ESPOV
"This one is from Alice and Jasper." Carlisle says handing me the first of the stack of presents next to the bed. We are finally back in our own room 3 days after Addyson's birth. She isn't sleeping in her own room yet, but she has her own bassinet next to our bed. Apparently today is the day for gifts because I woke up this morning to 3 perfectly wrapped presents. I told the kids that this is too much; they just gave me presents at the baby shower, but they insisted. So here we are.
Tearing off the paper, I burst out laughing. It's a sweet little outfit for Addyson that consists of a knitted hat and diaper cover. They are grey with a tail and pink ears—she'll look just like an elephant.
"This is adorable." I laugh and Carlisle joins me. He's holding our little peanut right now and it seems that he's having trouble looking at me when she's awake in his arms—I can't blame him.
"This one is from Bella and Edward, and the last one is from Emmett and Rosalie." He says handing me the last two.
Edward and Bella's is a pink and gray diaper bag with an elephant design and Addyson's name embroidered across the bottom. Emmett and Rosalie's gift is an actual elephant. It's soft and cuddly, and on the inside of her big ears, Addyson's name, birth date, and measurements are embroidered. She has a big pink bow wrapped around her neck, and she will look adorable in the nursery.
"Thank you so much everyone." I call out, and even though they're downstairs, I know they'll hear me. They wanted to give us privacy since I just woke up, and am in my pajamas so they waited downstairs for us. Once we're dressed and presentable, we'll go down there so they can spend time with their sister. This will be the first time I will attempt to walk down the stairs since giving birth. Because of the amount of blood I lost, I have been very weak and dizzy, and Carlisle has kept me in the birthing suite. I appreciate how much he cares, but it's so nice to be able to sleep in my own bed again.
"They say you're welcome." Carlisle says, not taking his eyes off Addy's face. As much of a daddy's girl she was in the womb, she is even more so now. Every morning, they have their time together until she gets hungry—that's one thing Carlisle can't take care of. I love how close they are, and as special as their bond is, she is bonded with me as well. All I have to do is speak and her little eyes are searching for me. If she's crying, I can calm her down by setting her on my chest and talking to her. Carlisle says that my heartbeat comforts her because she has heard it from inside for 9 months.
Addyson is content right now and shouldn't need fed for about another half hour so I can take this time to get myself ready. I'm able to get out of bed on my own, just taking a few extra seconds to get my bearings before walking into the closet. Alice has reorganized my clothes so that all of my pregnancy clothes are put away and my postpartum clothes are front and center. I quickly choose a pair of yoga pants (I think I have about a hundred pairs, but hey, they're comfortable), and a grey breastfeeding shirt. I'm getting pretty good at dressing myself sitting down, and that's just what I do at the small couch in the center of our walk-in closet.
Once I'm dressed, I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair, before going to check on my loves.
Carlisle has Addy laying on the bed while he stands in front of her. It gives her the opportunity to stretch out while he dresses her in today's outfit: a black and white headband with a silver sparkly bow, a black onesie that says "worth the wait" in silver letters, and black and white striped pants. With Alice buying her clothes, Addyson is the best dressed baby in history. Carlisle is a natural at taking care of her and changing her clothes and diapers, while I still struggle a little. He says it's because of his doctor training, but I think he's just perfect at everything.
"Hey little one." I coo laying on the bed and putting my head next to hers. She immediately tries to find me, her eyes going crossed in the process. "Hey now" I laugh "get those eyes working together." Carlisle laughs and tickles her nose. She blinks a few times and eventually gets her eyes under control while still searching for me. I kiss her forehead and her little arms start waving excitedly.
"There we go. All done." Carlisle declares, carefully wrapping the headband around her head.
She frowns and her eyebrows furrow when she feels the foreign object against her skin, and we laugh. I pick her up and lay down on my back so her belly lays against my belly. She loves to lay like this; she puts her head on my heart and scrunches up her arms and legs just like she did in the womb. I think it makes her feel comforted and safe to have a familiar place to lay. Carlisle lays beside me and plays with Addy's sock-covered foot while kissing me softly.
"How are you feeling today? Was it hard walking around?"
"I was a little dizzy when I first stood up, but after that I was fine. I think I'm better; just a little achy between my legs, but fine."
"Good." He says kissing me again. "I want you to be careful going down the stairs. Hold on to me and the railing if you need to."
"I will." I tell him sincerely. I know he worries about me and I hate that I cause him stress. "Are you going to change before we go?" I ask with a grin. He looks down at his bare chest and boxers before laughing and zooming off to the closet. When he comes back, he looks way too good in dark jeans and a white t-shirt. He lifts Addyson off of my chest, laying her on the bed beside me before putting a hand on my back and helping me sit up. My muscles are still tender and it's not easy to sit up on my own. I hope all of this weakness goes away soon, I feel like an invalid.
Carlisle takes Addyson in the crook of one arm and offers me the other, standing I take it getting my bearings before we start walking. The stairs aren't as much of a challenge as I was imagining, I just keep my eyes focused on the the step in front of me and a firm hold on the railing and Carlisle's arm.
"There's my little princess." Rosalie calls once we reach the living room, swooping Addyson out of Carlisle's arms and carrying her away.
Carlisle grumbles about her stealing his daughter and I just laugh. Carefully, I walk over to the couch and take a seat between Bella and Alice. They are both inthralled in whatever magazine they're reading so I grab the tv remote and flip through the channels. It's not long before Addyson squawks letting me know she's hungry and Rosalie brings her over to me.
"Hey baby girl. Are you hungry?" I coo to her as she relaxes in my arms. "Rosalie can you hand me that blanket?" I ask pointing to Addy's pink fuzzy blanket Carlisle brought down with us.
Once I have it I thrown it over my shoulder, I pull my shirt up so Addyson can eat. It takes me a few seconds to get her situated but once I do, she eagerly latches on.
Alice is watching me curiously as I rub Addy's bottom and occasionally peek under the blanket to make sure she's okay.
"Does it hurt?" She finally asks.
"A little" I shrug "but not much. It feels…I don't know..right. Like this is what I was made to do."
She nods and smiles at me. I've never really asked Alice if she ever wanted to have children. I know Rosalie did, and it haunts her everyday that she can't, but Alice has never said anything about it. The look on her face right now, though, makes me think that she wishes she could, and my heart aches for her.
Once Addyson is done eating, I fix my shirt and pull the blanket off of me. She has a little milk on her cheek like she always does when she eats and I wipe it on the corner of the blanket.
"Do you want to burp her?" I ask Alice who has been watching us this whole time.
"I wouldn't know how." She waves me off, but I plop Addy in her arms anyway.
"It's not hard. Just put her on your shoulder, yeah like that. Now just rub and pat her back softly until she belches." I put a burp rag over Alice's shoulder in case Addy spits up, and sit back to watch cuddle into her sister.
Alice jumps a little and laughs when Addyson lets out a belch.
"Good one, baby girl." Carlisle says walking into the room and kissing the top of Addy's head. I smile and enjoy watching Alice's face light up when she cradles Addy into her arms.
"Good job." I whisper to Alice once Addy's eyes start to drift shut, and she grins at me.
I let Alice hold the baby while I go into the kitchen to get something to eat, and when I come out, Addyson is still asleep. I join Carlisle in the oversized arm chair and lean my head against his shoulder. He kisses my forehead and I find myself drifting off. No matter how much Carlisle gets up with Addy during the night, I still have to wake up to feed her as well, and it definitely takes a toll on my human body.
"Sleep, angel." Carlisle whispers to me, throwing a blanket over my legs.
When I wake a few hours later, I'm in bed under the covers. I stretch out and yawn as I look over at the clock. I've been asleep for 3 hours. I can't believe Addy hasn't woken me up to eat. Right on schedule, Carlisle walks quietly into the room. Addyson is in his arms with a disgruntled look on her sweet face and I chuckle at her. We're old pros at this by now, and it's not long before she's eating away.
Carlisle likes to burp her after she eats so I let him take her to have some daddy time. Her and I bond when she eats, and it's only fair that he has a special time with her as well. Getting out of bed, I go to the bathroom and do my business, and when I get back to the bedroom, Carlisle has Addy curled up in his arms. She must have burped for him and now her little eyes are drifting closed.
I sit down in one of the comfortable arm chairs in the corner and watch him sway back and forth, lulling Addyson to sleep.
"She's out like a light." I whisper.
"Yeah." He grins. "Here I think she wants her mommy to hold her." He tells me and gently passes her over. She's swaddled in a thin purple blanket and she looks like a little baby burrito. The only part of her I can see is her head and neck, but there's something tucked just under the blanket. I reach for it and when I pull it out, I see that it's a black velvet box.
"What is this?" I ask looking up at Carlisle confused.
"I don't know. I guess she has something for you."
I raise once eyebrow at him but he just smiles and gestures for me to open it. I gasp and tears immediately fill my eyes when I find a beautiful diamond ring.
"Carlisle" I whisper and look up to him, but he's no longer standing in front of me; he's on one knee with a soft smile on his face.
"Esme." He starts, and I can feel how nervous he is. "I have loved you every minute since I found you trying to steal my car. We have been through thick and thin together, and you have blessed me with your beautiful heart. I didn't think my life could get any better when you stepped out of my car that night, but then I found out you were pregnant. You've given me a life I never even dared to dream of. I love you more than anything in the world, and if you'll let me I would like to spend the rest of eternity with you. I ache to be your husband, your partner, your other half. Esme, my love, my angel, will you marry me?"
"Yes. Of course." I whisper leaning forward and kissing him. Addyson is squished between us and when she lets out a little grumble we both laugh and pull away.
Carlisle takes the ring out of the box and slips it on my left ring finger whispering "Forever", and I finally have a chance to really look at it. It's a gold setting and it looks like there's two bands that are both covered in small diamonds that twist around each other and meet at the center where a beautiful oval diamond sits.
"It's breathtaking." I whisper moving my hand around a little to watch the light catch on each stone.
"Than it's perfect for you." He says and I grin at him.
"That was cheesy."
"That doesn't make it untrue."