New Growth (1.4)

As it turns out, I didn't need to go and visit my brother, as he had somehow heard of our place of residence (probably from our mother) and walked in, bold as brass, while I was trying to teach Elliott some more words with flashcards.

I only noticed he had entered the room when Elliott began to giggle 'Geen! Geen!' and point. I assure you, my jaw dropped when I saw my baby brother standing there.

"Hey, big sis. How's it going?" He grinned down at me.

"Orson! You never even told me you had moved here!" I scolded, as Elliott shakily stood up. He laughed.

"You seemed like you were having a lot of fun here, Jules! Anyway, let me introduce my girlfriend, Liberty." He held his hand out to the beautiful woman who had walked in with him.

"It's a pleasure!" she said, smiling at me, and I didn't miss how softly Orson's gaze rested upon her when he thought no one was looking.

"Hey, this must be little Elliott, right?" Orson said, crouching down so he could pick up his nephew. "Dang, you should have brought the kids to visit, Jules! Sophy must be about his age now, too, yeah?"

"Geen?" Elliott asked, and Orson laughed.

"Yeah, little man, I'm green like you. Green as the grass, man!" He booped his nose with one finger. "But man, I've never seen anyone in our family with hair like yours. Looks cute, though, don't you worry."

Elliott stared back at him with a blissful look of incomprehension.

"I'm your uncle, little man. I'm your Uncle Orson. You've got some other aunts and uncles, but I'm the coolest."

Liberty stifled a laugh, turning to me. "I think Elliott's in safe hands, Juliana. I've heard all about you, by the way. You're his bossy big sister, apparently."

She said it in a joking way, and then shook her head. "He calls me bossy, too. I think it's how he shows affection."

"That and dropping water balloons over the bannisters, as I recall." I smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you, although I must admit, he hasn't told me anything about you, really."

"I thought as much. He gets embarrassed being romantic in public. I know he told your mother, though. We've talked on the phone. She's a lovely lady, isn't she?"

I decided then and there that Liberty, with her peaceful nature, was exactly the sort of girl who suited Orson down to the ground. I liked her immensely.

"Does he still kick his socks off in the living room?" I asked, in a whisper.

"Not if I can help it!" she whispered back, eyes sparkling.

We chatted while Orson and Elliott played about with the flashcards, until Liberty nibbled her lip, nervous.

"We've actually got some news for you, Juliana. Orson and I...well, I'm pregnant, and we wanted to let you know that you'll be an aunt." Her eyes met mine, apprehensively.

I let out a shriek of joy. "You're going to have a baby? Oh, Liberty, I'm so pleased for you! Oh, that's wonderful!"

She shyly placed my hand on her stomach. "I'm only four months in, only just, but the baby's starting to move."

I rested my hands gently there, and thought I felt a very faint something, but couldn't feel much more. Liberty flushed.

"The baby...they really only move a lot when it isn't the time for it, you know? Late at night, early in the morning, when I try to relax..."

"Oh, Elliott was quite a quiet baby, but he had his moments, I assure you. I think it's just in the nature of babies. But I'll see if I can find you some nice baby clothes, if that's alright?"

She smiled widely, as though I'd offered her a million dollars. "Of course! Thank you so much!"

"That'd be really great, sis." Orson stood up, and Liberty immediately switched places with him, carefully sitting on a chair so she could pay attention to Elliott.

"Oh? What would have been really great would have been letting me know where you were, Oz. I could have helped with the move, couldn't I?"

He hugged me tightly. "Oh, shut up, Jules. I missed you, you know?"

I laughed, and hugged him back just as tightly. "I missed you too, Oz, you stupid head."

They had to go soon after, of course - but not before I got their phone numbers, so me and Liberty have been texting back and forth for the past couple of days. We're starting to be really good friends! She's told me that for a girl, they've picked out Ceres, Lobelia, and Primrose, and for a boy, Orsino (of course), Alexander, or Toby. I can't wait!

And things are starting to get better with Bella, too, although she's too proud to tell us that she's met someone. Cassandra told me she's been dropped off home by the same guy ten times, and - here's the kicker - he's coming to stay for the weekend this week! So hopefully, that may improve things between Bella and Mortimer.

What can I say? Of course Bella deserves happiness, too.

Juliana

Family (1.3)

It's been a year and a half since I last wrote. Oh, gosh, things have been absolutely manic!

Sara Sophia and Elliott are no longer babies anymore, but toddlers with real personality. For example, Sophy is a very sweet and well behaved little girl, and likes dresses better than trousers. She especially likes bunnies and cats. My little flower is always trying to dress herself in the morning, too!

Elliott is a little clingier, but he always has a smile for everyone he sees. Neither he or Sophy have really progressed beyond 'Mama' and 'Dada' with regards to talking, with the exception of Sophy learning 'geen', which I think is supposed to be 'Green', but they babble frequently to each other, and Elliott always tries to hug his sister clumsily.
He's also inherited his daddy's dark hair, as well as my skin colour!

I made sure to have two brand new high chairs ordered in for the two of them recently, because the battered one they had before was not quite what I'd like for my little sprouts! I always feed them at the same time as each other, to get them used to the concept of mealtimes. It's working well, so far!

Gosh, listen to me! Don't I sound the stereotypical mother! My siblings tease me about it when I email home - but my mother just asks for me to tell her everything, and for more pictures. She is so happy that she has even more grandchildren now! See, my mother has six children, myself included, and while she does have another grandchild, my niece Chloe, she was worrying that Chloe was going to be her only grandchild!

Oh, good heavens! Mortimer has just come back from work, and told me that while he was walking home, he saw that the little cottage in the nearby neighbourhood has become occupied, and that Liberty Lee and a green-skinned man were tending to its garden!

I asked him to describe the man to me, but he couldn't quite. However, I've checked on SimBook and my brother Orson has just moved into Willow Creek! It must be him! He is living in a little place with Liberty Lee, close by - and he didn't even tell me!

Well, I will have to visit him, then! Oh, how can he have done this, without even telling me!

Juliana

Sprouts! (1.2)

Whoops! I didn't mean to mention about my pregnancy in the last episode!

Well, at least I've told Cassie now! Mortimer already knew, of course - he's ecstatic - but Cassie was thrilled to bits. She's promised not to tell her mother yet, or her little brother (Mortimer's going to talk to him about it himself) and she really can't wait for a new sibling!

 I'm also starting to show quite a bit, so it's not unreasonable to tell her, either. She might have guessed. I only hope her mother doesn't find out...

Oh! I never finished writing this! Sorry, it's a few days later, and things have been hectic around here. So much has happened since then! I was, indeed, so busy, I forgot to finish writing this!

A month or so ago, Mortimer brought me into the garden late at night, and kissed me, nervously beginning to tell me about how he loved me, and never wanted to be apart from me, and then knelt down, pulling out a ring from his pocket. Yes, he asked me to marry him!

I was almost crying as he slid the ring onto my finger. We're engaged! I'm so happy! We're going to be married in a couple of years.

Two weeks later, he came to me, worried, and said he had something to confess. He'd submitted papers to an adoption agency a while ago, asking to adopt a child. He wanted, he said, to give a child a chance at being raised right.
I kissed him. How thoughtful was that? I was now going to be a mother to two children!

She arrived the next day, and as we'd already built a nursery, it was waiting for her, as Mortimer had indeed intended. Her name is Sara Sophia Goth-Forrest, and she's simply adorable.

I love her so very much, and I spend a lot of time with her. I want her to feel close to me, no matter what.

Mortimer adores her too, of course. He's always cuddling her, and telling her how she's the most beautiful girl in the entire world. I quite agree with him!

I went into labour about a week after Sara Sophia arrived, and so I'd like to introduce you all to my little beansprout, Elliott! Elliott Goth-Forrest, naturally.

Oh, he's gorgeous! I love him so much. My precious little sapling! (Sara Sophia is my little flower, still!) We'll be redecorating a room into a nursery for Elliott soon enough, but until then, we'll have these two in the same place. Oh, I just adore them. My two babies!

I love being their mother. I hope I get to hear their first words, see them walking for the first time, and be with them forever.

I love Elliott and Sara Sophia with all my heart.

Juliana

Hello, World! (1.1)

Hello, world!

As I'm starting a new life in Willow Creek, I decided to start a life online, too! My name is Juliana Forrest, and as you can probably guess, my last name has its roots in a certain hue of skin.

See, my family have always had green skin, even when we have children! Apparently, we have PlantSim ancestors, according to my mother, who's been researching it. Certainly our ancestor was a woman called Flower-of-the-Forest, which became Forrest over time, I suppose! She apparently emerged from a large glowing tree in a forest, eating fruit that no one had ever seen before...but long story short, all of us have green skin!

This is my partner, Mortimer. Oh, dear, I'm sure some of you recognise him, but I swear, things aren't as they seem! He divorced Bella a little while ago, and I moved to town about a week after. We became friends, he needed a place to stay...and, well, we found we had feelings for each other. I love him, I really do.

He always calls me his little green bean, and I'm not shy to say that his kisses make me melt! I absolutely love him, and he says he will never stop loving me.

While he has a job, I don't exactly have one (my parents give me a very generous allowance!) and so I'm left to amuse myself during the day. I do have a close friend, Alice, and I get along well with Mortimer's daughter Cassie, so either I go to visit her when the coast is clear and Bella-free, or she comes to visit me!

Honestly, I might be expecting, but it feels as though Cassie's already sort of my child. I'm not trying to replace her mother, of course, but oh gosh, she's just such a lovely and kind young woman! I adore the time we spend together, and I try to invite her over as often as I can. Alexander is still unsure of me, but Cassie is always saying how she's glad her dad's found love again. I think she hopes her mother will, as well.

Ciao for now!

Juliana Forrest