Dear James [ @mcjamesavoy ] ,

I hope that this package arrived at least close to your birthday. I know that I might have procrastinated on it but we haven’t forgot your birthday. I’m really sad that you and Scarlett aren’t with us in Greece but I know you guys are busy doing the new parent thing with the beautiful little miss.  Bradley and I just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday.

Thank you for always being such a good friend to me through the years. You have always been like a big brother and will always think of you as such.  I thought you might appreciate a little touch of the trip and home.  I got a little tea kettle that will help add some class and charm to your tea sessions and a mug to drink it in. I also got you some sweets that you care share with Scarlett and Sterling.

Best wishes,

Scarlett & James [@manyshadesofscarlett, @mcjamesavoy],

I’m so happy for the two of you! You’re going to be welcoming a little girl into the world and Violet is going to be the luckiest girl in the world because she has the two of you as parents. With having a little girl comes all things cute and frilly — which I might have gone a little overboard with the shopping for clothes for the little angel, but I digress. Baby girl clothes are too cute not to resist and with the amount of times they end up needing to be changed throughout the day you can never go wrong with too many clothes.  And of course, you can never have enough diapers. The little princess has enough diapers to rule the kingdom now. She can also relax in this baby bean bag which has been a lifesaver for Amore and I.

Scarlett, I wish you an easy and fast labor and delivery. Hospitals are always cold and the socks they give you are so uncomfortable so I couldn’t resist these funny socks that are pretty damn comfortable and warm. Take care of yourself afterwards, alright? Remember that a happy mommy also equals a happy baby. 

James, I hope you’re prepared for the trouble that comes with raising a girl. You’re going to have to fight off all the boys wanting to get close to her because we already know she’s going to be absolutely perfect. I have no doubt that you’re going to know what to do but just in case of an emergency, I thought this Daddy Doody kit would save the day.

Congratulations, guys! I can’t wait to see little Violet.

Dear Scarlett and James, [ @manyshadesofscarlett @mcjamesavoy ]

Congratulations on your soon-to-be-arriving princess! I am so happy for you both, and Sterling, that your wonderful little family is going to expand even further. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to celebrate with you today.

I’m not the man with a plan for babies, but I know blankets and onesies are key. These two caught my eye, especially how soft the blanket was, and know that Violet only deserves the finest things in life.

Sleep for you both is also important, so I’m told. I thought maybe this (violet, there’s a theme) butterfly mobile would go nicely in her nursery and potentially serve as something to gaze at before summoning you for her bidding. The woman at the baby store also swore by this aquarium monitor - which has a remote you can turn off and on from your bedroom - and claimed her three kids wouldn’t sleep without it. I also thought it was pretty cute.

The Play-Doh set is actually for Sterling. Although I have no doubt he’ll be a fantastic big brother, I can’t imagine how much of a shift, for him, it’s going to be bringing a new baby into the house. I wanted to get him something that you can work on with him - letters and numbers - to give him some special time with his parents.

The red string is for Violet. It’s an old Romanian tradition when your baby is born that you have them wear a red string around their wrist to ward them from ill thoughts, health problems, general unpleasantness. They’re often kept by the parents after as a sign of gratefulness for their baby’s continued health and prosperity. 

I have no doubt Violet will be as amazing as her parents. So I’ll be expecting her to start making designs on taking over the world by pre-school. 

Congratulations again, both of you. And should you ever need a babysitter... I’ll give you the name of someone qualified.

Love,

Stana was elbow deep in a flowerbed when she heard the dim ringing of her front door bell. She was sweaty, covered in dirt and pretty sure a twig was sticking out of her hair. “Hmpf”, she mumbled to herself tried to find the part of her arm least covered in dirt to wipe some sweat of her brow.

“Coming!” She called. Instead of going back inside, she made her way around the house, arms held up high once she got to the fence. “Hey, sorry, over here!” Arms still up in the air, she stuck her head out over the fence to see an unfamiliar face. Well, not unfamiliar, but not one she had seen before around these parts.

[ BEEP ]