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Quick side note: there is only so much conflict/storylines I can think of and having 2 similar stories in progress, I apologize for the people who are reading both if they see some of the same stuff in this story "Born Blue" that I had already wrote in "An Unexpected night"/"Living a Blue American Dream". BECAUSE I do have a lot more attention on this story so it may cover some of the same topics but be handled slightly different only because it's getting more attention.

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Sunday April 18th 2021

Today the family was coming over to their apartment after church for family dinner (more like lunch). Jamie didn't want to venture out just yet with Eddie still recovering and not to mention Alaina wasn't even a week old yet, they were still getting used to this whole mom and dad thing. So, Jamie said everyone bring a dish and they can eat here.

While Alaina was sleeping in the bouncy seat all morning they cleaned the apartment, it was long over due, the hampers in both bedrooms were over flowing, there was clean and dirty spit up rags/receiving blanket spread out in every room, the dishwasher needed to be emptied, Eddies pump was on the kitchen table, and they needed to dust and vacuum.

Jamie was cleaning the kitchen when he saw Eddie wheeling out the vacuum.

"Eddie you wanna wake her?" He asked pointing at the baby sleeping peacefully.

"Jamie if we just continue with normal life instead of trying to be quiet she won't be such a sensitive sleeper." She said unwrapping the cord.

"Where'd you read that?" He asked.

"It's common sense." She said.

"Okay sorry." He said and dropped it, he guessed it did make sense. He turned around to see if she woke up when the vacuum started and it didn't, he was surprised.

———

An hour had gone by and Eddie was showing Jamie how to make a formula bottle to feed Alaina. The doctor suggested it would be a good idea to breast feed and do formula because Eddie wasn't producing too much extra milk and the option for Jamie to feed her would be a big help in the middle of the night or so Eddie could run errands whenever she wanted.

"Sh sh shhhh." Jamie said swaying side to side with her in his arms as she cried waiting to be fed.

"Alright I know sweetie, mommy's taking forever...I am still new at this." Eddie said trying to hurry up.

"I don't think she cares." Jamie laughed and said, Eddie shrugged and smiled as she tested to temperature on her wrist.

"Alright that's good. Here." She handed him the bottle and he went and sat down on the couch, he put the bottle in the screaming baby's mouth and she gagged on it. It scared Jamie and he took it out.

"Well don't do that.." he said scared.

"Ha...honey she's never had it. Don't just shove it in her mouth. Here..." Eddie said laughing she sat down and took the bottle. She positioned the bottle to seem like it was coming from Jaimes chest and gently swiped it along her cheek toward her mouth. Her lips curled up toward the nipple wanting it.

"See you have to make it seem like a boob the doctor said, until she's used to taking both." Eddie said watching her suck on the bottle.

"Makes sense." Jamie said and took over holding the bottle. They sat and watched her drink and then Eddie said she had to finish the laundry. She got up to fold it on their bed.

It took Eddie 10 minutes to fold everything, it was a huge load but that was the last of the cleaning that had to be done. The family would be here in 20 minutes, she got dressed for the first time in what felt like forever and then went out to see how Jamie was making out.

She stopped and stood there looking at how perfect they looked, Jamie was laying on the couch sleeping with Alaina on his chest also sleeping. She quick went and grabbed her phone to take a picture of the precious moment. Her heart was so full. As much as she didn't want to wake him he, she knew he probably wanted to shower before company came.

"Jamie..." she stood over him and said.

"Hm?" He said with his eyes still closed.

"They're going to be here soon did you wanna shower?" She asked. He opened his eyes and got his bearings.

"Yeahhhh" he said and yawned. Eddie took Alaina off his chest and laid her in the boppy pillow lounger thing in the pack and play they had set up also in the living room.

1pm had rolled around and there was knocking at the door.

"Right on time." Jamie said and opened it. Everyone said hello and came in holding food and a few gifts. Eddie made her way over to give hugs.

"You guys what are these?" She asked pointing to the gifts.

"Well beings we couldn't get you anything girly until she was born we wanted to spoil her:" Nicky said.

"Awh you guys didn't have to do that, you already did plenty!" She said so grateful.

"It isn't really up for arguing." Erin said laughing, Eddie laughed back and told everyone where to set the food.

"Okay where is she I need to see her." Nikki said anxiously. None of the cousins saw her yet, they were busy with school/work but now home for break.

"She's over here" Jamie said and waved his hand for her to come over see.

"Oh my goshhh." Nikki said covering her mouth at how little and cute she was laying in the pack and play still curled up with a blanket sleeping.

"Yup there she is, Alaina Grace, or Lainey for short." Jamie said.

"Jamie let her hold her, she's been sleeping all day." Eddie said. So he got her out and handed her to Nikki. Jack, Sean and Joe then went over to see her too.

"She's so small." Sean said.

"Yeah they said she was on the smaller side. Compared to an average newborn I guess." Eddie said shrugging her shoulders not really knowing what the normal was.

"There's no such thing as average, don't listen to them." Pop said.

"Oh I know, I am not complaining. She may be small, but I can't imagine pushing out anything bigger then that." Eddie said making everyone laugh.

"You did amazing." Jamie said rubbing her back watching Nikki hold her.

"Oh okay...here Joe your turn..." Nikki said getting nervous as Lainey started to cry. She handed her to Joe and he handled her very well, he started to bounce her up and down and put the binky she spit out back in her mouth.

"Wow you're a natural." Jamie said with a wink and a pat on Joes back, impressed he got her to stop fussing.

"Ha I guess..." he said.

"Alright so... we gonna eat? I'm hungry." Danny said.

"Oh yeah yeah" Eddie said and went off to uncover all the food, Erin and Nikki helped.

"Looks great, thanks for opening your home to keep the Sunday tradition alive" Frank said and smiled.

"Of course! I just wasn't ready to venture out. I think next week I'll be up for it though." Eddie said.

"Don't rush yourself, it's really okay and a valid reason I'd say." Frank laughed.

Everyone got their plates and some sat at the table, the couch, the bar and talked to whoever they sat with.

"So Jamie when do you go back to work?" Erin asked.

"Thursday." He said.

"Are you excited?" Jack asked.

"um yeah, I mean, I love my job but I will miss spending the day here with them and just relaxing." He said.

"You'll get used to it. It makes coming home even more exciting." Danny said.

"What about you? Are you ready to stay home and do it yourself?" Erin asked Eddie.

"Ha I mean I'll be fine. I'm sure I'll have my moments but I honestly don't see it being too bad. All she does is sleep and eat right now." Eddie said.

"That's exactly right. Don't listen to the people that say this is the hardest stage. This is the easiest. The hardest is when they're older, they don't listen, they back talk, and the sass." Erin said shaking her head.

"C'mon mom you make me sound like a nightmare child." Nikki laughed.

"Well..." Erin shrugged and everyone laughed.

———

When they were done everyone cleaned up after themselves and hung out. Danny held Alaina for a little and then insisted on Sean holding her. Jack had already held her before Danny. Eddie was making her a bottle knowing she'd be hungry soon and wanted to be ahead of the game.

"You know what's weird." Sean said looking at the baby in his arms.

"Whats that?" Frank asked sitting on the couch next to him, everyone waited to hear what he was going to say.

"That this started out as goo basically." Sean said bluntly and seriously.

"Dude..." Jack said caught of guard. Jamie couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah that's um that's kinda where I played a part in all this." Jamie said laughing still.

"Wow okay, way to make it awkward numb nuts." Danny said and hit Sean in the back of the head. It made everyone laugh.

"Ha wait Sean did you just say..-" Eddie laughed coming from the kitchen with the bottle, Danny cut her off.

"Yes my son just realized how you two made this baby." Danny said rubbing his forehead.

"No no I'm not an idiot I know how it happens I'm just stating a fact that you probably never thought of." He said in defense.

"Well you are correct on that, I never thought of it that way." Frank said smiling. Alaina then started moving around and whining in his arms.

"See she didn't appreciate your epiphany." Jack said watching him try and soothe her.

"Alright who wants to feed her...!?" Eddie said holding up the bottle.

"Oh me...!" Erin said and got the bottle from Eddie. She sat down and got her from Sean.

"So she's still getting used to the bottle so you have to kind of act like you're feeding her from your boob to get her to suck." Eddie explained. The guys started talking about something else feeling uncomfortable and a little caught of guard talking about breast feeding so freely. Jamie noticed the awkwardness she just created.

"Sorry it's kinda all our life has been consumed by these days." He laughed and sipped his beer not thinking anything of it.