Documenting
"Hello little fetus…well you are not much of a fetus anymore as my stomach is starting to expand. Which brings me to today's event: maternity shopping," Tibby moved the camera from her belly to her face and gave it a smile.
It had started off as a small idea. Brian had mentioned maybe keeping a record of Tibby's pregnancy as so many couples often do. Of course Tibby took that idea and decided that they weren't just going to keep a record they were going to document it by video. Better yet, she was going to edit the film and create her own little documentary for baby McBrian on his or her arrival. She had explained the whole thing to Brian who just chuckled.
Documentation so far ranged from Brian running to the grocery store to supply Tibby with her newest craving. Tibby also filmed shopping for the stroller and car seat as well as any and every doctor's appointment. Today she would be bringing her camera along as she stocked up on some new clothes.
Tibby had always been a petit person and even five and half months pregnant she remained pretty small. She had barely put on any weight. Her doctor assured her that she was at a healthy weight and that she didn't need to worry that she was not packing on the pounds. In fact, it was a good thing because it made taking off the baby weight much easier. Tibby was one of those women who just grew a belly when she was pregnant. Bridget never let an opportunity pass without making some comment about it.
"How is it that you remain so beautiful while I blow up to the size of a blimp?" Bridget loved to refer to herself as a blimp.
"Oh shut up," Tibby would counter. "You are every bit as beautiful as I am. And you are not the size of a blimp," this is when she would roll her eyes. "You have three little babies in there, I have one. Of course you are going to be bigger then me. Plus you're one month ahead of me."
Bridget would brush off the comments and continue to rant and rave about her hugeness.
As the phone began to ring Tibby stopped recording and reached over for the phone. "Hello?" she asked even though she knew who it would be.
"Hey honey, I'm just pulling up in front of the building now. Are you ready to go?" her mother rattled on into the car phone.
"Hey mom, yup, I'll be down in a minute."
Five minutes later she slipped into the front seat of her mother's car and shut the door. She swung her camera off of her shoulder and onto her lap. Her mother looked at her and beamed.
"I am so excited. I am thrilled you asked me to come with you."
Tibby had been reluctant to call her mother. The fact that Tibby was having a baby sent her mother into psychotic happiness. Well to Tibby it was psychotic. She had never known anyone to be that excited over anything before. She loved her mother but sometimes her excited ness was a bit too much to handle. However, Tibby did not want to go shopping alone and with Brian at work and all her sisters busy themselves Tibby had only one option. She decided that no matter what she was going to make the best of it.
"These would look absolutely darling!" her mother grinned holding up some weird flowery gown.
"Mom," Tibby groaned fixing her camera on the monstrosity. Making the best of it was becoming a little bit harder. "I thought you had more style than that. Whatever that thing is, it is hideous. Don't worry baby," she said patting her stomach, "I would never do that to you or myself."
Mrs. Rollinson frowned and hung the gown back up. "Oh Tibby, sometimes you are such a grump."
"I am not," she pouted as she followed her mom to the next rack.
"Well how about these then? They are pretty much your average jean and look at that, they stretch to expand with your stomach."
Tibby glanced at the jeans and she was momentarily taken back to her summers with the jeans. She smiled, "Now those are more I like it."
"Well here, try them on, make sure they are comfortable," her mother handed her the jeans.
Tibby handed her the camera. "Keep filming," she instructed. "This will be the first pair of maternity jeans I have tried on." Up until that point Tibby had all but lived in track pants, even in the summer heat. She had about six pairs she wore all the time because they were comfy and fit nicely.
In the change room Tibby dropped the day's tack pants (they were blue today) and pulled the jeans on. The glided up her legs like only one pair of jeans had ever done before and Tibby sucked in her breath. They were magnificent. She snapped the button shut and stared at herself in the mirror. The baby inside her did a little flip.
"I know," she murmured. "These are amazing."
"Tibby are you ok in there? How do those fit?" her mothers voice rang in from outside the door.
Tibby unlocked the door and stepped out. "I am buying these," she stated.
Mrs. Rollinson grinned, pleased that her daughter approved of her choice. She raised the camera and filmed as Tibby did a little jig.
After trying on a few more things Tibby gathered everything she planned on buying and headed for the cashier. She placed all her stuff on the counter and the woman smiled as she rang everything through. "Did you find everything you were looking for today?" she asked as she scanned the tag on the jeans.
"I did," Tibby answered.
"These jeans are on special," the cashier noted as she glanced at her computer screen. "Buy one get one free."
"Really?" Tibby couldn't believe her luck.
"Mhm," the woman nodded.
"Be right back," Tibby took the camera from her mom and headed back to the rack with the jeans. She flicked the camera on and hit record.
"Today I have found a wonderful new pair of jeans, maternity jeans. Eventually, when you're old enough, I am going to tell you the story of our jeans and the summers we spent with them. I will tell you of their magic and how they changed me and your aunts' lives. As for now, buy one get one free as prompted me to get four pairs of these jeans: one for me, your aunt Carmen, aunt Lena and aunty Bee."
