The winter days turned dreary and monotonous. Jo returned to Plumfield on a part time basis and spent her increased free time preparing for the new arrival. Laurie set up the crib, and together they decorated the nursery. Jo spent hours knitting and crocheting tiny blankets, hats, and booties.
One night in February, Jo was lying in bed when she felt a tiny flutter. A thrill of excitement went through her as she shook Laurie awake.
"Teddy! Teddy!"
"What is it?" Laurie mumbled.
"I just felt the baby move!"
"Wow! Really?" Instantly he was wide awake. Jo placed his hand on her abdomen, and a moment later, the flutter came again. Laurie hugged Jo and kissed her cheek and told her he loved her.
After what seemed like forever, the weather finally began to get warmer. Green leaves grew on trees, and flowers began to bloom.
At Easter Laurie and Jo hid colored eggs for Rob and Teddy to find. By this time Jo's pregnancy was obvious. She began to get frequent backaches, and instead of walking, she waddled.
"I feel like I've been pregnant forever!" she moaned to Laurie. "And I've still got two more months to go!"
"It'll all be over before you know it, and you'll be holding our precious little bundle of joy in your arms," Laurie consoled her with a smile.
"Will you be terribly disappointed if it's another daughter?" Jo asked.
"Not at all," said Laurie. "I absolutely adore little girls."
"We haven't discussed names yet," said Jo.
"Well, if it's a boy, we already have a Robert and a Theodore. My grandfather's name was James, and I've always been partial to the name Edward."
"James Edward is a nice name for a boy," Jo agreed. "But what if it's a girl?"
"Well, there are many lovely girls' names to chose from," said Laurie. "Sarah, Laura, Nancy, Ellen..."
"None of those seems quite right," said Jo. "I was thinking maybe we could name her Margaret after Meg and call her Maggie."
"How about Margaret Josephine?"
"That's perfect!"
In May Jo went on maternity leave, and Miss Sadie took Plumfield over full time.
Jo was clearing away the dinner dishes one evening the following month when she felt the first contraction. She grimaced and put her hand over her abdomen.
"Jo?" Alarm was in Laurie's voice as he sprang to his feet.
"The baby's coming!" his wife told him.
Laurie quickly helped Jo to bed, took Rob and Teddy to the neighbors', and went to fetch Dr. Bangs. By the time the doctor arrived, Jo was in active labor.
"It won't be long," Dr. Bangs said after examining her.
By midnight, Jo's contractions were very powerful, and she had a strong urge to push.
"Go ahead," Dr. Bangs told her after examining her again. "You're ready."
With the next contraction Jo bore down with all her might. Another contraction followed, and then another.
"Keep pushing! You're doing great!" Dr. Bangs encouraged her.
Jo gave another mighty push.
"The head's crowning!" Dr. Bangs exclaimed. Jo pushed again, and the rest of the baby's body emerged.
"It's a girl!" Dr. Bangs announced, gently lying the newborn onto her mother's breast. Jo reached up and lightly touched the baby's soft, delicate skin with her fingertips.
"You can go in now," Dr. Bangs told Laurie. Jo's husband entered the room to find her holding their new daughter and smiling.
"What do we have, a prince or a princess?" he asked.
"A princess."
"Margaret Josephine." He grinned. "She's beautiful, Jo. You did very well."
"We did very well."
Laurie caressed Maggie's fuzzy head. "Hello there, little one."
"Would you like to hold her?"
"Of course!"
Laurie sat in a chair beside Jo's bed and held Maggie. Jo lay back in bed and closed her eyes.
"Get some rest, now," Laurie said, gently brushing the damp hair back from his wife's forehead. "You deserve it." Jo smiled and slowly drifted off to sleep.