong lungsare good"

"Well, singing to him is as important as reading to him, or just speaking to him."

"Your father's up there with him now?"

Gerd looks out "God, someone brought in another pie while the kitchen was empty"

She bites on her lip and nods. "Yeah. He's got the baby."

"Stopped the crying..." Guilt.

Tove says "Oh honey, the baby wasn't crying because of you. I am sure of it. "

"He had gas."

"Remember what I said, Dagmar? Not to take it personally? I know it's hard...but he wasn't crying because of you. He was crying because sometimes baby's need to cry."