Snow cooed from her crib, announcing that she was awake. She didn’t usually cry unless she was made to wait too long. Her hand-made mobile with the wood cutouts of painted animals, from her uncle Mikey held her attention for a while. The hand knitted blanket from Raph had been kicked to the foot of the crib next to the only other item in the crib, her toy stuffed horse from Leonardo. It was kept tucked in the corner at the foot of the bed.
Kicking her feet, Snow continued to coo and gurgle as she waited for someone to come and get her. A smile spread across her face as Donatello’s face came into view and her hand moved up to her mouth. “Ma ma ma,” she managed around her fist.
“Are you hungry?” Donny asked as he lifted his daughter.
Before anything else could be done there was the matter of Snow’s diaper. Donatello took her over to the changing table and got to work making sure she was clean, softly talking to her while he worked. Her chubby legs kicked out and her blue eyes stayed locked on Donny as she continued to suckle her hand. He had to keep one hand on her at all times to keep her from rolling off.
“This would go by faster if you didn’t move so much,” Donny chuckled as he secured the diaper. She gurgled in response around her tiny fist.
Down in the kitchen Donny moved around making Snow’s breakfast while Snow sat in her Bumbo on the floor. She stayed occupied with the few Cheerios Donny had sprinkled on her tray. It took her a few tries to pinch one up with her finger and thumb but once she got a hold on one, she was able to get it to her mouth. Drool dribbled down her chin as she gummed the little oat cereal.
“Da da da,” Snow babbled, reaching her hand out.
Donatello turned to see that Raph had entered the kitchen. With a soft smile, Donny bent down and, after quickly cleaning the tray, picked her up. “That’s right,” Donny whispered to her. “Da da.”
“What?” Raph asked as he opened the refrigerator and pulled out the milk. He then proceeded to open the freezer to give Ice Cream Kitty her morning bowl of milk. “Make sure you drink it all before it freezes up.” The ice cream cat meowed in response and started to drink her breakfast before Raph was done pouring it.
“Nothing,” Donny replied, collecting Snow’s breakfast and heading to the dinning cart. “I was just talking to Snow.”
Donatello wouldn’t say that Snow was a picky eater but she did have a preferred list of foods. Jarred baby food wouldn’t do for her, only freshly mashed fruit and vegetables. Her favorites were bananas mixed with peaches and baby oatmeal and pureed spinach, peas, and rice.
There was a method to feeding her in order to keep the mess to a minimum. If it wasn’t done right, Snow would put her fist in her mouth after each spoon full of food. As a result most of the food would dribble down her arm. To keep this from happening, her bottle had to be placed in her mouth after each bite. She would work the food around her mouth with the formula and swallow it down with little mess.
Donatello lifted another spoon full of the cereal mixture but Snow lifted her open hands and flipped them back and forth. With a slight nod of his head Donatello placed the spoon back into the bowl and started to clean up.
After Snow’s breakfast was done, Donny headed back into the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a bagel. As Don was pouring his coffee, Mikey entered the kitchen. “Let me help you there, Don.”
“Mie, Mie,” Snow giggled as Donny relinquished her to Mikey.
“Be careful,” Donny warned. “She just ate and she hasn’t burped yet, so don’t move her around too much or you’ll end up with a face full of spit up.”
“Got it,” Mikey said and pulled Snow close so he could pat her back. “You’re getting heavy,” Mikey said softly as he gently bounced her. Snow lay comfortably over her uncle’s shoulder while he helped to work the bubble out of her belly.
As Mikey bounced and patted, Donny walked over to place a burp cloth on Mikey’s shoulder, just in case. It was a good thing too because it wasn’t long before a little bit of her breakfast came back up accompanied with a small burp.
Mikey pulled her down off his shoulder and folded the cloth so that he could wipe Snow’s mouth with a clean spot. “Is she safe now?”
“Safer,” Donny chuckled.
Mikey made faces at Snow, eliciting squealing giggles from her while Donny spread cream cheese on a warm bagel. “Mie Mie Mie,” Snow babbled and reached out for Mikey’s face. She managed to grab hold of the dangling ends of Mikey’s mask and pulled.
“Hay!” Mikey exclaimed as his mask shifted over his eyes. “If you wanted to play peekaboo all you had to do was ask.” Reaching up he tried to pry her fingers apart but she kept her hold. “Donny, help! She’s not letting go,” Mikey shrieked.
Laughing, Donny placed his coffee and bagels on the counter. “I’m coming.” He grabbed hold of Snow’s hand and worked her fingers open. “Let it go, sweetie.”
“Ma ma ma,” Snow cooed as she reached for Donny.
Mikey straightened his mask. “I thought all she said was ‘my my my’.”
“She says several things,” Donny smiled. “You just have to listen.” Balancing Snow with one arm, Don collected his coffee and the bagels. “Sorry I won’t be able to enjoy whatever you make for breakfast this morning, Mikey. I’ve got a busy schedule this morning. I’m gonna show Tello around the lab and get him familiar with what I’ve got going. I have a feeling that once he is up to speed, I will have a lot more free time on my hands.”
“Two geniuses working on a project will get finished ten times faster,” Mikey agreed with a nod.
“You’re logic is sound,” Donny winked, taking a sip of his coffee as he turned to leave.
Donny’s next stop was the dojo in search of Tello. Since he was behind in his training, Leonardo had agreed to give Tello extra lessons in the mornings. It didn’t take much to get Leo in the dojo for extra training. Donny knew that Leo was counting down the days to when he could finally start training Snow. He had caught Leo teaching Snow how to throw a punch on more than one occasion.
Don opened the dojo door to find Leo staring in shock. Following Leo’s line of sight, Don saw what could have only been Tello tucked into his shell. Leo looked up at Don and gestured down at Tello. “We can’t do that. How can he do that?”
Shrugging, Donny walked over and looked down at Tello. “Does it hurt?”
Poking his head out, Tello shook his head. “No.” He then slid his arms and legs out and then stood up. “I will admit that it’s a little cramped and hard to breathe but it’s painless.”
“I wish I had a way to take a ct scan of you while you were like that,” Donny admitted.
“Maybe one day,” Tello chuckled.
“Are you ready?” Donny asked. Then holding out the bagels he added, “I’ve got breakfast. There are several things I want to go over with you before I will feel comfortable with you working in the lab. It’s not that I don’t trust you or think you aren’t smart enough to figure things out. It’s just that I am particular about a few things.”
“I understand,” Tello nodded. “I’m the same way.”
Donny smiled as he handed Snow over to Leo. “I have already cleared a spot out for you so that you will have your own space. It’s a system Leatherhead and I have worked out. I have my work station and projects, he has his, and we have our team projects.”
“I can’t wait to get back to work,” Tello admitted as they made their way out of the dojo.
“I guess it’s just you and me now,” Leo said to Snow.
“Le Le,” She said with a giggle and a smile.
“What shall we do?” Leo smiled back, tickling her belly. “How about I tell you a story? I’ve got a great one about and honorable warrior who practiced bushido.” He continued to speak in a soft even tone as he sat on the floor, holding Snow down in his lap so she could look up at him.
Snow loved to hear her uncle Leo’s voice and her eyes stayed fixed on his lips as he formed his words. Sometimes she would babble as if she was trying to repeat what Leo had said. He was telling her the story of how Usagi had come to Splinter’s aid when Drako had attacked out of jealousy.
As Leo told the story, Splinter joined them in the dojo. “You tell that story better than I ever have.” He sat down next to Leo and smiled down at Snow.
“It is a good story, father,” Leo replied.
Snow reached out to Splinter as he came into her view. “Ji Ji”
Splinter lifted his hand so Snow could grab hold of Splinter’s finger. Tilting his head to the side, Leo considered Snow before looking at Splinter. “That strange. Earlier it sounded like she was saying ‘Le’ but now it sounds like she’s saying ‘Ji’.”
“That’s because I am her OJisan,” Splinter replied, shaking the finger Snow was holding as he continued to look down at his granddaughter. “Donatello has been showing her pictures of our family and teaching her our names. She said ‘Le’ for you because she is trying to say ‘Leo’.”
“Oh,” Leo looked back down at Snow. “I had no idea.”
“He is also teaching her baby sign language,” Splinter continued. “She is a smart girl and is picking up on it fast.”
“Maybe she is ready for some training,” Leo joked, leaning in close to give her Eskimo kisses.
“At least wait until she is walking,” Leatherhead chuckled as he entered the dojo. “I’m sorry if I am interrupting anything but Donatello told me that I would find Snow in here with you. After breakfast we are going to have some tummy time.”
“Pa Pa,” Snow shrieked in joy, kicking her feet. Her pinky and thumb were stuck out from each fist and she flipped her hands back and forth.
“Yes, Snow.” Leatherhead leaned down to pick her up. “We are going to play after I get something to eat.” She cooed in delight and kicked her legs, repeating “Pa Pa” over and over.
“Breakfast!” Mikey bellowed from the kitchen.
“It was Michelangelo’s turn to cook?” Leatherhead asked, turning towards the door.
“Yes,” Leo answered as he stood up. He then turned to help Splinter stand.
Leatherhead chuckled softly. “That explains why Donatello chose today to introduce Tello to the lab.” He looked down at Snow in his arms. “Mama has grown tired of scrambled eggs. That seemed to be the only breakfast food they could make at the Foot headquarters. Mama likes things sweet.”
Leo laughed as he led the way out of the dojo. “I promise not to tell Mikey the truth.”
