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Deep green eyes, long dark brown curly hair, and long fingers, red rosy cheeks, Montana was a beautiful baby girl. She had long fingers and long feet with little toes. Her cry wasn’t really a cry; it was more of a whimper, just loud enough to let someone know that she needed some attention. Being born at only five pounds even Helena was worried about Montana’s ability to regulate her own body temperature, but with in a few hours, they knew she was a strong and willed child and had no doubts. She had all of her motor skills that a new born should have. Would suck on ones finger and her grip was as stronger than Phoenix’s was at birth.
Phoenix was going to breast feed Montana. She had several reasons for this. Some were the sheer cost of formula, and worrying about keeping bottles warm, and enough formula with her when she went out with her baby. But she had also learned about the amazing health benefits that come from breast feeding to both the mother and the baby. In her birthing class she learned that there is a right way and a wrong way to nurse a child. So she and Montana practiced several times a day and eventually they both learned how to nurse perfectly.
While Phoenix was working at the grocery store she had a 45% off employee discount which she used to buy diapers, so much for saving up for a car. Though Phoenix didn’t know how big Montana would be when she was born, she started buying all sizes of diapers. Though her stock pile was most full of #2 and #3 diapers, no matter what they would be used some time.
Although Montana was a beautiful baby girl, and she didn’t cry loud often, didn’t mean she was a mild child. She was a difficult little girl. If you remember that she was born into a family of “gifted” women, and these gifts did not pass over her. Again recall to when Phoenix was in labor, and everyone was able to know her thoughts, as if they could read her mind, or, as if she could put her thoughts into the minds of others. And Grandma Crystal had the ability to move things with her mind, and great grandma Helena could know the future and past. When Rufus kicked Phoenix in the stomach yes this was frightening because it could have seriously injured Montana in the womb, but what no one could predict is that this would amplify Montana’s “gifts” as well. Montana, even as an infant, could move some things with her mind, just like her grandma. In most ways she was just like any other infant her age. Her arms would jerk and move with no muscle tone, or intent; the same with her eyes and feet. And every time her hands fell into her mouth she would suck on them naturally. She was too young to be able to control her body, but her mind was sharp. And though her eyes were shifty and couldn’t focus on anything at any distance, she could see shapes and outlines. One day lying on her mother’s bed she held her head still and looked up at the ceiling fan. Only seeing a large round thing, she had no idea what it was, but with no extra effort the fan was spinning backwards faster than it would forward on the fast setting. This sent paper and sheets into the air. When a lamp fell over Phoenix ran up stairs to witness the event and stared in awe. Calling her mother and grandmother, they came running and were also amazed. As far as Helena could remember, no one had ever demonstrated their gifts until they had at least hit puberty. Phoenix started to prepare from then on for what may come in the future.
Phoenix went back to school only 10 weeks after Montana was born, and Crystal, the proud and excited grandma got to stay at home and knit clothes for Montana all day! She was in second heaven. Phoenix was treated differently at school. She was treated better by her teachers and her councilors than she was before. And her class mates were worse to her than before. Though when they found that Phoenix had delivered her baby naturally, they became more kind, and patient. It was here in school that Phoenix started to perfect her gift. She was an honest student and never used her gift to get a better grade, but she did get elected as the junior class president by a clean sweep at the end of her sophomore year, and she did get asked out by all the cutest guys in school all summer long.
Montana grew fast. It only took about four months for her to be tipping the scales at 10 pounds. She still spent most of her time sleeping and eating, which means that she filled a lot of diapers. Grandma loved to watch her sleep. When she was in the REM sleep her eyes would shift and move and she would pull some of the best faces while she was asleep. She was also able to see much better and had a great developing mind. She recognised faces and could make deliberate sounds. She made a sound that she loved. It started deep and then went really high, she made her self laugh. As time passed, Montana grew like a little girl should. She was a constant learner. She loved to play peek-a-boo with her family, but soon enjoyed playing with other toys more. Though she was 12 months and still breast fed in the morning, she was eating real food too. She really liked rhubarb, fresh from the garden, and sour. She made the best faces when she was eating rhubarb! This little girl’s gift had already gotten her into some trouble. She had recently discovered that she could move things with her mind, and was told “No” several times a day when her toys would glide quickly across the kitchen floor while grandma was cooking dinner. You might be able to guess what her first word was. No, and she loved saying it. She had a very simple understanding of the meaning, but it drove her mother batty when she would say no at bed time.
When Phoenix when back to school in the fall. Crystal again took the lead on raising Montana. Helena was quite busy at the cattle prod museum and wasn’t home most of the day either. Montana and her grandmother built a strong trust spending most of their time together. Crystal tried to keep to a steady schedule which Montana really liked, but that didn’t mean she never had to cry to get something. As Montana started to crawl, she couldn’t stand to be so close to the ground, and going so slow. She saw her family walking and running, and she had to keep up. Crystal spent most of the school year watching Montana learn her world around her. Taking notes so that she could share them with Phoenix when she got home from school. As Montana became more aware of her self, learning that she was her own person, and had her own likes and dislikes, Montana was turning into a real person, instead of a poop factory. And with all the time that Montana and Crystal spent together, there was an easy to see attachment between the two. Montana knew how her mother was but, she would rather be with her grandmother. On top of spending most of their time together, they both shared the same gift of moving things with their mind. Crystal would toss Montana in the air without touching her, and Montana would throw food at Crystal without getting her hands dirty. They enjoyed that.