Summary: Lizzie and William navigate through Eleanor's first month and they celebrate their first Thanksgiving as a family.
Notes: Hey guys! I know you've been waiting for a new chapter but at least that's over! Let me just say how difficult it is to get in the mindset of Thanksgiving when it's basically Spring. Geez.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 12th
William woke up at the crack of dawn, surprisingly before Lizzie or Eleanor. It hadn't been that long but his body appeared to be adjusting to the earlier wake up calls. In the last two weeks, he had become a lighter sleeper. He felt like his body was on constant alert, ready to jump out and reach out for Eleanor as soon as she made a noise. His heart felt a tiny ache every time she started crying and he knew he was going to be a sucker for her crocodile tears later on.
Today he was awake early because it happened to be his birthday. Ever since he started dating Lizzie, he looked forward to it, especially because she always tried to outdo her previous surprises. This year was extra special, the first one he would be spending with his daughter. It was the only present he wanted and he told Lizzie as much when she asked some time ago.
He sat up and quietly got out of bed, checking to see that his girls were both still sleeping and went into the bathroom. He spent a few minutes studying himself in the mirror, trying to see the changes between thirty-two year-old and thirty-three year-old William Darcy. The sides of his hair had a touch more gray as did patches of his short beard. The circles under his eyes were a shade more prominent but he wore these circles with pride. They were a sign of being a new parent. He traced the faint wrinkles on his forehead, most likely brought on from the stress of the office, and he noticed a couple laugh lines too. He'd chalk those up to Lizzie.
William took a deep breath and washed his face before shaving, which was something he had been neglecting since Eleanor was born. He was starting to worry he'd scratch her delicate skin whenever he kissed her so he made a point to get rid of it today. Once he was done, he cleaned himself up and did a quick inspection. Just as he was finishing up, he heard a bit of fussing and he knew he only had a matter of time to get to his daughter before she went into full crying mode. Quick as lightning, he put everything away and exited the bathroom, heading straight for the bassinet.
"Alright, alright. Daddy's here," William said softly, picking Eleanor up as she fussed. "Shhh. It's okay, sweetheart."
Lizzie stirred but he quickly walked out of the bedroom with the baby, making sure not to wake her. She deserved a little extra sleep since she had been up at two am to nurse Eleanor. He stopped in the kitchen to take some breastmilk out of the fridge and warm it up in the bottle warmer. Then he took Eleanor to the nursery and laid her down on the changing table while her cries increased. He talked to her in a comforting voice while he changed her diaper, then grabbed a dark onesie to put her in, snapping it shut before bundling her up. Her cries had subsided but she was beginning to root and stick out her tongue and it would only be a matter of time before she started up again.
"Let's get you something to eat, shall we?" William said, cradling her in his arms and bringing her back to the kitchen. He grabbed the warmed up bottle and took a seat on the couch in the living room, situating the Bumpy beneath him so Eleanor would have some support. Once she took the bottle, William leaned back and relaxed while she ate. He felt pure satisfaction when he had the chance to feed Eleanor, like now. He was glad that Lizzie had started pumping and storing her extra milk so he could help out even more.
When doing research about the first weeks of adjusting with a baby, he was appalled by the stories where the husbands rarely, if ever, offered to get up in the middle of the night to help out with feedings or even change a diaper. He found joy in every aspect of fatherhood. He couldn't fathom just sitting back and making Lizzie do all the work. They had always worked well together and he felt like the bond between him and Lizzie was strengthening day by day because of their daughter.
Once Eleanor finished the bottle and he burped her, he put her in the swing so he could do some yoga. After taking a week off once the baby was born, he could feel the yearning in his body to get back to it. He really had to thank Bing for being the first one to suggest yoga; it helped him relax and made him feel stronger. He also enjoyed his little audience while he did his workout, even if she dozed off more often than not. Lizzie would usually be watching as well and planned to join him again once she was cleared for more rigorous exercise.
He didn't realize how much time had passed as he worked on his poses until Lizzie came shuffling in, looking refreshed and dressed for the day.
"Happy birthday!" Lizzie said, taking a seat next to the swing. "And good morning."
"Morning," he replied warmly. "How did you sleep?"
"I needed that extra time. Thank you."
"You're welcome," William said, coming out of a complicated pose. He sat down and rested his arms on his bent knees.
"You didn't have to do that on your birthday," Lizzie said and he shrugged. "You should be sleeping and getting breakfast in bed."
"If you want to make me breakfast, I can get back in bed," William teased.
"No bed necessary but I'll make you breakfast. How long have you been up?"
"A while. I couldn't sleep. Eleanor and I have been enjoying each other's company. I changed her, gave her a bottle, and now she's back in dream land."
"And being the cutest little girl," Lizzie cooed, adjusting Eleanor's cap. "Your sister texted you."
Lizzie held up his phone before setting in the coffee table. William reached out and grabbed it, checking the message.
"Standard birthday message. She wants to know if it's okay to drop off my donut."
"I think we can spare a few minutes for donuts," Lizzie nodded. "I see you also found time to shave."
"I didn't want to be responsible for scratching our daughter with my scruff."
"How considerate," Lizzie said as he got up. He walked over to her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before bending down and giving her a kiss good morning.
"Do I have time to shower while you make breakfast or do you want me to watch her?"
"We'll be just fine," Lizzie said. As he turned to go, she lightly smacked his butt and he glanced at her over his shoulder, noticing her mischievous grin.
"Just for fun?"
"One for every year you've been alive. Only thirty-two more to go."
The morning was relatively quiet for the Darcys. Gigi stopped by just as they were finishing up breakfast and stayed for less than a half hour, giving William his birthday gifts and getting her fill of her niece. The weather was bright and sunny and the three of them took advantage of it, going on a walk through the neighborhood and having lunch at a local bistro.
After they returned, Lizzie changed and nursed the baby while William laid down to rest on the couch in the living room. When Lizzie was finished and had put Eleanor in a milk coma, she gave her over to William and he put her on his chest. Her naps seemed to last longer when she was against one of them and William gave off the most heat. They spent the next couple hours watching a movie but he was barely paying attention to what was happening on screen, feeling her breathe beneath his hand and occasionally hearing her hitched breath. He noticed Lizzie holding her phone up to them and one corner of his mouth tipped up.
"What are you doing, love?" William asked.
"Have you noticed that Eleanor sort of smiles when she naps? I'm sure it's just a reflex but I keep noticing it."
"I have! I've only caught it a couple times. Is she doing it right now?" William arched his neck to check.
"She was a minute ago. I got it," Lizzie said, holding up her phone. "And I had to get this preserved. You just look so content."
"I am," William said simply.
"Is this how you expected to be spending your birthday?"
William took a minute to answer. "It's so much better. I expected to be spending it with my favorite person but now I have the added bonus of this little one's company."
He brushed his hand to smooth down Eleanor's hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, taking in a deep breath of her smell.
After a few minutes, Eleanor stirred and then she began to bob her head against William, moving back and forth. He was amused at her attempts while Lizzie grabbed the Bumpy from the couch and got herself comfortable to nurse.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I don't have the right equipment for you," William said apologetically. She began to make noises of frustration and he got up from the couch, handing her over to Lizzie. "Here we go. Mommy will make it all better."
Eleanor was just on the verge of crying when Lizzie got her latched and began to nurse her.
"I swear she's going through a growth spurt or something. She's eating like a maniac the last couple days," Lizzie said.
William took out his phone did a quick search, finding the app he was looking for. "According to this, she's right on track. Babies hit a growth spurt around two to three weeks."
"At this rate, she'll be taller than me."
"She's barely more than two weeks old. We have years before you have to worry," William said. He watched her nurse for a few moments and a sense of pride and happiness surged through his veins. "You really are a wonderful mother."
"Thank you," Lizzie smiled, her gaze flickering up to him before returning to the baby. She paused. "Do you...no, never mind. It's not important."
"No, tell me."
"Well," Lizzie began, adjusting the baby. "Do you just see me as a mother now?"
"Just? Lizzie…" William frowned. What words could he use to express his feelings? She was a new mother and he could already see her fierce love for their daughter. Still, she was so much more. She was his wife, the love of his life, and his partner. She was responsible for changing so much about him and making him happier than he thought possible. She was stronger than he ever could be. Watching her and being with her throughout the labor showed him how amazing she was and stronger than most people he knew. "I see you as a goddess."
"Will…" Lizzie's cheeks pinked. "Don't you think you're being a little grandiose?"
"You asked me and I'm telling you," William said. "You'll never be just anything."
Lizzie exhaled. "You're kind of amazing. You know that, right?"
William stood up and walked over to her, bending down and kissing the top of her head. "Thank you. You helped make me this way."
The rest of William's birthday was a quiet affair. Friends and family called throughout the day to wish him a happy birthday and he opened some gifts and cards that came in the mail. Lizzie surprised him with a framed self-portrait of herself taken just days before she went into labor. She was dressed in a flowy white dress and she was looking down, her hands on her belly. She told him it very nearly didn't happen but Lydia and Charlotte helped out. It was William's favorite birthday gift and he immediately hung it up next to their wedding pictures in the hallway. There was still plenty of room along the wall and they planned to put up some framed pictures from Eleanor's first moments, along with moments for years to come.
They ordered out from William's favorite Thai restaurant for dinner and Lizzie pulled out a small cake for dessert, having hid it in the very back of the fridge. Afterwards, they gave Eleanor a bath before she was fed and put down for the night. They knew they'd be up again in a few hours but they took some time for just the two of them, winding down and spending some time together watching a movie. It was one of William's favorite birthdays, spending quiet time with the women he loved.
Lizzie and William fell into some semblance of a schedule during those first weeks. They'd wake up around six am from of the sounds of fussing from Eleanor, her diaper would be changed, and Lizzie would nurse her while William made breakfast for the two of them. After breakfast, Lizzie would have skin-to-skin time with Eleanor and watch William as he went through his daily yoga routine, intent on improving on the more difficult poses.
The hours between nursing Eleanor were interchangeable; they used them to rest, get things done around the house, cook, and get to know their daughter. She was a very calm baby, crying only when she was hungry or needed changing. If she did begin to fuss outside of that, it was usually when she wasn't being held and she could be soothed by being picked up. They shared diaper duty but William was usually first to volunteer. He also happened to be the fastest between them and that helped when Eleanor was particularly cranky about her dirty diaper.
After they would eat dinner, they would get Eleanor dressed and go for a walk around the neighborhood. Until she was big enough for the baby sling and the Baby Bjorn, they pushed her around in the stroller, and she usually slept. The walks were helping Lizzie feel more normal and avoid postpartum depression, something she had worried about prior to giving birth. The walks were proving beneficial enough that she was fitting in her pre-pregnancy clothes by the time Eleanor was three weeks old. She figured that breastfeeding was also helping her lose the baby weight, though she knew she was luckier than other women since she hadn't gained too much extra during her pregnancy.
After their walk, they'd go back home and one would play with Eleanor while the other would take a shower before switching off. On the nights they gave her a bath, it would be a team effort. Bath time was one of the favorite parts of the day for the whole family. Eleanor absolutely loved the warm water and it was a delight to watch her joy when they'd put her in. They would be gentle when they washed her hair and the rest of her body and William had her hooded towel ready and warm from the dryer when they were finished. They avoided the tears that way and had a happy, clean baby on their hands. Later, Lizzie would nurse her before they put her to bed and she would sleep for a few hours. After a midnight feeding, they would go to bed prepared to wake up in the middle of the night again.
Lizzie and William tried their hardest on top of things happening outside of their little bubble, mainly with the help of William's calendar skills. They called Charlie and Scarlett on their third birthday, promising that their gifts were ready and waiting for them when they came to visit for Thanksgiving. They had their weekly calls with Jane and Bing as well as their parents, happy to show off their baby. They firmed their plans for the holiday and they expected family a couple days before the big day.
Their friends stopped by on occasion, always making sure to call and check with them before visiting. Lizzie would share a daily picture or two with their closest circle, never being able to resist taking a picture of Eleanor in her adorable onesies and whenever she fell asleep. They had professional pictures taken of Eleanor at the apartment, where she was sleepy for most of the shoot and her hair was extra crazy for it. Later in the month, they would use one of their favorite pictures from it to officially announce her arrival to their companies and the rest of their friends. The explosion of excitement from everybody and the flood of congratulations made them feel loved but they were happy they waited as long as they did to spread the news.
Lizzie and William kept track of Eleanor's development from the time she was born for records and the doctors. She was already hitting a couple milestones. As she went from days to weeks old, they noticed she was beginning to track their movements with her eyes and focusing more on what was in front of her. At the beginning of her third week, she began to cuddle with them whenever one of them held her. It made it harder to get anything done, not wanting to miss out on the bonding time. All in all, Lizzie and William were adjusting well to life with a baby. Their life was being dictated by their daughter but they didn't mind in the slightest. More than anything, Lizzie and William were thankful for each other and their newborn daughter.
Tuesday, November 20th
Thanksgiving was only two days away. They were hosting this year, but her family was insistent on doing all the prep and cooking for the holiday. Her parents and the Lees were all staying in the same hotel, not wanting to impose with a new baby in the house. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were already on their way but wouldn't be coming over until lunch while the Lee family were due to arrive in the afternoon. All Lizzie had been doing the last few days was nursing Eleanor, pumping, and planning her daughter's outfits, along with backup outfits. William had come into the nursery to find her planning each day and, instead of teasing her, he picked a few of his own to add to the pile.
They wanted to try and stick with their schedule as close as possible, despite the number of visitors they would be having over the next few days. After their early morning routine, they put Eleanor in the swing seat while Lizzie and William picked up around their place. Now, William was in the middle of emptying the dishwasher while Lizzie nursed her very hungry daughter.
"I feel like we should be more stressed out right now," Lizzie said, looking over at William.
"When nobody is staying with us, it makes things easier," William replied, putting some cups away in a cupboard and turning to look at her.
"It does. I'm glad they're letting us pay for their room."
"I wouldn't have accepted a 'no' from them, especially when they're taking over Thanksgiving," William told her, closing the empty dishwasher. He walked over to her and leaned against the back of the couch, brushing her shoulder. "How is she doing?"
"Getting her fill," Lizzie joked, glancing back at him with a twinkle in her eyes. She returned her gaze to Eleanor, who had just pulled away, seeing that she was getting sleepy.
"Can I help with anything?" William asked as Lizzie readjusted her top.
"Would you mind taking her so I can get ready?"
"Absolutely," William reached out and took Eleanor from Lizzie's arms, along with the burping cloth. He laid the cloth over his shoulder and brought her against him before he began to gently pat her back. Lizzie got up and quickly kissed his cheek, thanking him before she hurried out of the room. He glanced at the time to see that it was nearly noon and her parents would be coming soon. Where did the time go? That seemed to be the question of the last few weeks with Eleanor in their lives now. The clock revolved around her. There was still plenty of time before they needed to go back to work but he had a suspicion that it would be more difficult than they initially believed.
Eleanor let out an impressive burp, pulling him out of his thoughts, and he couldn't help but laugh. He pulled her away from him to look at her and she had a serene look on her face.
"Where did you get your manners, huh? You're proud of that one, aren't you? You silly girl." William pressed a few kisses to her face before bringing her close to his chest again. She burrowed her head in the crook of his neck and he sighed happily. "Oh sweetheart."
Lizzie returned to the living room to find him where she left him, subtly swaying on the spot.
"If I didn't just have your baby, the image of you holding her like that would make me want to have your baby," Lizzie said lightly. William looked over to her and a smile grew on his face.
"We can always have another," William suggested as she walked over to him and slid an arm around his waist.
"Sorry but my body hasn't quite recovered from this one yet. No more baby-making for a couple more years, at least," Lizzie said before adding, "and no practice until the doctor clears me."
"I'm a patient man, Mrs. Darcy," William said. "That gives us more time to cherish the moments with this little one."
Lizzie's face brightened and she squeezed his side. "Sounds perfect, Mr. Darcy."
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived soon after with lunch in hand, surprising both Lizzie and William. What wasn't surprising were the bags of gifts in tow, despite their generosity a few weeks prior. Lizzie gave her dad a hug hello and he followed William into the kitchen to get lunch ready.
"Mom, you didn't have to," Lizzie sighed as her mom put everything down to hug her.
"Not all of it is for Eleanor, you know. The twins just had their birthday too," Mrs. Bennet said, giving her a gentle squeeze before pulling away to really look at her. "You're lookin' wonderful, dear. You barely look like you had a baby! Except I can tell that your milk has come in."
"Mom," Lizzie gasped, bringing her arms up to cover her chest in surprise.
"What? The same thing happened to your sister," Mrs. Bennet clucked. "Breastfeedin' is a natural part of bein' a mother. The Bennet women go up a size when feedin' their little ones. No shame in that."
"I know. There was probably a better way to say it though," Lizzie grumbled.
"I'm sorry, dear," Mrs. Bennet said dismissively. "Where is my granddaughter? I've been dyin' to hold her again."
"You'll have to wait until after we eat. She was just put down for a nap," Lizzie told her, grabbing two of the bags from her and leading her down the hallway.
"She still sleepin' the day away?"
"I just nursed her and she always falls asleep afterwards," Lizzie said, turning the corner and putting the bags down on the counter in the kitchen. "You didn't have to bring us lunch. We were happy to go out."
"We did it more for us," Mr. Bennet said, thanking William as he handed him plates. "We've been driving a while and would rather stay in. That way, we have uninterrupted time with the two of you and Eleanor, once she wakes up."
"It's a good idea, Dad," Lizzie smiled at him in appreciation before she looked at the spread before her. "Everything looks so delicious."
"Then let's eat!"
Eating at home turned out to be much more relaxing for everybody. Eleanor woke up in the middle of lunch and Lizzie brought her out from the nursery after changing her, putting her down in the swing seat while they finished up. She could swear her mom was eating more quickly. Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Bennet was the first one done and practically rushed to the kitchen to put her dishes away and wash her hands. She slowed down as soon as she had her granddaughter in her arms. Once everybody else was done and everything was put away, they moved to the living room to visit some more.
Soon, Eleanor was squirming and fussing to be fed so Lizzie disappeared to nurse her. Mrs. Bennet was insistent on getting most of the grocery shopping done for the holiday so William accompanied her while Mr. Bennet stayed behind to spend some quiet time with his sleepy granddaughter once Lizzie was finished nursing.
"She reminds me of you, Lizzie," Mr. Bennet said softly.
"Really, Dad?"
"Mmhmm," he hummed. "When I look at her face, I can see a lot of you in her already."
"I see a lot of William in her features," Lizzie said, leaning into him. "Her nose is distinctly Darcy and she has his dimple. She sometimes smiles in her sleep and it's really noticeable. The other night, she woke us up and she was giggling in her sleep! I didn't even know babies did that."
Mr. Bennet beamed and looked at her. "You did."
"I did not," Lizzie said with surprise.
"Both you and Jane laughed in your sleep. For you, it was right around the one month mark. I'd be holding you while you slept and you'd just start giggling out of nowhere. It was remarkable because you didn't start laughing when you were awake until you were about three months old," Mr. Bennet told her.
"I never knew that. Mom never said anything," Lizzie said.
"Memories come to you at the oddest times," Mr. Bennet mused.
"Look! She's doing it again!" Lizzie said quickly. He brought his attention back to Eleanor and her lips were twitching up into an almost smile as she slept.
"She is!" Mr. Bennet chuckled. "You have a very happy daughter on your hands, Lizzie. You're doing a wonderful job."
Lizzie sighed. "Sometimes I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants."
"I guarantee every new parent feels that way, pumpkin. Your mother and I had no idea what we were doing when we had Jane. We learned as time went on. It was the same when you and Lydia came along. It's all about the experience. You're doing better than you realize. William too. I can see how thrilled he is to be a father. I am so happy that you and Jane found such supportive partners. I want what's best for you girls and I'm sure you're beginning to understand the feeling," Mr. Bennet said with a knowing look in his eye.
Lizzie nodded quickly and her eyes stung with unshed tears while she patted his knee in comfort.
"Thank you, Dad," she managed.
"You're welcome, hon," Mr. Bennet said before adding. "You know you can call any time you want? Even if it's just to chat. I'm here for you, day or night. Not just on Sundays."
Lizzie laughed softly, wiping away a rogue tear. "I'll keep that in mind."
"I love our weekly calls," Mr. Bennet said. "Did you know that Lydia calls me a couple times a week now?"
Lizzie raised an eyebrow. "Does she?"
"Ever since my health scare. She called quite often when I was recovering. Now it's a couple times a week. The topics vary. Sometimes, it's about her job or something happening in the city. More and more lately, it's about her beau. She sounds rather smitten with Adam. It's a shame he couldn't join us for Thanksgiving this year."
"He's good for her," Lizzie agreed. "You know, I have this feeling he'll be able to join us for the holidays sooner than later…"
Lizzie talked at length with her dad, thoroughly enjoying the time alone with him and her daughter. Once William and her mom returned, things sped up from there. She and William got texts from Jane and Bing saying they had landed and when they then checked into the hotel. After the twins had their nap, they planned to come over for dinner. Luckily, her mom had thought ahead and bought enough food for dinner to feed a tiny army so she didn't have to worry. When Eleanor began to fuss, Lizzie retreated back to the nursery to feed and change her. Her little bout of crankiness was subdued with milk and she turned back into a happy baby, just in time for more visitors.
"How are you doing?" William asked, standing in the doorway of the nursery. Lizzie was pacing back and forth and patting Eleanor's back to get her to burp. She turned to look at him and smiled.
"Good. She's nearly ready to meet her aunt and uncle," Lizzie told him. "Are they here?"
"They just parked. If Fran wasn't busy in the kitchen, I think she would have run downstairs to meet them," William joked.
"I wouldn't doubt it," Lizzie said, pausing as she heard a tiny burp from Eleanor. She continued gently patting her back, knowing she had more in her. "Thank you for giving me some time with my dad, Will. I'm sure I owe you one for going out alone with my mom."
"Nonsense," William said, closing the distance between them. "All I had to do was talk about Eleanor in detail and she was perfectly happy."
"You do love talking about this girl," Lizzie said with a twinkle in her eye. William raised an eyebrow as if to say she did as well but smiled before leaning in for a kiss.
"Guilty as charged," William murmured, pulling back slightly. He pressed a quick kiss to Eleanor's temple and she let out another burp as he did it. Lizzie snorted at the timing.
"That's her way of saying she loves you," Lizzie deadpanned.
William shook his head, brushing a hand over his daughter's hair and smoothing it down. "Thank you, Eleanor. Daddy loves you too."
They heard a faint knock followed by a clatter coming from the kitchen.
"I have a distinct feeling they're here," William said. Lizzie agreed and told him to go ahead, saying she would be out in a minute. He made his way out of the nursery, towards the living room, and as the twins spotted them, they started running towards him.
"Uncle William!" they both shouted.
"Uh oh! Twins are on the loose!" William joked, crouching down and holding his arms out. They ran straight into his arms and he very nearly toppled over from their speed. He wrapped his arms around them and gave them a big hug. "Who are these giants? I very distinctly recall Scarlett and Charlie being smaller than this."
"We grew!" Scarlett giggled as he shook them in his arms. He loosened his hold and pulled back. Then he tapped his cheek and Scarlett gave him a big, sloppy kiss. He turned to Charlie and put his hand up, getting a little high five in return.
"Where's Auntie Lizzie?" Charlie asked.
"She will be out in just a minute," William told them, seeing Jane and Bing emerging from the entryway with Mr. Bennet. "Are you excited to meet your cousin?"
The two of them nodded in unison and he smiled at them before standing up. They immediately wrapped themselves around his legs and he chuckled. It was the same routine every time.
"William! It's great to see you," Jane said warmly, walking over to him and giving him a hug. "I see you've got a leech problem."
"It would appear so. They're getting stronger every time," William noted.
"They are. I can barely keep up with them!" Jane said, crouching down. She persuaded the twins to go to the kitchen to see if their grandparents needed help and they scurried away. "How are you doing? Where are Lizzie and Eleanor?"
"They will be right out," William assured. "And I am doing better than ever."
"Even with the lack of sleep?"
"She makes it worth it," William said truthfully. As if on cue, he heard the sound of footsteps and Lizzie came around the corner with Eleanor in her arms. He noticed Jane perk up even more and excitement lit up her face.
"Hi Jane," Lizzie said happily.
"Lizzie! It's so good to see you!" Jane squealed, giving Lizzie a side hug. She reached out and brushed her fingers along her hand before her voice changed to a sweeter, more motherly tone. "Hi there, Eleanor. I'm your auntie Jane! Aren't you just the cutest little thing?"
After a moment, Lizzie handed Eleanor over to Jane and she looked like she was in heaven. William left the doting ladies to say hello to Bing, who had a ridiculous grin on his face when he went in to hug him.
"Hey, Dad," Bing said pointedly, clapping his back for good measure.
"Hey, Bing," William chuckled. "How was your flight?"
"A little bumpy but Scarlett and Charlie did really well," Bing said, checking on the twins to see that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had a handle on them. Jane and Lizzie had already moved to the couch in the living room and were entertaining Eleanor. "I see my wife has her hands full already. We are so thrilled for you and Lizzie, Darcy. I can officially welcome you to the Dads' Club. I mean, you've unofficially been hanging around the entrance for years now."
William chuckled. "I'm happy to be part of it."
"First thoughts?"
"Bing. I just…" William exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think of what to say. "It's indescribable."
Bing patted his back. "You know how long we're here for. I'm here whenever you want to gush."
"Come on, Uncle Bing. I want you to officially meet your niece," William broke out into an easy smile. "And the twins have to meet their cousin."
"Well," Bing glanced back to the kitchen. "Fran has them in her clutches so I have at least ten minutes."
"I say fifteen by the looks of it but let's see, shall we?"
The twins lost interest in helping their grandma right between the ten and fifteen minute mark. Jane ushered them out of the kitchen so Mr. and Mrs. Bennet could get dinner ready to serve. William and Bing offered to lend a hand and began to set the table, both men occasionally glancing over to watch the sweet scene. Jane instructed the twins to sit on the couch, which Charlie did immediately but Scarlett took a minute to reel in.
"Scarlett, do you want to meet your cousin?" Lizzie asked, holding Eleanor to her chest. "She very much wants to meet you."
"Yea!" she replied bouncily.
"Would you do me a favor then? Have a seat next to your brother?"
"I'm hungry!"
Jane crouched down to Scarlett's level, taking hold of her hands. "I'll tell you what, sweetie. We can eat right after you meet her. Does that sound good?"
"Gramma is makin' dinner," Scarlett said, matter-of-factly.
"She is! Doesn't it smell delicious?" Jane asked and she nodded. "Take a seat for your Auntie Lizzie and we'll be eating dinner in no time."
Scarlett finally relented and Jane helped her onto the couch, where she sat next to her brother. Lizzie then kneeled down, positioning herself in front of them.
"This is your cousin Eleanor," Lizzie said, holding her at an angle.
"Baby!" Charlie said confidently.
"That's right, Charlie. Do you want to say hi?"
"Hi, Eleanor," Charlie said, reaching over and shaking her little hand. Eleanor squeaked in response and Charlie brightened, smiling at Jane.
Scarlett then leaned in close and waved. "Hi! My name is Scarlett Lee. How are you?"
Lizzie pressed her lips together to hold back her smile from her formalities. She watched the smile slide of Scarlett's face and began to pout.
"Why won't she talk to me?" Scarlett asked Jane.
"She's only a few weeks old, sweetie. She can't talk yet," Jane told her.
"Can we play with her? I wanna play hide and seek!"
"She's a little too fragile to play with unfortunately," Lizzie said gently.
Scarlett huffed and crossed her arms, throwing herself to the back of the couch. "She's boring."
Lizzie whipped her head to Jane and her eyes were wide with surprise, matching the expression of her older sister. She heard a snort cleverly disguised as a cough coming from the dining room table but she didn't look over, knowing she'd probably start laughing.
"Scarlett, she's not boring," Jane said sternly, getting on her knees. "She's a newborn baby and she's growing every day. She has to learn how to talk and walk just like you have."
"Mommy? Were we this small?" Charlie asked, not paying attention to Scarlett's pouting.
"You sure were, honey. You and Scarlett were the cutest little babies." Jane reached over and caressed his cheek. "Daddy and I took care of you two every day and made sure you were growing just like you were supposed to. Now look how big you are now. Auntie Lizzie and Uncle William are doing the same thing for Eleanor. Your cousin needs some time to get where you are."
"Christmas?" Scarlett asked hopefully.
"Not quite," Lizzie said. "But this time next year? She'll definitely be able to play with you."
"That's too long," Scarlett complained.
"Time will go by quicker than you realize," Jane said in a comforting tone. "And you'll get to see Eleanor every week whenever your aunt and uncle call. You'll see her growing all throughout the year. Do you like that?"
"Yea," Scarlett nodded.
Jane beamed. "Can I have a hug?"
Scarlett climbed off the couch and into Jane's arms, throwing her arms around her mom's neck. Lizzie watched the sweet display and had a flash of her own daughter being big enough to give her a hug. An overwhelming wave of love and happiness washed over her and she let out a shaky breath. William happened to be walking over to get everyone for dinner and he came up to her, giving her a curious and worrying look. She smiled quickly and shook her head, letting him know she was okay. He accepted that without words but knew he'd ask about it later. Then he helped her by taking Eleanor from her arms so she could get up from off the floor.
"Okay, buddy. It's time for dinner!" Bing announced, grabbing Charlie by surprise from behind and making him squeal with laughter. "And when we're done with dinner, you two have some birthday surprises from the family."
Charlie and Scarlett shouted at the same time. "Presents!"
The rest of Tuesday passed by mostly in a blur but Lizzie and William convinced the family to join them on their nightly walk. Once the family headed back to their hotel, they breathed a sigh of relief from the quiet. Though it didn't last long when Eleanor loudly let them know she was hungry.
On Wednesday, Mrs. Bennet and Jane came over while William took Bing, Mr. Bennet, and the twins to some lesser-known spots of San Francisco. It took Lizzie a while to convince him to go, hesitant as he was to leave her and Eleanor. She promised that she was in good hands, especially with two extra people in the house, and gave him a sweet kiss before they left. When Mrs. Bennet and Jane weren't in the kitchen preparing for the next day, they were playing with Eleanor. Lizzie appreciated the extra help and the visit with her mom and older sister. It was surprisingly a relaxing day and it was the first time in a while that Lizzie didn't feel stressed about the amount of people coming over or the holiday itself.
Thursday, November 22nd
Lizzie and William were awake quite early in the morning but it was nothing new compared to the last few weeks. Eleanor had woken up hungry and Lizzie nursed her in bed instead of bringing her into the nursery. When she was finished eating and she was burped, Lizzie laid her down between them on the bed as she kicked her legs and flailed her arms about. They flipped to their sides and William propped his head on one fist, happily watching and playing with their daughter.
"She's very alert this morning," Lizzie murmured, brushing a finger down her little nose.
"Maybe she's excited for her first Thanksgiving," William said, smiling when she got a firm grasp on one his forefinger. He subtly shook his finger and made a face, pretending he was stuck.
"I think she's feeding off our energy," Lizzie said. "She doesn't know what today is but probably sense that today must mean something."
"Today is a big day for you, sweetheart. All your family is here and they can't wait to see you." William leaned in and kissed her cheek a couple times. He pulled away and looked affectionately at Lizzie. "I'm very happy."
"I know," Lizzie said sweetly, reaching over and brushing her thumb across his cheek. "I am too."
William exhaled and brought his head to rest on his bicep so he was eye level with Eleanor. "When do we have to get ready for the day?"
Lizzie turned around to check the time before returning to her position. "My mom said she'd be over at 7:30 to start everything. We have a little over an hour."
Eleanor swung her arms and accidentally smacked William in the face. Lizzie laughed in surprise. "Oof! Who said it was okay to hit people, huh, Eleanor?"
"Can't quite figure out how to control your limbs yet, baby girl?" Lizzie asked. She pressed her lips to Eleanor's head and whispered against her skin. "It's okay. You'll get the hang of it soon enough, I promise you."
"Can you believe she's almost a month old? I mean…four more days and we're hitting a milestone," William said, brushing his fingers along her arm.
"Should we celebrate?" Lizzie asked teasingly. "Have a little party?"
"You know who you married, right?"
"We celebrate all the important days," Lizzie murmured. "And she's going to have a lot of them. Right, baby girl? You're going to grow right before our eyes."
"But not too fast, you got it?" William leaned in close to press kisses to her stomach. After a moment, he sniffed and pulled away and gave a knowing look to Lizzie. "Somebody needs her diaper changed."
"Just when we were enjoying our time with you, Eleanor?" Lizzie clicked her tongue in disapproval and shook her head.
"It's probably a good time to get up anyway," William said, sitting up. "Gotta get this little one dressed. I'll change her."
"Thanks. I think I'll jump in the shower," Lizzie said, picking up Eleanor and getting out of bed. "Come on, stinky girl. You're going with Daddy."
"We're going to get you cleaned up and ready for your first Thanksgiving!" William said enthusiastically as he walked out of the bedroom. "And then you can watch Daddy do his yoga!"
Lizzie's parents and Jane arrived within an hour of each other. Mrs. Bennet and Jane took over the kitchen while Mr. Bennet and William occasionally lent a hand when it was needed. Bing brought the twins over just before one and Lydia arrived soon after, jumping right into aunt-mode and keeping the twins occupied. Gigi was the last to arrive and later than she intended but she was looking as stylish as ever and had desserts in hand.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry I'm late!" Gigi apologized to Lizzie, hanging up her coat in the hallway. "My kitchen sink was leaking and I only made it worse trying to fix it. Thank god my neighbor is so handy with tools."
"Your cute neighbor who lives across from you? The one you keep running into?" Lizzie prodded. Gigi turned a shade of red and Lizzie grinned. "Uh huh. I thought so."
"Oh, shut up. He was just helping," Gigi insisted as they headed down the entryway.
"Don't worry about it. The turkey isn't quite ready so you have your choice of entertainment. There are the cooks in the kitchen, the small humans running around with Lydia and Bing, and the tiny human in the living room with her father as a playmate."
Gigi's face visibly softened at the cute sight in front of them. Eleanor was propped up against William's legs wearing a onesie that said 'cutest turkey in town' and he was making silly faces at her. "I think I'll choose the tiny human."
"Yea," Lizzie grinned. "It's the best choice, in my opinion."
Lizzie followed Gigi, pausing for a brief moment when Scarlett ran across her path. She was surprised at how relaxed she felt despite the amount of chaos going on in the apartment. Gigi sat next to William and he brightened from her appearance, putting his arm around her shoulder and telling her that he was happy she finally made it. They caught up with each other and Gigi joined in making silly faces at the baby. Just as Mrs. Bennet announced that it was time to set the table, Eleanor declared loudly that she was hungry. Lizzie plucked her from William's lap and retreated to the nursery, closing the door for privacy. She actually found some peace and quiet while she nursed Eleanor and let her take her time. When there was a knock on the door, she was actually a bit startled.
"Lizzie? It's Jane," her muffled voice came through the door.
"You can come in," Lizzie said. Jane offered her a warm smile as she opened the door, walking in before closing it behind her. "Is everybody waiting for me?"
"You still have time. You know how long it actually takes to get all the food on the table," Jane assured her.
"She's nearly done," Lizzie said. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Jane said, sitting down in William's rocking chair. "I offered to come get you. A moment of quiet sounded nice."
Lizzie chuckled. "It makes a world of difference being in here, doesn't it? Don't get me wrong. I love our family but it's pretty hectic out there. I'm surprised Eleanor isn't more upset."
"Scarlett and Charlie slept through car alarms and fire engine sirens when they were babies. They got used to noise as time went on. Now, it's practically impossible to wake them up once they fall asleep," Jane told her. "They're completely oblivious in the beginning. Nursing was so helpful to get them back to sleep."
"I've noticed that. I thought I would hate this part of motherhood but I see why so many women prefer it. I mean, I'm only just getting past the soreness and I found the best nipple cream a week ago but I'm starting to see the perks," Lizzie said, looking over to her older sister. "Besides the obvious milk comas she puts herself in and how happy it makes her, I get this special bonding time with her that I wouldn't otherwise. Those moments when she's looking right at me, I see this sparkle in her eyes and my heart gets so full…I'm rambling, I know. There's a lot that I didn't expect when I became a mom."
"You're not rambling," Jane said softly. "I know exactly what you're talking about. I may have felt like a cow sometimes with two babies attached to me but I still wouldn't trade that time for anything. That was my time with them and nobody else's."
"I hate to say it but I see why Mom was so pushy to get her grandkids," Lizzie said, pausing when she felt Eleanor slip off. She double-checked to see that she was truly finished and she adjusted her clothing. She laid a burping cloth on her shoulder and held Eleanor up, patting her back before standing up. "She wanted us to experience the same joy she did when we were babies."
"There's joy with every moment, you'll see. Even when you get past the big milestones of crawling, first words, and talking, you get to see them learning. You get to teach them," Jane said. "Scarlett's always 'designing' outfits with me and showing me her drawings. She's even given me input on a few of my own. She has so much energy that we're thinking of enrolling her in gymnastics because she sees it on TV and tries to copy the movements. Charlie's been carrying around books for as long as we can remember and now he's so determined to read them. He can actually read the books you guys have sent him! It could be memorization but still. And, he's always asking questions because he wants to know everything. He's so inquisitive. It's wonderful to see them develop." Jane laughed at herself. "Now I'm the one who's rambling."
"No!" Lizzie insisted, moving Eleanor once she burped. She rested her head on her shoulder as she began to nod off. "I can't wait to get there and see what Eleanor is capable of."
Jane got up from the chair and moved closer to Lizzie, giving her that big sister smile of hers. Then she brushed a finger across Eleanor's pinkened cheeks and watched as she finally gave in to sleep.
"With you as her mom and William as her dad? She'll be capable of anything."
Thanksgiving dinner was well worth the wait. Lizzie's mom made way too much food, even with Jane reeling her in, but it was delicious and everybody was content. Eleanor hung out in between Lizzie and William in her swing seat, snoozing away her first big holiday. They even stuck with the tradition of what everybody was thankful for and what the best part of the year was. Jane and Bing talked about the twins and the successes in their professional lives, Lydia was happy at the theater and things with Adam were going well, and Gigi was simply thrilled to be surrounded by family for the holiday. Lizzie and William's answers were basically identical and expected but the table thought it was a sweet display. William slid his hand into Lizzie's as she verbally fawned over Eleanor.
After dessert was served, nearly everybody helped clear the table of dirty dishes and half-eaten food. Bing, Lydia, and Mr. Bennet took over cleaning the dishes and putting leftovers in containers, practically forcing Mrs. Bennet to relax. She joined the others in the living room where they had A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing on the television. She sat next to Gigi, who was sitting on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and a now-awake Eleanor laying on top. Jane was sitting in a chair next to the couch and were the twins on the floor, both wrapped up in blankets and nodding off. Lizzie and William were relaxing on the other couch, their hands joined, and her resting her head on his shoulder.
"The target audience for this movie is either completely unaware or asleep on the floor," William pointed out as the credits rolled.
"You know it's tradition," Lizzie said, nudging against him.
Once commercials began playing, he switched the channel to an old black and white movie and turned the volume on low.
"So, Jane," Gigi said. "When are you guys heading back?"
"First flight out early Saturday morning," Jane answered. "Bing has an event at the center on Sunday that he needs to help set up for and I've got a show in a couple weeks so I need to finish up my designs before Monday."
"Whenever I wear something you send me, I get at least two people asking where I got it," Lizzie praised. "I love my Jane originals."
"Thanks, sis," Jane beamed.
"I can't wait until Eleanor fits into the things you've made her," Lizzie said.
"Most stylish baby of the year," Jane said playfully. "There's no shortage of—"
"Um…guys?!" Gigi interrupted, sounding a bit frantic. "What's going on here? I didn't even notice until just this second!"
"Oh dear," Mrs. Bennet murmured, glancing at Gigi's lap. "What a mess, Eleanor."
Lizzie and William both quickly stood up to help out Gigi.
"Looks like she had a blowout," Lizzie winced for Gigi's sake.
Lizzie scooped Eleanor and the blanket up at the same time and Gigi stood up, hurrying to the bathroom to make sure her outfit was okay.
"There goes your adorable outfit, baby girl! Time to get you changed," Lizzie spoke to her in a sweet voice.
"I'll throw this in the wash," William said as they pulled the blanket off Eleanor. Lizzie excused herself and took the baby to the nursery while he disappeared around the corner to the laundry room. Bing, Lydia, and Mr. Bennet stopped what they were doing and asked what was going on.
"Gigi has experienced her first blowout with Eleanor," Jane said. "And she was in her lap."
"Yikes," Bing said with a chuckle, handing the last dried dish to Lydia and putting the towel away. The three of them left a cleaner kitchen and joined everyone in the living room, both Mr. Bennet and Lydia joining Mrs. Bennet on the couch. A few moments later, Gigi returned from the bathroom looking a little weary. "Any lasting damage? Think you'll live?"
"Don't be mean! You're sounding too much like Fitz," Gigi sulked. "Nothing got on me."
Bing perched himself on the lip of the couch. "Jane, remember that time we were in Central Park and it happened to both of them?"
"Oh my god!" Jane laughed. "I had blocked that out. It was so bad."
"I'll take your word for it," Gigi said, obviously not wanting them to elaborate. William walked back into the room and gave a comforting smile to his sister. He put an arm around her shoulder when he reached her and squeezed her upper arm.
"How are you doing?" William asked gently.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," Gigi shook her head. "It's not a big deal."
"You were actually pretty lucky. I had an incident with Eleanor last week and my shirt did not survive," William said.
"You get used to all sorts of things when you start havin' babies," Mrs. Bennet said. "After a while, nothin' fazes you."
"I can't recall how many times I was spit up on by you girls," Mr. Bennet said.
"Lydia here was always eatin' more than she should." Mrs. Bennet patted her daughter's thigh. "More than half the time, it would come right back up. Then she'd giggle like she did it on purpose."
"I still choose to believe she did," Mr. Bennet teased. Lydia scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"We're back!" Lizzie came walking in with Eleanor. She was in a new white onesie with the saying 'sweet as pie' with little pies above and below the writing. "She's all cleaned up, changed, and smells as good as new. She wants Gigi to know that she's very sorry for what she did. She didn't mean to. She let me know while we were in the nursery."
Gigi softened and made a little whimpering noise before making grabby hands. "Oh, I forgive her. Bring her back."
Lizzie laughed softly and handed her over before sidling against William's side. They exchanged a glance and smiled at each other as Gigi held Eleanor close to her chest, bouncing her slightly and talking quietly to her. Jane made the effort to get everyone's attention away from them and turned the volume up on the television a little. It worked and conversations dissolved into smaller groups.
"You know," Lizzie said to William after a few moments. "There's no denying one thing."
"What's that?" William asked.
"She definitely made her first Thanksgiving memorable."
Friday, November 23rd
With Jane, Bing, and the twins flying home Saturday morning and Lizzie's parents leaving Saturday evening, they had to make the most of Friday. Lydia was able to switch days with a co-worker so she would be able to spend time with the family. Lizzie actually had nothing planned and was hoping for a more relaxing day. She was in for a surprise when her sisters and mom told her their intent to kidnap her for the morning to get manicures and pedicures. She left the room to get ready but William knew something was off with her and followed her. He saw the hesitation in her eyes when he walked in after her, closing the door behind them.
"What if something happens while I'm gone? I don't know if I should go," Lizzie said, her brows knitting with worry. William sighed and reached out, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"You deserve this break, Lizzie. After all the late nights and nursing Eleanor and everything else, I would think you'd jump at the chance for some 'you' time" William said. "You could think of this outing as practice for when you go back to work too."
"That's not for two more months," Lizzie grumbled.
"Lizzie," William said, looking her in the eyes. "Are you scared to leave her alone with me?"
"No!" she said quickly. "I don't doubt your ability to take care of Eleanor. You're amazing with her. I just haven't really left her for more than a few minutes at a time so far."
"You're anxious?"
"Very," Lizzie admitted, chewing on her bottom lip.
William gave her a sympathetic look and pulled her in for a hug, resting his chin on the top of her head and rubbing her back. "We'll be fine. There's breastmilk in the fridge, plenty of diapers, and I'll have two extra hands with Thomas and Bing. I have you and 911 on speed dial."
Lizzie exhaled with relief as she pulled back, briefly closing her eyes when he kissed her forehead.
"Am I being stupid?"
"No," William said vehemently. "We've read about this. You and Eleanor have built up this wonderful bond so of course it's going to affect you. I feel it whenever I go out to do errands."
"You do?"
"Yea. You don't notice how many times I check in when I'm out?" William asked.
"I'm used to it, I guess," Lizzie said with a sheepish smile. "I like that you do it."
"It's hard to leave you two for any amount of time. I feel immense relief when I get back because I can see my girls again," William explained. "It's only a couple hours, Lizzie. Besides, it's the nail place a couple blocks away so you're, at most, five minutes from us."
"You all did that on purpose," Lizzie said as it dawned on her.
"We did," William replied with a smile. "I can check in with you every so often, if you want. Send a picture every twenty minutes."
"Maybe a bit overboard with the pictures," Lizzie snorted. "Checking in is helpful, at least."
"I will," William said and then checked his phone. "Gigi is going to be meeting you ladies there, just to let you know. You're going to have a good time, Lizzie. It's pretty much been the three of us for these past weeks. Won't it nice to have some pampering time?"
"Yea, it will," Lizzie said, the corner of her lips twitching up.
"It's a good thing I didn't suggest a spa day," William said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"We'll work our way up to that," Lizzie said lightly. He smiled and leaned in to kiss each corner of her mouth. He nipped at her lips and something awoke in her, making her want more. She ran her hands up his chest and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt to pull him in closer as she deepened the kiss. He slid his arms around her and pressed his hands to her back, holding her against him. She hummed against his lips and they lingered when they finally broke apart. They stayed there for a moment and she saw the mischief in his eyes, feeling a tiny thrill from the exchange.
"That was nice," William said, his voice husky.
Lizzie stared at his lips for a fraction before making eye contact. "Just my way of showing you how thankful I am."
She cleared her throat and stepped away. "I should get ready. I want to nurse Eleanor before we leave. Would you let them know?"
"Sure thing," William said as he headed for the bedroom door. He paused and glanced back at her. "Lizzie? We'll be right here when you get back."
"I'm counting on it," Lizzie smiled.
Lizzie enjoyed the time with her family and she realized she had nothing to worry about. She felt refreshed from getting her hands and feet massaged and was glad everybody thought of it. They picked up lunch for the whole family on the way home and they were only gone for a couple hours total.
Lizzie and William spent the rest of the day with the family and Eleanor was eating up the attention she was getting from everybody. Gigi wasn't able to stay but the rest of them went to a park after lunch to soak up the sun. Lizzie, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet sat on blankets, chatting and playing with Eleanor while everybody else ran around with the twins. The twins' Frisbee skills had improved tenfold since William and Bing had taught them the year prior. Charlie was still having issues with his aim but he was more patient than before. Once the clouds began to roll in and Eleanor became fussier, they decided to head back home. Jane and Bing put the twins down for a nap and Lizzie retreated with the baby to nurse her.
They had a quiet evening in, wrapping up a good day. They ate Thanksgiving leftovers, shared pictures of Eleanor, and talked through the evening. When Jane and Bing called it a night, it took them a while to leave, knowing they wouldn't see each other for a while. Christmas morning was reserved for opening presents on Domino but they would be spending the holiday with Bing's parents. Lydia, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet followed suit and Lizzie and William spent the rest of the evening with their daughter, all too happy to finally have time alone.
Saturday was much quieter than the past week. Lizzie's parents were still around, but they mainly wanted to help around the house and get as much time with Eleanor as they could before they headed back home.
Lizzie and William were grateful for her parents' extended visit and they were actually sad to see them go - up until when Mrs. Bennet asked when they were planning to add to the family. Granted, she had also posed the same question to Jane and Bing when the twins were circling her legs. Lizzie knew her mother was thrilled over her grandkids but figured it was ingrained in her to ask when more were coming.
After her parents left and got on the road, it was back to the three of them. They were exhausted from having people over every day for hours on end for the past five days. It was wonderful to see everybody but they needed peace and quiet. Even Eleanor seemed to sense it and fell asleep in Lizzie's arms as soon as she made herself comfortable on the couch next to William to relax, bringing an end to her first big holiday.
Monday, November 26th
Eleanor was one month old exactly and there were already glimpses of who she was becoming. She had gained a pound and two ounces over the last four weeks, bringing her just past seven pounds, and had grown half an inch. She smiled constantly in her sleep, occasionally giggled, and loved taking naps on her parents' chests but she always slept the longest when she was with William. She was a big cuddler, loved bath time, and being swaddled, but was indifferent to tummy time. She hated dirty diapers but loved getting her diaper changed and always stared. In the last few days, she had begun to lift and support her head for a few seconds at a time. Her eyes were still greyish-blue and they were starting to follow moving objects. She was now cooing and gurgling whenever Lizzie and William played with her.
As for Lizzie and William, they couldn't be happier or prouder parents. Were they exhausted from the late nights? Of course they were. It took a couple weeks to adjust to the midnight and three am feedings. Now, Eleanor was starting to sleep five hours through the night and it was all about the timing of when to put her to bed. Their mornings started out a bit earlier than before but they were early risers already.
William and Lizzie celebrated Eleanor's one-month milestone at home with just the three of them. Eleanor was in a cuddly mood from the time she woke up, perfect for the gloomy weather outside. She fell asleep on Lizzie halfway through the morning while they were relaxing, rendering Lizzie incapable of getting anything done.
"She is her mother's daughter," William noted as he set a bottle of water down near Lizzie and sat down on the ground in front of her. "Always falling asleep on top of people."
"You always seem to enjoy the fact that I use you as a pillow," Lizzie pointed out.
"Oh, I am," William smiled. "But she still got that from you."
"I love that she did," Lizzie murmured, caressing Eleanor's head. "Cuddling is practically standard for this family. It's how I know she's ours."
"Really? It's not the fact that she has my nose or your pale skin or anything like that?" William teased. Lizzie snorted and gently smacked him.
"Shut it, you," Lizzie half-heartedly warned.
"I apologize," William said, giving her a quick kiss. "May I make it up to you? What would you like for lunch? I'll go out and get you whatever you want."
William was gone just long enough that Eleanor woke up and Lizzie nursed and changed her. By the time he came back, Lizzie was sitting on the floor and watching Eleanor while she had her tummy time on the couch. Not only did he have the food he went out for but he had a small bouquet of daisies with a wax number one tucked between them and a container from Lizzie's favorite bakery. Lizzie was taken by surprise and her face softened at his sweet gesture. She should have realized he would have done something.
"Oh, Will," Lizzie said softly as he set the food on the kitchen counter, grabbing something from a drawer and putting it in his pocket. Then he walked into the living room to join them, putting the container down on the coffee table.
"I did," William said, sitting on the floor next to Lizzie and handing the bouquet to her.
"Daisies?"
"They were the most age-appropriate," William said. "They symbolize innocence and childhood amongst other things."
"They're perfect," Lizzie said, smelling them. "Even if this little one has no idea what they are."
"She will," William replied confidently, focusing on Eleanor as she gurgled from the couch.
"Did you see what Daddy got you? It's your first bouquet of flowers!" Lizzie said in her sweet voice, laying them down next to Eleanor. They watched as she lifted her head for a few seconds and cooed at the flowers before dropping her head back down the couch. "Is this going to be a regular occurrence?"
"The flowers or celebrating each month?"
"Both," Lizzie replied, looking at her husband. She could clearly see the spark in his eyes.
"Flowers are always a must for my girls," William said. "And yes. At least until she turns one. Then we celebrate each year."
"We're already becoming the overly proud parents who celebrate and capture everything," Lizzie commented.
"Becoming? Who is dangerously close to running out of space on her phone because she takes pictures of every outfit her daughter wears and every time she's napping?" William asked playfully.
"Me," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You win. I want to celebrate and not miss a moment."
"I thought so," William said, reaching behind him to grab the box before handing it to her. "This is for her first month. Plus something for you."
Lizzie opened the box to find a piece of her favorite chocolate cake as well as a cupcake with vanilla frosting next to it. Before she could say anything, William pulled a lone candle out of his pocket and held it up.
"Oh my god. I love you and your silliness," Lizzie murmured. He pulled out a box of matches he got from the kitchen and shook them. The noise caught Eleanor's attention and she gurgled, holding her head up for longer than before. Her whole body wobbled and she dropped her head to the couch again.
"You are getting so much stronger, baby girl!" Lizzie cheered, rubbing Eleanor's back. "So proud of you."
"It's amazing to watch her progress every day," William said in wonder. "And when she discovers something new? It's like we get to experience it for the first time too."
"I love it," Lizzie said, resting her head on his shoulder. William grabbed the cupcake before taking the box from Lizzie and putting it down next to him. He stuck the candle in the middle, struck a match to light it and then held it up between them.
They shared a glance before they gently blew the candle out, then turned their attention to Eleanor. "Here's to being one-month old, sweetheart. We love you so much," William said warmly.
Notes: Can you believe Eleanor is already a month old? Time is going to fly for these two.
Let's thank the ever amazing Sarah for continuing to be the best beta I could ask for.
There's going to be a few extras on the dizzieslearningcurve blog over the next few days. I think I've got some good ones you're going to like :P