Oh, Baby - Chan POV
We are standing in line patiently waiting to checkout. We've been in the store for over an hour trying to get all the last minute essentials we need before the baby arrives. We haven't slept in days, Monica can never get comfortable at night and with the due date right around the corner we can't seem to turn off our thoughts long enough to relax. So here we are, sleep deprived and anxious at the checkout.
I'm fanning through a magazine when Monica captures my attention. "Honey, I think we need another box."
Looking over, I find her mentally counting the newborn diapers in the two giant boxes at the bottom of the cart. Even though they provide the amount in each box on the label, she still tries to figure out how many we will go through daily.
"Sweetheart, we got like twenty boxes from the shower. I think we'll be fine for a while."
She doesn't say anything. Instead, she looks at me with pleading eyes.
Slumping my shoulders, I put the magazine back "Okay. I'll go get another one."
We've come so far from our drunken marriage three years ago. Of course, it was a tough beginning as I gained her trust, but with time I was able to eventually gain her love. Before Monica, I had nothing. I was on a one-way street that went straight towards my company and the business I provided. I wasn't truly happy. I'd be at the office for seven days straight constantly on the phone with partners on the opposite side of the world. It wasn't where I pictured myself when I took over the family business. I didn't realize this until my relationship with Monica. She put light into my eyes and gave me the courage I needed to quit my job and do something I'm more passionate about.
Our lives changed in a matter of months. I became a part of the NYFD, Monica bought an old mom and pop shop and turned it into her dream coffee house, we found out we weren't legally married...oh, man. I shake my head just thinking about the night we heard the news. That was our chance to start over, to do it right. Not long after that night we tied the knot for real. To think, my wife was standing at my side for years and I didn't even realize it. A little over a year after the happiest night of our lives we became expecting parents. It came as a surprise to all, but we couldn't be happier.
We began looking for a house outside of the city limits, but with everything going on and the due date coming up quickly, that thought was pushed further and further from our minds.
Now, with only a couple weeks to go, we stand in Babies 'R' Us with a cart full of supplies that will hopefully keep us prepared for the first few months of our child's life.
The diapers that we picked up are in the far back corner of the store, zigzagging in and around aisles I try to get back to Monica before she is handed the receipt.
We picked out about twenty onesies, a half a dozen burp-rags, a few binkies and way more bottles than we probably need. Monica has already decided she's going to try breast feeding instead of feeding our baby manufactured formula that has lactose and oils mixed in. I find it fascinating how a woman's body can provide carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and other substances that will boost our babies immune defenses.
This baby will never get sick if it keeps drinking from my wife's knockers.
I grab a box of pampers, an exact replica of the two already in the cart, and head back to the cashier.
The baby shower was a week ago and surprisingly, we managed to hold back on shopping until we knew exactly what was left to buy.
When I get back to the line that I left Monica in, I see her placing the last few items on the belt.
"Excuse me...'scuse me." I make my way through the people.
As I reach my wife, I place the diapers on the conveyor belt and rest my hand on the small of her back. "Thank you." She smiles over at me before grabbing the packed bags and putting them back into our cart.
Once the lady finishes with our transaction, we thank her and begin our way back to our car.
"Are you feeling okay?" I ask, seeing her walk a little slower than usually.
"Yeah, just a little sore." She admits, holding her back as she wobbles to the car. She reaches for the bags but I stop her.
"Why don't you get in the car, turn on the heat, and I'll load the car." I hand her the keys.
Monica leans in and places a peck on my lips. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I think I'm the lucky one." I rub her baby bump and lean in for another kiss. "I love you so much."
"I love you." With one final kiss, she climbs in and I finish packing the car.
It's a thirty minute drive before we arrive back home. I place everything in its spot in the nursery as Monica dials the number to our favorite Chinese restaurant.
I love nights like this. The nights that are quiet and relaxing, the ones where we order in and watch old classic films together.
"What's the movie tonight?" I ask, exiting the nursery and walking over to Monica who has her feet up on the couch as she rubs her belly.
"Honey, come feel this." She smiles, disregarding my question as I make my way towards her.
Plopping down beside her, I lean over and place my hands where hers are. Small movements appear under my palms as I feel our baby kick. "She's having a party in there isn't she." I comment as Monica moves her hands over mine
"She?"
I shrug "Well..." I trail off. We don't know the exact sex of our baby. Not yet, anyway. We don't care if it's a boy or girl, it makes no difference to use. We're just happy to be parents. I don't know why we decided to wait, it just kind of happened. We have a few names picked out, none of which we shared with our group of friends, or our parents. This is a special time in our lives and we wanted something to be just ours. Not sharing some of the major details of our baby makes it seem even more special for us.
Monica leans her head back against the cushions.
"Do you think we're ready?" She asks, looking over at me.
Her eyes show her exhaustion and anticipation as we go through these last few weeks.
"Of course." I tell her without hesitation "We've got the nursery painted, the basinet made. The apartment is baby proofed and our bags are packed. We're ready." I smile
"I mean." She pauses "Are we ready to be parents?" She says softly
My hands slowly move to the side of her belly when I realize the baby stopped kicking. I feel the clock ticking by the seconds as we sit in silence. It isn't until I feel a bump against my hands that I speak. "You're really giving your mommy a hard time, aren't you?" I whisper, leaning down as if to speak in private "We are very excited to see you soon. We've got really fun books and cuddly teddy bears. Daddy even built mommy a rocking chair for when you're hungry." I feel Monica's soft fingers brush through my hair and I finally look up to meet her gaze only to find tears streaming down her cheeks. "I know you don't know it yet, but you've got the best mommy in the whole world. She loves you so very much." I brush away her tears with my thumb "We both do. We are ready for you because we are meant to be your parents." I direct the last part more towards Monica than the baby.
Leaning over, I place a kiss, first to her head, then to her lips. "You are a natural already." I tell her, resting my temple against hers.
"You think so?"
Nodding, I press my lips gently against hers. I've read about the doubts and nerves that expecting mothers deal with during their pregnancy. They frequently start to question themselves and if they will be good enough for their baby. It's normal for these feelings to emerge. "The food should be here soon. What do you say you go put on some comfy clothes and I'll put the movie in?"
"You are too sweet to me." She moans, taking a moment before saying "I don't think I can get up, though."
Chuckling, I stand, reaching back over and scooping her up. Monica lets out a slight screech before wrapping her arms around my neck as I carry her to the bedroom. After I set her on the bed, I leave in search for a movie we both will love. Just as I find the source of entertainment that will keep us busy for the next two hours, the buzzer rings with our food. I let Monica know that I'm heading to the lobby and will be back in a few minutes.
When I return, I find her sporting my sweatpants and t-shirt on the couch; it's just about the only thing that will fit her comfortably in this stage of her pregnancy.
"Babe, you want anything to drink?" I ask as I pull out our order from the bags.
"Just water, please." She glances back at me just as I grab a bottle from the fridge - already knowing what beverage she would want. Reaching over the couch, I hand her the bottled water before placing another kiss on top of her head. "Thank you." She smiles, taking a sip.
Grabbing the Chinese containers and the chopsticks they provided, I bring our food into the living-room and slide under the same blanket Monica is using. "You good?" I ask before I get too comfortable. "Bathroom? Pillow?" I question, being in this situation before.
"I'm good." She assures, kissing my cheek before snuggling into my side. "What did you pick?" She asks
Smiling, I grab the remote and press play. "You know, I think you're going to like it." I tell her just as the opening scene plays through. I hear her sigh contently against my body as I take a bite of my food.
She's only 3 weeks away from her due date. Actually, tomorrow will be 3 weeks exactly. Her hormones haven't been too horrible. Yes, she had those 2am cravings in the first trimester and experienced morning sickness throughout the first month, but besides that, nothing too terrible has come our way. In the final trimester of her pregnancy, Monica has been having strong backaches and can never seem to get comfortable; and when she does, it doesn't last too long. Doc says the first pregnancy is often the hardest and what we've dealt with up until now is completely normal.
Monica had a few scares in the middle of the night and as a precaution, we went to the hospital. Doc assured us that it was nothing, the baby was just shifting to have a little more room to grow. This is our first time, we don't know what to expect. So, if Monica says something's not right, then we will go get it checked out; whether it be at 2 in the morning, or 2 in the afternoon.
Leaning forward, I place my Chinese container on the table before settling back and wrapping my arm around Monica. She begins leaning forward too when I stop her and grab her container for her, placing it next to mine. As we rearrange our bodies so we are comfortable, at least for a little while until Monica starts cramping, I rub her arm with the side of my thumb and hold her tight.
"I love this part." She says softly, her hand resting on her belly.
And I love this part. The moment we are in right now. I'm in a place in my life that I don't want anything to change. I have a job I enjoy, a family I love, a baby on the way. What more can I ask for? Five years ago I had a job I felt stuck at, no family by my side, and a house that was more empty than it was full.
This is definitely a story I want to continue for the rest of my life. And maybe, as time goes by and we have a house in the suburbs and our child turns two, we'll have another one. Maybe we'll get a dog or have a long driveway full of chalk art. Whatever the future holds, I'm here for it. Every step of the way.