Susan Estmore enjoys motherhood more than she initially expected, not like she wasn't expecting to not enjoy it but rather her love for her son just goes so deep. Seeing his adorable little face when he wakes up or seeing his sleepy little eyes before bed. It's rewarding in a way that before motherhood Susan wouldn't have been able to understand. Michael also makes it so very easy to love him, also like his momma he seems to love creative activities.
Susan goes into labor in the night, the house filling with her power, effort and pain. Similarly to her first labor, the result is twins which surprises both Nathaniel and Susan again. Thankfully, Susan's body is strong and they lovingly adore their two ginger twins. The eldest, the boy, they name Simon Nathaniel (Nathaniel after his older brother, Michael's twin who passed). Then the adorable little girl, their first daughter, they name Julia Victoria. Unfortunately little Simon isn't meant for this world.
Nathaniel and his wife have very different responses to the loss of their newborn son, their second child they've lost. Nathaniel feels it deeply while Susan feels rather detached from the event, rather focused on their daughter. She doesn't have any reaction at all in the truest of senses and goes fully deep into taking care of Julia. They've had twins before and in both cases one didn't make it so maybe she expected it but I think the true reality is that she just wants to focus on the positive which is her healthy daughter.
With time, the couple return to their normal and usual levels of intimacy. They really do have a deep love for each other and it is when they're in bed together their connection feels so human and easy. They really are so blessed and feel as such despite the losses of Nathaniel Jr. and Simon.
The Estmores live a relatively calm and domestic life, Nathaniel and Susan in a true partnership of friendship and love. Both adoring their two children and they spend much of their time focused on them. Little Julia is growing and will become a toddler soon and the same goes for Michael with becoming a child. Time just goes by far too fast.
The Brays come over to visit especially as William and Nathaniel are friends and hoped their wives would get along. Their hopes did not work out as it seems that Barbara can't tolerate Susan which does hurt Susan but she remains solid while the guests are still over. William and Nathaniel make the wise choice to ignore the issues of their wives and have a good time conversing with one another.
Michael Joseph Estmore ages up into an adorable little lad and gains the Lucky trait! As the family's heir he will inherit the Orchard one day but for now his parents are set on him living a rather idyllic youth full of fun, curiosity and love. Overall his parents hope that Michael continues to flourish into the man he is meant to be, a man like his father. Kind, loving, protective and providing.
Nathaniel despite all the happiness in his life cannot move past the loss of Simon. His second child lost...it doesn't help either that Susan just seems so unemotional about the whole event. While he wants to be there to help his wife, he himself is struggling with the loss. There are many things to be fortunate about, but it doesn't make his pain go away. None of it is made any easier when something as precious as a child is involved. He just feels so alone and wishes he had someone to turn to about his feelings.
Susan one night while dealing with fussy Julia has the realization that she is with child again. Life has just been so busy with the kids that she hasn't even been keeping track of her cycle but the news positively shocks her. She would love to expand their family, motherhood really has been such a privilege for her and she didn't expect to feel so fulfilled. Nathaniel seems rather neutral about the news which does disappoint Susan but she decides to keep herself moving and not focused on his reaction.
The most beautiful Julia Victoria Estmore ages up into quite an adorable toddler. Looking so much like her mother, the little girl is quite loved by all of her family. The event only serves as a reminder to Nathaniel that her twin is not by her side, but he tries to stay happy especially as this is a special day.
Michael is quite literally the most precious and easy of children. Most of his time at home can be found with him playing or reading books. He makes both of his parents proud and lives a rather family-centered life, not having much of a care for making friends or focusing on school. His natural luck is beginning to show in most of his interactions, he doesn't know it but his parents hope to eventually be able to buy him an instrument as he does seem to love music of any kind.
Susan and Nathaniel feel very blessed to have two wonderful children. Julia Victoria occupying most of their attention when their son is at school. They focus on teaching her all the skills that a child should learn such as talking, walking, the potty and even reading. The Estmore children are most certainly blessed to have two involved and such loving parents, hopefully this good foundation will carry them into a good adulthood.
The arrival of spring to the Estmore household brings a lot of joy to the whole Estmore household. This means that soon it will be the season for harvesting which will hopefully elevate the whole family into achieving their dreams. There is a lot riding on the success of the business once summer begins, but Michael as a child has yet to fully grasp that reality. His excitement for spring is related to playing outside and no longer feeling cold at every moment.
With spring comes the arrival of many of nature's youngins including the newest youngin' of the Estmore household. In her easiest of labors, Susan delievers her first singleton much to Nathaniel's relief. They name the precious girl, Martha Diane Estmore. Three healthy children is certainly such a blessing and one that Nathaniel and Susan don't ignore.
Time just seems to fly the whole household by, Susan and Nathaniel just can't believe how busy and fast life goes. Having three children at three different lifestages certainly is quite the task yet somehow it feels easy to both of them. It's their partnership and strong love for all their children that keeps them going. Truly they've never been happier ever before, in their children there is so much hope and urge for love. Also they love the quiet moments they have with Michael once the girls are asleep, often those moments are of Susan painting, Nathaniel reading and Michael working on his schoolwork.
One night it seems that something clicks within Susan and she begins to cry and think about the loss of Simon. A loss she hadn't really taken much time to even process. It's overwhelming, the sense of guilt and pain she feels especially as she sits with the thought of not grieving him before makes her a bad mother. It is a bad night for Susan...
Following her emotional reckoning, there seems to be a change in Susan that goes noticed by both husband and son. Michael in particular wants to make his mother feel better and the way he knows how to do that is by spending time with her. The two have a rather fun and intimate evening of dancing and lots of affection, Michael then asks his mother to paint a portrait of him. Putting Susan to the easel is a move that Michael knew would make his mother feel better and he is glad when he can notice that it worked.
The love between Nathaniel and Susan is burning ever stronger. They're happy and content in life, sure there are areas that need work but all they care about is their children. Seeing their children smile, hearing the giggles, feeling the warmth and embracing the chaos is key to these two.
When his parents are asleep, Michael feels called to try to do a painting of his own. The artistic skill and creativity of his mother certainly has passed onto him and it's in these moments that Michael finds a sense of calm. The rotation ends with his painting and a reminder that the Estmores are seriously such a cute family!
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