1 Week
Sofia Sloan-Torres' cry pierced the dark room. Callie's iHome glowed 5:43 a.m. It was nearing the time she would normally get up to go to the hospital. The last week, however, had changed her internal clock. She felt like she'd been hit by a truck after a week of sleepless nights. Mark rustled the sheets next to her.
"I've got it."
"No," Callie grumbled. "She's hungry. And it's my turn anyway."
Callie pushed her wild hair away from her face and gently rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb the fading soreness between her legs. She was still wearing Mark's old flannel button downs over her deflated belly, unable to see how she'd ever get back into her lingerie.
Walking over to the bassinet in the corner of the room, she saw her blue-eyed, black haired daughter wriggling uncomfortably in her tiny purple onesie. Callie bent over to scoop up all 8 lbs of Sofia, and cradled the infant to her chest. Sofia's crying instantly turned to soft whimpers at her mother's warmth. Callie breathed in her baby's delicious scent. As exhausting as it was, she'd do anything for her beautiful Sofia. They made their way to the living room couch, so Callie could catch up on the news while Sofia nursed and Mark slept. Callie curled up and supported Sofia's head, watching her tiny lips suck away. Her baby was breathtaking.
11 months
At 7 a.m. on the dot, Sofia let her presence be known to her parents.
"No! I want to sleep." Callie covered her ears with the pillow, having recently started to let the baby just cry.
"It's your turn."
"Let her cry, Mark. She needs to self-soothe. She's almost a year old."
Mark ignored her and got up anyway, going to the next room, the only room that had evaded Callie's "edgy" decorating. Sofia's walls were painted a light periwinkle color and the room was filled with plush stuffed animals – her favorite was her elephant.
"Good morning, baby," Mark said softly.
Sofia had pulled herself up in her crib and was looking at Mark with her huge, inquisitive blue eyes. "Dada." She immediately seemed surprised at herself, then immensely proud. "Dada."
"Yes!" Mark shouted. "I win!"
"Dada," Sofia repeated.
"That's right, Sof, I'm your Dad. I'm a Dad."
Callie had come bounding out of bed at the shout. "What happened?"
"She said her first word," Mark proudly exclaimed.
"What? I missed it?" Callie's eyes welled up with tears. She had gone back to work when Sofia was four months old and her worst fears were missing her baby girl's milestones.
"She only said it a few times."
"It doesn't matter, I still missed it. I'm quitting tomorrow."
"Don't be ridiculous, Callie."
"Dada," Sofia interjected.
"She-she-she said it," Callie breathed.
"Told ya. She's awesome." Mark responded.
They lifted her out of her crib and showered her with kisses.
"Beat you, Torres," Mark smirked over Sofia's head.
23 months
"Mamamamamama," Sofia babbled over the monitor.
She'd gone to bed only a few hours ago and Callie and Mark were attempting to have a somewhat romantic evening. They remembered how two years ago, almost to the hour, Callie's water had broken while they ate Chinese food in the living room. They'd looked at each other, in complete shock, their baby, their mighty oak, was about to make her appearance. It had been 21 hours, of refusal of medication and screaming, but when Sofia Arielle Sloan-Torres made her appearance, the room fell silent. They had a baby.
Callie tiptoed into Sofia's room in her robe, hoping the baby wouldn't see her. No such luck. Sofia instantly sat up. "Mama."
Mark and Callie had given up taking turns at night a few months ago. It was now whomever Sofia called for.
"Wet," Sofia said.
Callie lifted her out of her crib. Even though Sofia would be turning two the next day, it still surprised Callie at how much her daughter had grown in her short life. Callie carried Sofia over to the changing table, where her she lay quietly and cooperatively, sucking on the ear of her favorite elephant, which had been appropriately dubbed "ellie-phant."
With her pajamas back in place, Sofia looked up at her mom and grinned. Callie's heart melted. She picked Sofia up and took her over to the rocking chair, where Callie cradled her against her chest like she used to as a baby and hummed lullabies softly in her ear. Sofia fell asleep almost instantly, but Callie couldn't bring herself to put Sofia back to bed. She loved her precious girl too much to let go.
She must have dozed off herself because she woke to Mark lifting Sofia off of her chest.
"Sorry, babe," she whispered.
He shook his head and motioned to Sofia, "she's such a big girl now."
3 ½
As soon as Sofia transferred to her "big girl" bed she started coming to her parents' bedroom instead of calling out for them in the night or when she woke up. On this particular morning, Sofia, reached up to open the door and saw that both her Mommy and Daddy were still sleeping. She padded over to Callie's side of the bed, curly black hair just as wild as her mom's, and stared at Callie's face. It didn't take Callie long to wake up to those eyes boring into her.
"Sof, how long have you been standing there?"
Sofia shrugged. She was still at the age where time meant nothing. She began to climb into the bed, her butt wiggling in the air as she made her way up, when Callie suddenly lifted Sofia out of the way and bolted to the bathroom. Mark jerked awake when Sofia's foot kicked his back.
"Sofia, what are you doing?"
Sofia's lower lip trembled. "Mommy, threw me in the bed and ran away."
"What? Where did Mommy run to?"
Before Sofia could answer, Mark heard the sounds coming out of the bathroom.
"Sofia, go to the kitchen and get one of your cups. Bring it to me, please."
"What's Mommy doing?"
"I think she has a tummy-ache, Sof. Will you help me make her feel better?"
Sofia nodded, always willing to help.
Mark opened the bathroom door to find Callie lying on the tile next to the toilet with a sheen of sweat covering her face.
"Cal, do you have the flu?"
"I don't know. I don't think so."
"Sofia could have brought something back from daycare," he continued.
"Mark, I really don't think so."
"What do you mean?"
"This isn't the first time this has happened. It started last week. It usually happens before you and Sofia wake up or inconveniently at work."
"You mean…" his voice trailed off.
"I think another Sloan-Torres is on the way."
"Torres-Sloan," he stated.
"Sloan-Torres. We're still not married."
He'd placed an engagement ring on her finger almost two years ago, and they still hadn't gotten around to planning a wedding between their work schedules and Sofia.
"Have you taken a test yet?"
"No."
"Let's not get too excited until we have reason."
They'd debated having another baby since Sofia turned two, but the timing never seemed right. In the last few months, though, they hadn't exactly been taking necessary precautions.
"Go play with Sofia for five minutes, I'll take one now."
"I want to be here!" He whined, "I missed it with Sofia."
"Okay, at least turn the TV on for her."
Mark found Sofia in the kitchen deep in the cabinet that held her plates and cups.
"Sofia, I think Dora's on."
"I can't decide which color cup Mommy will want."
"Mommy's feeling better."
Mark set his daughter up in front of the TV and went back into the bathroom where Callie was staring at a white stick.
"You did it without me?" He pouted.
"I peed without you, you'll be here when it comes up. Ugh. I can't look."
She sat down on the floor.
Thirty seconds later a smile spread across Mark's face. "Sofia's going to be a big sister."