The past three months have just flown by. I can't believe all that has happened since Christian and I got married. We wanted to wait until Ava was 100% healthy before we went on our honeymoon. I still can't believe he took three weeks ago and we started in New York with Ava of course and then Mia took over while Christian took me to Europe to see the sights. I loved England most of all, but I missed my little girl so much that we decided to cut our trip short by a week and spent the remainder of our time in New York. I was able to get caught up with meetings while in the big City before we headed back home to start production on Max's movie.
To all of our surprise, Max who decided to stay in Seattle after all proposed to Mia after we returned from the East Coast and they are going to marry in the spring, I couldn't be happier for my two best friends.
Now today is the day we have all been waiting for. In just an hour, Ava Rose Grey will legally be our daughter. We had so many hoops to jump through and I couldn't wait for it to be all over. I've waited so long for this day but it's also bittersweet too. Carrick and Grace our hosting a little reception for us after court and we invited Kate's parents but they politely declined. Christian told me not to take it personally but even though they had our full support in moving forward with the adoption, I think it's still painful for them as with the rest of us. When we first approached them with the idea of adopting Ava, Christian and I made it very clear to them that they are still her grandparents and we want them to be very much party of her life as active participants. We even agreed to a sort of custody arrangement that they would get her for a weekend out of every month and a week every summer for vacation not to mention that they are welcome in our home at anytime.
Speaking of home, Christian's wedding gift to me besides our European honeymoon was our new home by the sound. He surprised Ava and me the day after the wedding, saying that he purchased it when we were together the first time and had Elliott's company start on the renovation before the accident so the project took a little hiatus before it was completed just in time for the wedding. We moved in just last weekend and it's been amazing. Don't get me wrong, I love Escala but having this home, just feels like we're a real family. I don't know how to describe the feeling but I can't wait to raise Ava here.
For court, I'm dressed in a simple black shirt and white blouse while Christian is my favorite navy suit and Ava is dressed in a pink lace dress that makes my heart melt when I saw her in it. Christian picked it out and dressed her this afternoon to surprise me. He told me that the dress was made from a dress in Kate's closet that her mother had kept all these years. To commemorate this special occasion, Christian and I each wrote letters to Ava that we will read to her when she's older and we will keep in a special box along with photos of Kate and Elliott and us. We have a special necklace for her once she's older so we will just keep it safe in the box for now.
When we arrive, Carrick, Grace, Mia, Max and my mom and Bob and of course Ray are all waiting in the hallway for us.
After we are called into Judge Hollis' courtroom I get this feeling like something is bad is going to happen like he is going to deny our petition. I have been having all these strange dreams lately and I don't know exactly why.
"Don't worry, everything is in order," Christian whispers in my ear and we walk hand in hand inside.
The short 25-minute ceremony is over and we ready to celebrate. Ava did so good and even let the judge hold her for a photo. He remarked what a beautiful and smart little girl we had and to take very good care of her. We even invited the judge to the reception but he said he had a full docket so he just thanked us for the invitation.
On the way to the Grey's, I asked Taylor to stop so I can make a quick errand and Christian looked so worried. I told him that I was fine and to go on without me and I would meet him at the house.
I only arrive a few minutes after everyone else and I slip upstairs before anyone knows I'm here.
The word Pregnant flashes on the screen instantly after I take the test and I had a strong feeling I was pregnant but I wanted to make sure. Christian knew I stopped taking my birth control after the wedding and we were just letting nature take its course and it didn't take long. In my calculations, I think I'm around four to five weeks pregnant. I've had a few days to get used to the idea that I could be pregnant but to find out that I'm carrying a very special miracle in my belly is on a whole new level. I want to surprise Christian and I know exactly the way to do it. I decide to hide the test in my purse and head downstairs to join the party.
"I was about to send a search party out for you," Christian says when he spots in walking into the kitchen and kisses me.
"I'm here now so we can get this party started. Where is the guest of honor by the way?"
"Max and Mia are trying to get her to walk so she can walk down the aisle as their flower girl."
"But she just learned how to crawl last week."
"I tried to tell them that, but they were insistent."
We both laugh and Christian puts his arm around my waist and we find our daughter in the living room and Max is making her laugh. I will never ever get tired of that sound. I wonder how she will do with another baby around the house. She will be barely be a year old. I don't want to second guess our decision to have a baby so quickly but everything is in God's hands now.
"So Max, are you ready to start filming tomorrow?" Grace asks when we sit down to dinner.
"I still can't believe it. This is all because of Ana. If she didn't give me this huge opportunity who knows where I would be right now," He says looking over to Mia and kissing her hand. They make each other so happy. I think finally Christian has got it out of this thick skull that Max was somehow still in love with me.
I'm exhausted by the time we get home, but the idea of surprising Christian with my big news gives me renewed vigor. I change Ava for bed and ask Christian to come in to say goodnight. I have a video camera hidden to get his reaction when he finds out.
"Is someone ready for bed," Christian says when he enters the nursery and I putting away her clothes when he leans over her crib. He freezes when he sees her Big Sister onesie I dressed her in. Christian picks up Ava and spins to face me.
"Are you serious? We're going to have a baby?" He says with the biggest grin on his face.
"Looks like it daddy," I reply and I walk closer to him and he places his hand on my belly and kisses me and then Ava.
"I love you three so much."