Beca and the baby had been asleep for at least 30 minutes and Jesse was hoping to get at least that before Dylan woke up ready to eat again. So when he woke up 2 hours later and looked at the clock, he freaked out. Beca and the baby were still asleep. Jesse reached over and started to stroke Beca's leg to get her to wake up. "What time is it?" she asked rubbing her eyes.
"It's almost 6:00." He said.
"Oh my God… are you serious?"
"Yeah, I came in here to lay down 2 hours ago hoping to get a 30 minute nap and I just woke up."
"He hasn't eaten since right before 3:30. That's the longest he's gone."
"Maybe he's just starting to getting fuller each feed or maybe he's was really worn out after everyone passed him around."
"Maybe, but he needs to eat." Beca said.. Jesse scooped the baby up and changed his diaper. After the baby was changed, he gave him back to Beca so she could nurse, then he went to take a shower. When they were done, they went into the family room where their parents were watching TV and waiting for them to wake up so they could have dinner.
Beca sat next to her Dad and handed the baby off to him. Jesse decided they needed to take three generation photos. Grace and Sheila both started taking pictures. When they were finished, they all sat down to eat and started talking.
"So Beca…You know that I'm retiring at the end of Spring term" her dad said.
"Yeah, we're going to try to be there." Beca said smiling.
"Well…Mom and I have been talking and we're thinking about moving out here afterwards."
"That's very nice David." Grace said. "It is lovely here."
"Really? What about Mamaw and Papaw?"
"They'll come too, and move in with us. I don't want to see my grandbabies though a computer screen, in photographs and on holidays. I want to be able to see them all the time. Mamaw and Papaw feel the same way. Beca they miss you."
"I miss them too. We'd love to have you out here but you know I only had one baby right?"
"Funny Beca…Yes, I know you only had one baby but we're hoping you'll have a few more and we've sort of adopted all of your friends and their kids. They were all calling us Nana and Papa today. We loved it."
"Aww...that's really sweet!" Beca said.
"That little Nicholas is really something else." Shelia said giggling.
"He is!" Beca agreed laughing. "He's a mess!"
"This is great…I never thought I see the day when you said you wanted to move out here." Jesse said.
"I glad you guys are moving here. You're more than welcome to stay here while you house hunt." Beca said.
"Beca you're my only child and I miss you dearly. I love our skype calls but it's not the same as being able to see you all the time. These last few days have taught me that life is too precious to be apart from family."
"I miss you too Dad. Do you think you'll settle here in Calabasas? Or are you going to look somewhere else?" Beca asked.
"We like it here in Calabasas, but we're not going to limit ourselves or encroach on you guys. So we're going to keep our options open."
"We'll definitely keep our eyes open for something for you." Beca said.
"That would be great honey." Shelia said.
They finished dinner and Sheila offered to clean up. While Sheila and grace cleaned the kitchen, Beca went into the studio and found the business card for their realtor and gave it to her dad. They definitely had some time to find the perfect home.
It had been a long day, everyone was tired and decided to call it a day. Their parents retired to their shared basement apartment downstairs. They loved it down there. They had separate bedrooms and bathrooms but shared the common kitchen and living area. Beca and Jesse made it their home away from home which they loved.
Beca, Jesse and the baby retired to their bedroom. Jesse decided to spend some 'quality time' with the baby while Beca showered. When she got out of the shower, Dylan was laying on Jesse's chest. He was telling Dylan all the fun facts about 'Finding Nemo' while the movie played on his laptop. It was a such sweet sight. She loved seeing Jesse with their son, even if Dylan was receiving his first official movication at only a 2 days old. She took several pictures to document his first of many movications before joining her family in bed.
Over the next several days, they received more congratulatory floral arrangements and plants than most families receive for a funeral. Gifts were also rolling in like crazy. Their nights were starting to get rough and sleep was hard to come by. If Dylan could nurse 24/7 he was happy but that was next to impossible not to mention extremely exhausting. Jesse helped as much as he could but he couldn't help with the feedings so he would sleep while Beca nursed then they would trade off.
David and Sheila decided to contact the realtor that helped Beca and Jesse find their house. They made an appointment to see some model homes for a new subdivision that was going up about 10 minutes from Beca and Jesse. On the way to their appointment, David and Sheila took Jesse's parents to the airport since Beca wasn't allowed to drive yet and Jesse was just too tired to drive.
While sitting in the family room that afternoon, there was a knock at the door. When Jesse opened it he saw a man standing there and said, "Hi...can I help you?"
"Yes sir. Is this the Swanson residence?"
"Yes."
"I have a delivery for you from a Mr. Luke Bryan." When Beca heard Luke's name her curosity was peaked. "Will you sign here please?" The driver asked. Jesse took the clip board as the driver motioned to someone else to bring the delivery in. Jesse handed the clip board back to the driver and opened the front door a little wider so the boxes could be brought in the house.
When the driver turned to leave, Jesse tried to hand him a tip. "No sir, that isn't necessary. Mr. Bryan has already taken care of that. Have a good afternoon."
"Thanks man...you too." Jesse said as he closed the door. Holding the baby in her right arm, Beca took the card from a large box.
"Beca and Jesse,
I couldn't let the birth of Dylan go unnoticed. Congratulations, parenthood is a wild and crazy ride. Have fun and Best Wishes!
Lots of love,
Luke, Caroline, Thomas and Tatum Bryan"
Luke had obviously sent his wife on a shopping spree. Inside the box was a huge basket full of baby clothes, blankets, toys, books, a tiny pair of wrangler jeans, a plaid pearl snap shirt, a cowboy hat and boots. In the second box held was a guitar case with a note for Dylan. Inside the guitar case was a custom PS14ce Grand Concert series Taylor made guitar autographed by Luke. He had Dylan's name was inscribed under the bridge and his initials were inscribed on the head of the guitar as well.
"Little Man Dylan,
I know you're brand new and you cannot possibly use this any time soon, but I hope with time that this guitar inspires you to be as talented and musically inclined as your Mommy. She's amazing! I hear you Daddy is pretty great too!
With lots of love,
Luke Bryan and family"
"Jesse!" Beca said, "You realize this guitar is worth over $10,000 right?!"
"What? Are you kidding?"
"No, Jess...Taylor guitars are expensive and custom made guitars are VERY expensive."
"Wow! That's amzing!"
"We have to get his picture taken with the guitar and his cowboy stuff." Beca said. She told Jesse she would get Kenzi, the photographer that takes the photographs for the album covers at recording studio, to come to the house to take the pictures. She was sure that Kenzi would have some great ideas.
Beca called Luke to thank him for his very generous gift. They chatted for a few minutes before Luke's wife Caroline got on the phone to congratulate Beca. When Luke got back on the phone, he told her that he would be back in LA in a couple of weeks and promised to bring Caroline and the boys over for a visit.
While Beca's parents were gone, she asked Jesse to run to the store for milk, bread, eggs and a few other things. It was the first time Beca was completely on her own with the baby since he was born.
While Jesse was out, Dylan nursed then Beca put him in the swing while she checked her emails. She hadn't done anything work related since before the birth. When the baby started crying, she laid him in her lap so she could respond to an email. As long as he was on her chest he seemed happy but the minute she tried to lay him down he cried. Beca decided to try playing music for him. When he heard the music he settled down in her lap while she rubbed his tummy. She was able to get some work done before it was time for Dylan to nurse again. That's when she realized how long Jesse had been gone.
Beca was crying from exhaustion and Dylan was crying just because he could. Debi had shown them a trick she used with her girls when they would fuss, she would put the knuckle of her index finger in the baby's mouth as sort of a pacifier. Dylan seemed to like it but right now it wasn't working. When Jesse walked in, he heard the baby crying and he knew he was gonna get it.
She gave him the evil eye as he walked in the house. "Two hours to get milk, bread, eggs and fruit?" Beca questioned as she paced the floor bouncing the baby on her chest. She was crying so hard that she was almost sobbing.
Jesse slumped his shoulders and said, "I think I might have closed my eyes in the store parking lot."
"Are you kidding me right now?!"
"I'm sorry babe."
"Don't babe me. I'm exhausted."
"I'll take the baby so you can shower and nap."
"Thank you!" she said handing the baby off to him before stomping toward their bedroom.
When she walked in the room, she heard Stacie's ringtone. "Hey Stace." she said as she sighed.
"Hey lil momma. You ok?"
"No, I sent Jesse to the store for a few things and he was gone for two hours."
"Why was he gone so long?"
"He went to the store and took a nap in the parking lot!" Beca yelled at Stacie, "Where's my nap?"
"I don't know Beca." Stacie said, "I didn't steal your nap."
"I'm sorry. It's just that my boobs hurt, they're covered in lanolin and I'm pretty sure I smell like an old couch!" Beca said as she sat down in her make-up chair at the bathroom counter.
"Beca...calm down." Stacie said. "Jesse's home now right?"
"Yes...he has Dylan in the family room."
"Good...take a shower and a nap. I'll check on you later."
"Thanks Stace...Love you."
"Love you too." Stacie said before hanging up.
Beca went to take a shower 40 minutes earlier but he could still hear the shower running. The baby was crying and there was no soothing him. He tried putting his knuckle in the baby's mouth like Debi showed them, but that didn't work. He was hungry and Beca wasn't pumping yet so she really needed to hurry up.
Jesse walked in the bathroom with the crying baby. He found Beca sitting on her make-up chair and her head down on the bathroom counter. "Beca!" Jesse called, the shower was running and she was asleep. "Babe..." he said as he touched her shoulder startling her. "The shower works better when you're in it."
"Shut up Jesse." She mumbled lifting her head.
"The baby's hungry and my nipples are of no use to him." Jesse said as he turned to the baby and said, "I know little man, I know...Mommy's coming."
Jesse turned off the shower and followed Beca into the bedroom. She sat on the bed and held her arms out for the baby. "I'm sorry baby." she whispered to Dylan as he aggressively latched on.
"Babe...I really am sorry for being gone so long." Jesse apologized.
"I know you are. I'm just as tired as you are and you admitted to having a nap when I didn't get one."
Kissing her forehead and pulling her in for a hug, he said, "as soon as he's finished eating, it's your turn...I promise." She looked up at him and kissed him before saying, "Thank you."
As Jesse promised, when the baby was finished eating, Beca finally got a quick shower and a nap. When she woke a couple of hours later, she went into the family room. Jesse was laying on the couch with Dylan on his chest, both of them asleep. She hated to wake them so she adjusted the blanket before going to the kitchen to cook dinner.
About 20 minutes later, Beca walked over to the couch and removed the blanket, then ran her hand over the baby's back. She squatted down next to the couch and kissed his cheek, then Jesse's. Jesse reached up and started to rub the Beca's back before opening his eyes.
"hey." he said.
"hey...dinner's ready." she said kissing Jesse.
"Ok...I'll put him in the swng."
"Thanks babe."
During dinner, the baby slept in his swing while the his parents and grandparents ate. Beca's parents told them about their meeting with the realtor and the home builder. They found a home they liked and according to the homebuilder, it would be ready in the spring. They put in an offer and were waiting to hear back.
"Dad that's so exciting!" Beca said.
"Yeah...sounds like you'll be able to move right after you retire." Jesse added.
"That's the plan." David said.
"Well, tell us about the house." Beca said.
"Well, it's nothing like this but it's nice. It's in Calabasas Highlands off Mulholland Drive." David said.
"It has mountain views which are just lovely." Sheila said.
"Sounds amazing!' Beca said, "And it's not far from here at all."
"Yeah...10 minutes at the most." Jesse said.
"So, if the offer is accepted, you're ok with us being that close?" David asked.
"Yes Dad...I'm so excited that you're moving here."
"Jesse...I was thinking that when everyone comes in town for holidays and visits, your parents could stay with us if they'd like to."
"I'm sure they'd love that. Especially since they say that when we're all together we make too much noise." He said.
When the baby started fussing Beca started to get up to get him. Sheila asked, "May I?"
"Oh, sure..." Beca said. She enjoyed seeing her parents with Dylan. She wanted her children to have a relationship with her parents and that couldn't really happen if they continued to live in Georgia. They continued to visit over dinner until the baby got fussy. Jesse took him from Shelia and went into their bedroom to change his diaper.
"BECA!" Jesse yelled. "BECA!"
Beca panicked. "BECA!" Jesse was yelling and the baby was crying. She walked as fast as she could to their bedroom. "Babe...what's wrong?"
"Your son just peed all over me." He said as he turned in her direction. She tried to hide the grin on her face before she started laughing uncontrolably. "Beca...he peed on me and you're laughing?"
"I'm sorry babe...the expression on your face was priceless!" She said as she took pictures on her iphone.
"Can you put the phone down and come over here to help me out please?" Jesse asked, "Both of us are soaked." Beca put her phone down and walked across the room. She finished undressing the baby while Jesse got undressed. While Jesse showered, she bathed and nursed the baby before getting ready for bed herself. Jesse climbed into bed with them.
As the rest of the week progressed, they found out that the offer her parents made on the house was accepted. The realtor called them in to sign the papers the day they left to go back to Georgia. Saying goodbye to them had been increasingly more difficult than she thought. She didn't know if it was because she truly missed them or if it was the hormones that were raging through her body. She thought having PMS was bad...that was nothing when compared to having a baby.