"Come on, Lilly Bug, come to Mommy!" Rosemary cooed at Lilly encouragingly.
"Come on, Princess, you can do it!" Lee stated in a baby voice. It was the end of June and all of the Coulters, plus Elizabeth, Jack, Abigail, Frank, and Bill were at the café to make preparations for the upcoming Canada Day celebration. Rosemary was, of course, in charge of the celebration committee, but she had been wise enough to delegate tasks to other people. With caring for an infant and trying for another one, there was no way she could handle a ton of stress right now.
Lee and Rosemary had gotten the clear from Carson to start trying for another baby about a month beforehand. He had given Rosemary a complete physical and determined she was in good enough health to handle another pregnancy and to start trying again if they wanted to grow their family, given the fact that they were both in their thirties already. Nothing had happened yet, but Carson had also told them it might take a while to conceive again.
In the meantime, Lilly was just learning to crawl, much to their joy and delight. They were both currently showing off Lilly's new found skill to her Godparents and their friends. Lilly giggled for a few moments before she began to shuffle across the floor towards her parents, "Good girl!" Rosemary smiled proudly.
"Just think, Elizabeth, that will be us before you know it," Jack smiled at his wife.
"Yes, it will be," Elizabeth chuckled nervously, running a hand over her sixteen-week swell.
Rosemary scooped Lilly into her arms, "Elizabeth, I know this might sound like stupid advice, but enjoy every minute of it because you'll blink and he or she will have grown just a little bit more each time."
"How is everything going? With, you know?" Elizabeth whispered softly.
Rosemary sighed, "Nothing yet, but Dr. Shepherd said it might take some time. Lee and I are trying not to stress too much about it since that can inhibit conception. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. But seriously, I can't stop wondering if I'm doing enough to help speed up the process."
"Well, if you and Lee ever want some time alone for a date night, Jack and I are always willing to babysit Lilly. At least right now," Elizabeth smiled.
"I'm sure you are," smirked Rosemary.
Abigail came into the sitting area with a pot of coffee and a tray of brownies, "Fresh pot and a fresh tray for everyone."
"Oh thank you," Elizabeth quickly grabbed a brownie.
"Eating for two catching up with you?" asked Rosemary in amusement.
"Not necessarily, but ever since my appetite returned, I have been craving nothing but apples and chocolate desserts," Elizabeth answered.
Rosemary chuckled. "Goodness, when I was expecting, I was craving everything in sight once my appetite returned."
Abigail sat down across from the two women and asked, "Do either of you ladies want coffee?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "No thank you, I'm fine with water and it's better for the baby."
"Rosemary?" asked Abigail.
"I'm good, thank you. I already had one cup at breakfast and caffeine can decrease fertility," she said.
"Oh, that's right. You and Lee are trying for baby number two," Abigail remembered.
"Well, that's our hope, but we'll see," said Rosemary nervously. Lilly started to fuss in her arms, so Rosemary obtained one of the bottles and handed it to Lilly. Lilly was able to hold her own bottles now, another thing that made Rosie believe she was growing up too fast, "There you go baby girl."
"So, what still needs to be done for the celebration next week?" asked Elizabeth.
"Well, Florence and Molly are working on the banners, Abigail, you and Clara are working on food, correct?"
"As always," Abigail smiled warmly, "Cat Montgomery is also helping and Dewitt and Mary Graves are visiting Hope Valley from Vancouver next week, so she might be able to help the morning of the party."
"Jack, Mr. Avery, and Mr. Gowen will help with patrol and making sure everything is safe and secure," said Rosemary, "A lot of Lee's employees will be helping make the booths. But I think other than that, everything is set to go."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow slightly, "Is there any way I can be of assistance, Rosemary?" she asked.
"Oh, Elizabeth dear, you do have your hands full right with preparing for your baby," Rosemary said, "I don't want to add any extra stress to you."
"Rosemary, you know being pregnant doesn't make a woman an invalid," said Elizabeth, "Now please, where can I help?"
"Well, I suppose I could use your help with the Canada Day play. Sometimes, it's difficult to watch Lilly and control a bunch of sticky little rascals at the same time," Rosemary admitted.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows slightly, but nodded, "I would be happy to help with the play." Honestly, how did Rosemary want another baby so much?
Lilly finished her bottle and she started to cry, so Rosemary burped her, but she didn't stop fussing, "I think I have to take her home for a nap."
"Well, you should get going then," Jack agreed.
Rosemary and Lee stood and gathered their belongings, "Thanks for the help, everyone. Don't push yourself too hard, Elizabeth," Rosemary scolded lightly.
"I will take it easy. I promise," Elizabeth placated her friend.
"Good," Rosie smiled, "Say 'bye bye' to Auntie Elizabeth and Uncle Jack," she cooed at Lilly, though her daughter was really starting to scream, "Yeah, we really need to get her home."
When Lee and Rosie settled into bed later that night, Lee could tell something was bothering her. It was more than just the fact that Lilly had uttered the word 'Mama' again and left Rosie in another puddle of tears (he was still waiting for her to say 'Dada' to him). She had just been awfully quiet ever since dinner that night. He glanced over and asked, "Is something bothering you, sweetheart?"
Rosemary shook her head, "No, I'm fine."
Lee rolled over to face her and rubbed her arm, "Rosie?"
Rosemary sighed, succumbing to the pressure to talk, "Honey, what if it's not working?"
"What if what's not working?" asked Lee confusingly.
"Us, getting pregnant, having another baby," she explained, "It's not happening. What if it never happens? We've been cutting back our caffeine consumption, I've cut down on fat and carbs, I've been eating healthy, I've been exercising, we've been…regularly, and I'm still not pregnant yet!"
"Sweetheart, it's only been a month. Dr. Shepherd said it could take several months of trying, especially because we're both a little older," comforted Lee. Boy, were Rosemary's ovaries aching for another baby and she was longing for another little Coulter badly. He leaned over and kissed her temple, "And you know stress can hinder the process."
Rosemary sighed and cuddled in his arms, "I'm sorry I have babies on the brain right now. I know this is unusual for me given the fact that I recruited Elizabeth to help me with everyone else's children."
Lee chuckled and kissed her temple, "It's okay, sweetheart. I forgive you. You usually know what you want in life and will do anything to get it. It's one of the many things I love about you."
"And one of the many things that you can't stand about me," she smirked at him. Lee sighed, but nodded at her confession.
She rolled over in his embrace and began to kiss him, "Rosie?"
"What? It's been a couple of days," she said into the kiss.
Lee stopped her, "Tell you what? How about we ask Jack and Elizabeth to watch Lilly tomorrow night or Saturday if they're unavailable tomorrow and we can have some time for ourselves?"
Rosemary sighed, but nodded in agreement, "Alright. That sounds like a good compromise," she rolled over back to her side of the bed, "Good night, Lee. I love you."
"I love you too. Now get some sleep," he emphasized.