A Sew, Sew Evening

The boys were at school and Tim was out at the hardware store so I was supposed to be alone for the day, but Ilene was coming over for the day. Plus, I invited our new neighbor, Maria, over so it'd be a girl's day. They had moved in yesterday morning and I went over to meet her and welcome her to the neighborhood. Tim isn't keen on neighborhood relationships (well more the fact that the neighbors aren't keen of him) but the only one he'll actively talk to is Wilson. When we moved in, the neighbors were welcoming until Tim was himself. I love him no matter what, but the neighbors weren't fond of him being accident prone. The neighbors didn't mind the boys or me though.

Anyways, when I met her and started talking to her yesterday, she was friendly, telling about her husband's meat company transferred him to Detroit. I told her about Tim being a salesman and now a TV host on Tool Time. She said she had heard of it from the neighbors but thought it was funny. We didn't talk much before she had to leave. I invited her and her husband, Joe, out for dinner tonight with Tim and me tonight. It'd be an absolute joy to tell him. Not really.

I had successfully cleaned the house, washed the dishes and done the laundry earlier so I had nothing to do but read while I waited for Ilene and Maria. I told them to come around noon so that we could go out for lunch and shop. Although I had fatigue, I wasn't at the point of my pregnancy that my feet hurt yet. I couldn't wait to tell Maria and we could look at baby clothes.

I heard the doorbell and opened the door. "Hey, Maria!" I hugged her.

"Hey, Jill," Maria walked in. "Why does it smell like pie in here?"

"I baked a pie. I had an urge to make one," I lied.

That urge being a craving…I had a good reason for lying, although God frowned upon it. I'll tell her at lunch where it's more appropriate.

I planned on telling her at lunch, which I assumed would include me bringing a bucket. I still had some morning sickness but not as severe.

"Oh. Anyways, your friend Ilene is in the driveway. Where are we heading?"

I looked at her. "I figured we'd head to the Hudson Café."

I walked out and saw Ilene waiting there in her car. I had asked Ilene to drive us and she agreed. With Maria sitting in the front, I had room to stretch and sleep off some pregnancy fatigue. Tim was used to the fatigue (as were Heidi, Wilson and Ilene) so Ilene had brought a pillow and blanket for me to sleep.

I climbed in the back seat and laid down, feeling myself fall asleep, but also thinking about dinner tonight. I hadn't talked to Maria's husband (or for that fact Maria) about the pregnancy, so I'd tell her at the restaurant that I can't have alcohol.

The ride was bumpy but I was fast asleep, dreaming about finally having a daughter. I had someone to dress up, do her hair, talk about boys (and "Aunt Rosie") with her. If the baby was a girl, I'd be overjoyed. I'll love it if it's a boy, but I craved a daughter. I wanted to see pink and see dolls and a dollhouse.

"Jill, we're here," Ilene woke me up and I got out, taking the bucket with me.

I brushed my hair and sat in my seat, between Ilene and Maria. Ilene was wearing a pink button up shirt with jeans and Maria was wearing a flowered shirt with black slacks.

"What will you ladies be having to drink?" The waiter asked. He had black hair (short) with brown eyes and was in his twenties.

"I'll have orange juice, a large please," I told. Maria and Ilene both got wine.

I took mine but then rushed to the bathroom to vomit and use the toilet. With each of my pregnancies, I had to go twenty times a day. With this one (so far), I had to go thirty but I knew it wasn't a big amount. Again, Ilene and the others understood (Al didn't but Tim got it very clearly).

I came back and Maria smiled. "Jill, are you pregnant? You're showing the signs that you are!"

I nodded. "I'm about a month in. I see the doctor my second prenatal visit on the 30th." I looked at a mom carrying a newborn baby and it brought tears to my eyes since I couldn't wait for mine.

"Congratulations! What do you and your husband hope you're having?"

Ilene smiled and I looked at her, ignoring my tears. "We have three boys already so we hope to have a girl. I want a girl I can dress up and do girly things with."

Maria smiled. "That's great! We should go to the baby shop and look for clothes!"

We ordered our food and started talking about baby names. I had talked to Tim and he wanted Jacob Wilson Taylor but agreed to Isaac Wilson Taylor. If it was a girl, we wholeheartedly agreed on Hannah Jillian Taylor. I told her that "Hannah" wasn't after anyone special (aside from the Bible), I just loved the name. The middle name was my name.

I ate my pie and my food in twenty minutes but I was technically eating for two, so it was expected that I would be hungry. The baby got most of my food, but since she needed it to grow, I wasn't complaining. I'd get hungrier as the pregnancy went on (and bigger).

We talked about whether I would breastfeed or bottle feed and I told them that I planned on breastfeeding. It was possible for me to pump breastmilk into bottles so I would do that and stock up on them for others to feed her. Breastfeeding had more health factors (and bonding a mother/child) so I jumped on the idea.

After eating at Hudson's, we headed to Babies R Us and walked in. I grabbed a cart and pushed it, my mind overjoyed by having a reason to go in this store again. The last time I had gone, it was for my sister-in-law, Nancy, who was expecting twins. Hers were due in January, so for now, I had a pregnancy buddy.

Anyways, I saw the customer service section on one side and the merchandise on the other. I was drawn to the pink instead of the blue, so I started walking to the clothes section. I found a red dress and other dresses, my mind happily thinking about being able to buy a baby clothes.

"Jill, I saw a cute crib," Ilene smiled.

We shopped some more for clothes and then we headed back home so that I could be there when the boys get home to get dinner for them and tell them the directions for staying home alone.

"Hey Tim," I smiled and took out the leftovers for the boys, heating it up for them.

"Hello, sweetheart," He kissed me and then my unchanged belly. "And hello my little offspring."

I smiled. "We're going to dinner with Joe and Maria (our new neighbors), tonight."

"I forgot—I have, um, a thing to do tonight."

I crossed my arms playfully and he groaned, walking off.

Mark's POV

I sat on the porch step, playing with a toy by myself, glumly watching Brad and Randy toss a football to each other as if no changes had happened. A few days ago, Mom had announced that she was having a baby. That meant that I would no longer be the baby. I wouldn't be favored anymore. What they did with me, they'd do with the new baby. He/she wouldn't have to do chores, would get their attention and would get protection. I knew that I was cute (or I thought I was!) and I had thought that Mom and Dad would've stopped with me. I thought they loved me the most (I knew Brad and Randy didn't) but I was wrong. I used to get lots of stuff that I wanted (within reason) but not anymore.

It just wasn't fair! Why did they want a new baby? The only thing babies did were cry, poop, eat and a repeating cycle. For some reason, Mom and Dad always awed over seeing new babies and loved holding them. To me, babies were stinky and pointless to have. They needed parents for everything but I couldn't do anything about it. I wasn't about to hurt the baby or anything.

"How can you guys toss a football? Aren't you angry about the new baby?" I asked angrily.

Brad caught the football. "No, dork. It's just a new baby, don't have a cow over it."

Randy nodded. "The only thing that'll happen is that the baby will replace you."

"Really?" I looked at them.

They laughed. "Yeah, the baby's going to take your room and you have to live in the basement."

Randy laughed. "We're teasing, man. The only thing that'll happen to you is that there's another little kid in the house. Sure, it'll have the attention, but you can get away with stuff with Mom and Dad focused on the baby."

I ran off to my room. No!

Randy's POV

I laughed at seeing Mark run off and high-fived Brad. It was fun to taunt him and to play a joke on him with him being gullible. Since the dork was gone, Brad and I continued with football and started tossing it back and forth. Happily, we laughed and started talking about the baby.

"Want to make a bet?" Brad asked.

I grinned. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, I think the baby's going to be a boy, what do you think it'll be?"'

I wanted a brother, but I had a strong feeling it was a girl. "I think it's a girl."

"If it's a boy, you must do all my chores for a week and if it's a girl, I have to do all yours for a week."

I grinned and tossed him the football. "You're on!"

Tim's POV

I started working on the hot rod again and thought about the baby. I was still awestricken that I was going to be a daddy again for a fourth time. My mom and dad had six of us, so my mom knew things about having a big family. Four kids didn't seem big (especially since the older three could care for themselves).

At first, I wanted a boy to share my interests with but then I remembered my conversation with Jill. Jill had wanted a daughter and at first, I said no but then I gave in and now, we were expecting a baby. I hoped to have a daughter so that I could have a princess for my queen. I wanted to see lots of pink, give piggy back rides (and cuddles), build a doll house and see Jill's face light up. Jill's happiness was my number one concern, after that of my children.

"Hey, new neighbor," A voice walked in and I banged my head, but slid out from under the car and shook his hand.

"Hi, I'm Tim," I shook his hand.

He smiled. "So, I hear you're expecting a baby?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he/she's due in June."

"Well, I'm excited for dinner. Maria and I have picked the place already."

Could you get any more annoying? I want to work on my car! Leave me alone! Unless you're one of the boys or Jill wanting to help, go away!

Later that night, Jill and I got in the car and headed to the restaurant that we had picked. While I drove, Jill was napping some and I had a pillow and blanket for her to use while in the car. I wanted my queen to have the best and I wanted to take the best care I could of her and the baby.

"Honey, we're here," I smiled and shook her awake.

She woke up and walked in. "Hey, Maria!" Jill hugged her and then kissed my hand.

We sat down and Joe smiled. "You should order the steak. They can make it so rare that you can soak up the blood with a napkin!"

That wasn't good for the baby (or for Jill) and I felt protective of my unborn child and my wife. I shook my head at her and she decided to get a burger with fries and some more pie.

"Why didn't you guys get the steak?" Joe asked.

"Joe, that's not good for Jill or the baby," I looked at her. "Besides, Jill's been wanting a medium well burger and has been craving pie."

Joe settled down and I kissed Jill's cheek. "How is the little squirt by the way?"

She smiled. "He/she's asleep."

The food came and Jill scarped it down like a mad animal, but that was normal for her and for most pregnant ladies. When the pregnancy got further, her appetite would grow again.

"Jill, did you have time to breathe?" Joe asked playfully.

"Be nice," I felt over protective.

After we ate, we headed home, excited for the next day.