#rootedpixels

After Dinner

She didn't waste any time.

Dishes were barely dry, work clothes swapped for something comfortable, and Alyssa already had her phone out. "Kaylee. I need a vacation. Come over." Micah planted that seed at dinner and it grew faster than he expected. 😏

Kaylee Willoughby did not hesitate. 🚪

Kaylee started, "Ok so where are we thinking? Because I already have ideas."

Alyssa sat next to her eager to say hers, "Del Sol Valley or Sulani. I'm leaning Del Sol. Clean, beautiful, I already know what to expect."

Kaylee stared at her. "Alyssa. That is not a vacation. You basically described a work trip with better lighting."

"I described a relaxing trip." Alyssa countered.

"You described somewhere you've already researched to death." Kaylee leaned forward. "What about Tomarang?"

Alyssa blinked. "Tomarang."

"Yes! It's gorgeous, it's different. I heard the food is amazing, and the culture-"

"I don't do unfamiliar, Kaylee. I like knowing what I'm walking into. What about Sulani then? At least it has-"

"Alyssa."

"What!"

And then from across the room, completely unsolicited...

"She's right, you know."

Alyssa turned slowly. "Nobody asked you, Micah."

"I know. I'm volunteering." He spread his hands out like he was presenting a lecture. "You planned this whole house. You planned Aleah's childhood before she could sit up straight. Just let somebody else pick one thing, baby. One." 🤷🏾‍♂️

She hated that he had a point. They both did. She looked at Kaylee.

Kaylee looked back at her with that face that said live a little.

"...Okay..okay. Tomarang it is." Alyssa conceded. "But I still get to plan the itinerary." she smiled at that.

Mommy's not home, and these two are making the most of every second. 😏

Micah liked to use the rare moments they had to themselves to let Aleah just be wild. No schedule, no milestones, no rules. Just Daddy matching her chaotic energy until one of them tapped out first.

Spoiler: it was never Aleah. 😂🏃‍♀️💨

"Ok Aleah. Mommy's walking up. We gotta act normal." 😐😐

"Hey loves, what y'all been up to?"

Micah didn't even make eye contact. He was already moving. "Just practicing basic shapes, dear. Excuse me, I really gotta get to the bathroom, been holding it." 🚶💨🚽

Gone before she could even process it. 😂

She saw them through the window when she walked up. 👀

The tumbling, the shrieking, the absolute chaos. She saw all of it.

But Alyssa didn't say a word as she chopped the onions, preparing to make spaghetti. Because as much as she hated to admit it, she knew her baby. Aleah had energy that no schedule could fully contain, and Micah was at least doing something with it.

She wasn't going to bring it up right now. Dinner first. 🍝

Dinner for 3. 🖤

Remember when this girl was eating alone at that table? 🥹 Look at her now. Husband. Baby. Full course meal. Even if she had to steal someone else's man to get here. 💀

Wait. WAIT. 👀

Is Aleah... eating? With a spork? And not digging in the spaghetti with her hands?? And not a single piece of food on the floor?! Good Girl!! 👏🏽

"Micah, you have got to stop roughhousing her so much. I don't want her turning into a little tomboy. I have plans for her to-"

"I know exactly what you have planned for Aleah, Alyssa."

He said it calm, no edge to it. Just honest.

"But a baby who's never allowed to just run and explore and be a little wild? That rigidness is going to backfire on you. She needs room to breathe, not just room to perform." He looked at her steady. "I think you need a mommy vacation. Let me have my daughter for a few days."

She wanted to say absolutely not. The word was right there.

But she stopped herself. Because Micah wasn't just her husband, he was a university professor. The man understood development, growth, how minds form. He wasn't saying it to undermine her. He was saying it because he meant it.

And maybe... maybe she did need it. Because when Aleah becomes a child, Alyssa has so much ahead for her. She needed to show up sharp for that season, not burned out.

Happy Birthday Aleah!!🥳

Playing peacefully with her blocks...

Until Micah approaches her wanting to potty train her.

Arrival in Tomarang 🌴

Lush didn't cover it. Neither did beautiful. The jungle pressed right up to the edge of the island like it refused to be tamed, all deep greens and bursts of color. The air smelled different here. Felt different. Alyssa had seen Del Sol Valley's glamour and Sulani's beaches, but this? This was something else entirely.

They'd rented a two-bedroom vacation home with a small pool for their stay. Their luggage hadn't even made it inside yet. They just sat out front soaking it in.

"Okay," Alyssa said finally, eyes scanning the view. "You were right. I'll give you that. Tomarang is goregous."

Kaylee grinned. "Say it louder."

"Don't push it." 😄

Back in Willow Creek 🏡

Call from Alyssa 📲

"Glad you made it safe, babe… yes, of course I'd love for us to come together sometime… yes, I remembered…" Micah knew his wife was running through a mental checklist, making sure everything was still standing in her absence. He let her finish before cutting in. "It's only been a few hours, babe. Relax. Go enjoy yourself. We're good over here."

Aleah was in her room playing when Micah came up to check on her.

The second she spotted him, the toys hit the floor. She reached up for a hug with both arms and the guilt from that morning's breakfast reprimand hit him all over again.

"It's just you and me baby girl. What does Aleah wanna do?" Anything to see her smile.

"Outside, Daddy!" She didn't have to say it twice. 🧸

Foundry Cove Playground 🛝

The second they hit the playground Aleah squirmed in his arms. "Daddy, I'm big gworl. Pwut me down." She hated being carried.

Micah set her on her feet and laughed, like actually laughed, "Okay, big gworl. Can you go play while Daddy gets some work done? I'll be right over here." He pointed toward the picnic table. "Daddy's watching." 👀

She was gone before he finished the sentence. 💨

He glanced up from his laptop and had to look twice.

She made it to the top already. 🥹

"I ON TOP DA WHOLE WORLD!!" 🙌🏽

The rest of the pictures are just shots of Aleah interacting at the playground.

Hums to herself.

Tosses sand. "Weeeeeeee!"

Pat pat pat

Little sand artist.

I don't play with toddlers enough in this game. I had no idea they could build such extraordinary sand sculptures for their age. 🤔

Making friends.

"My daddy kick mommy out to Tommy Gang." (Tomarang)

The morning of the trip. 🍂

Bags by the door. Kaylee already texting "are you ready yet?"

And Alyssa was in the kitchen. Because she wasn't leaving until she knew her people were going to be straight while she was gone. Meals prepped, breakfast made, everybody fed. THEN she could go. 😏🍳

"Babe."

She kept stirring.

"Alyssa. You are technically on vacation right now. You don't have to do all of this. I know how to feed us."

She raised an eyebrow without looking up.

"I make an excellent peanut butter and jelly sandwich." He paused. "...Sometimes." 😂

She didn't respond. She just turned up the heat. The flame shot up in the pan like she planned it and honestly she probably did. 🔥

Micah stared at it for a full second.

"Ok...ok chef. I see you." He took a small step back. "Maybe one or two meals wouldn't hurt actually."

She made a full spread. Before she sat down she made sure her baby was settled in, locked and loaded.

Aleah looked at that plate like it personally called her name. 👀

The last breakfast together before mommy's big trip. 🧇🍓

She looked at that plate real peaceful like. 🥹 Nobody was worried yet.

And then something shifted. 👀 Her little arms swung back ready to launch the plate. Aleah Bennet had DECIDED that breakfast was now a sport. 😂 The plate crashed to the floor sending food everywhere.

Alyssa took one look and, "No ma'am! We are NOT throwing food on the fl-"

"Alyssa." Micah's voice came in calm and even. "You're on vacation. I got this."

He turned to Aleah.

"Aleah Bennet. You put your hands in your lap. Right now. We do not waste food in this house and we do not throw things that mommy worked hard to make. Do you understand me?"

He held the look.

Not loud. Not angry. Just... final. 😐

Okay one more relight pic, but idk if im going to use relight for every legacy post but we'll see.

Aleah has a schedule. Micah has a schedule too. 😌

Alyssa makes sure of it.

Testing relight and I love it, im just scared to adjust it because I don't know what im doing.

Micah has it pretty easy as a father, and he knows it. 😌

When he's not working or upskilling, he's right here couch, remote, no complaints. He steps in when Alyssa truly needs the rest, but that's about as far as it goes. Not because he's a bad father. Honestly? He can be a great one. But Alyssa has a system, and that system doesn't really have a co-pilot seat. 👶📋

Aleah is on a strict schedule. Every milestone mapped out, every moment intentional. Alyssa believes if something's going to be done right, she's the one to do it, because in this family, appearances matter and excellence isn't optional.

So Micah does what any wise man does. 🛋️

He lets her run her motherhood her way.

🚽💦Aleah splashing in the toilet like she at the pool, and never been yet.

Aleah is a messy baby period. She's defiant. Throws her food on the floor. And abuses her teddy bear. (Which I didn't know, she could learn how to talk that way?? She gained the communication skill very quickly by hitting. 😫) I still adore the heck out of her little bad self.

She will be the heir and an only child. Let me give you the rundown of her generation. Once again this challenge is by @oshinsimblr:

THE SPIRAL

You live fast and messy, free from rules or expectations. Jobs come and go, romances flare and crash, and stability feels like a foreign concept. You had an amicable divorce, but love isn’t your priority - your children distrust everyone you meet. You focus on friendship, sharing laughter, gossip, and quiet afternoons sipping nectar with your two besties. You’ve created a life full of connection, just not the kind anyone expected.

Traits: Clumsy, Noncommittal, Slob

Aspiration: Romantic Explorer 

Secondary Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Career: Culinary (Caterer Level 3) > Social Media (Clickbait Writer Level 3) > Romance Consultant (Level 8+)

Hobbies: Mixology, Dancing, Watching Telenovelas (Lovestruck EP), Napping

Children: 4

Generation 2 is giving me Naomi phase 1 vibes. 🤔 If you would like a reminder of what generation 1 parameters were: