First Steps

"That's the wrong button."

"Thanks, Carrots, I think I figured that out."

"Well, then why did you press it?"

"I was experimenting!"

"Look, this is the 'Record' button – no, Nick – it's the only red one!"

"Hey, it's my new phone, can I be the one to figure things out?"

"Can I be the one to figure things out?'" Judy mocked, imitating Nick's voice dramatically.

Nick stopped fidgeting with his new cellphone and fixed her with an annoyed yet amused expression.

"Are you done?" he laughed.

"Not really," Judy grinned.

It was late at night, and the couple sat on the carpeted floor of their bedroom, both in comfortable clothes with warm cups of tea in paws. Nick was in the process of setting up his new phone, while Judy entertained the children. Now ten months old, the children spent the majority of their time babbling incoherently. Red and Robin were wrestling and screeching at one another, as Violet watched and cheered with interest, and Alan sat in Judy's lap, cuddling close to her.

"Alright, I think I've got this all figured out," Nick announced after a few moments.

"It's a nice phone," Judy commented.

"The camera is amazing – here, look," Nick said as he leaned forward and showed Judy the image.

Judy nodded thoughtfully as she examined the screen.

"Now, you can record the kids' first steps and it will look amazing."

"I didn't even think about that," Nick smiled.

He closed the camera and clicked the phone off, then looked up at Judy.

"Hey, where's Alan?"

"Huh?"

Judy looked down and saw that the small ball of grey fur that had been curled up in her lap was now gone. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Alan?"

At the sound of Violet squealing with glee, the couple looked up and saw Alan toddling unsteadily across the room.

The room immediately filled with chaos.

"Nick, the camera!" Judy called out quickly, hitting Nick on the arm as she said so.

"I got it, I got!" Nick yelled back as he quickly fumbled with the phone, trying to pull up the camera and press record all at once.

Meanwhile, Judy was attempting to goad Alan to walk toward her.

"Nick, hurry!"

"I'm trying!"

"Come here, Baby. Right to Mommy, yes, look at you!"

The phone fell out of Nick's paws more than once, and by the time he had managed to get the phone's camera focused on the toddling grey fox, Alan turned toward them, reached out his slightly chubby paws and giggled.

Then, he sat down on the floor.

"Ah, we missed it!" Nick cried out, throwing his phone to the side, and dramatically throwing himself to the floor. Behind him, Judy was in tears from laughing so hard. Together, the couple laughed until they couldn't breathe.

"At least there are still three more of them," Judy giggled after she had somewhat pulled herself together, now scooping Alan back up into her arms.

Nick rolled over onto his back and looked up at her from the floor, a humorous expression on his face.

"Yeah, and you're responsible for recording it next time."