Chapter 4

Baby is 12 weeks old

The night was calm, for the most part, until about two am. A soft cry came from the cradle not too far from Daniel and Carolyn's bed. It was one of the nights where Captain Gregg actually dozed off next to his wife. The soft cry was getting not-so-soft now.

Carolyn started to get up, but her husband held her back.

"I'll get the baby, dear." He sat up and pointed his finger over to the cradle where baby was laying. Ever so gingerly, he levitated the baby over to Carolyn, who was still quite groggy. She awoke suddenly when seeing her baby float through the air.

"Daniel Gregg!"

He nearly fell out of bed but maintained control of the infant.

"My dear, the child is fine. I have complete control."

Captain's log entry

- As competent as one may be, resist the urge to levitate the baby through the air. Your wife may become upset, and this will land you in the brig or worse!

—-

"Don't forget, dear. The baby has a doctor appointment in the morning." Carolyn was going through the clothes that were now too small for the baby.

"I have not forgotten, my love." The Captain was holding his child and giving her smiles that she reflected back at him. At three months old, the baby was becoming more interactive and he was enjoying those benefits. Her hair was also slightly thicker and soft little curls made their appearance. Her eyes were still as blue as his.

In the morning, they set off for the appointment and where baby went, her father went too. Carolyn knew that she should prepare her husband for this particular appointment.

"Daniel, at the appointment, the baby will need to get an immunization shot." She watched for his reaction.

"What do you mean she will be getting a shot?" The seaman looked guarded and was holding the child a little bit closer.

"All babies and children get immunization shots to prevent potentially harmful diseases. It's a good thing, Daniel, but she may get cranky and have a small fever, temporarily. Candy and Jonathan have had them." Carolyn pursed her lips together. Her husband could win a 'most protective father' contest.

"I understand," he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

After arriving at the office, Carolyn took their baby in her arms as Captain Gregg opened doors for his wife and child. They took the infant into a room once her name was called. Measurements and weight were taken by a nurse and recorded in a file. The doctor came into the room in due time. He was younger than what Captain Gregg would have preferred but seemed kind and informative. He gave the baby a quick and effective exam.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gregg, your baby is in fine shape! Yes, she's doing well."

The Captain puffed his chest a bit like a peacock.

"Do you have any questions for me?" The doctor was also recording information in the file.

"Is our baby getting a vaccination, today, Doctor?" Carolyn sighed and glanced at her husband.

"Yes. The nurse should be bringing it in any time, now," he answered.

Just like clockwork, a nurse walked into the room and handed the doctor the instrument to administer the vaccine.

Without giving it any thought, the doctor removed the cap from the shot and jabbed it into the baby, causing her to let loose a piercing cry. In a split second, Captain Gregg had the unsuspecting doctor pinned against the wall unable to move. The man clearly terrified by the seaman's actions.

"Daniel! Let him go!" Carolyn picked up the crying baby and was trying to pull her husband off of the confused doctor.

"But, my dear. You saw what the man did! He stabbed our child with that… that needle device! He's an incompetent… peep!"

"I'm sorry, doctor. He's never seen a baby get vaccinated." Carolyn was blushing. "Let him go!" She addressed her husband through gritted teeth.

Glaring at his wife, Daniel Gregg hesitated, then released the man.

"We're sorry, doctor. It won't happen again." Mrs. Gregg's entire face was flushed red as the fearful doctor edged his way out of the room, the Captain kept his eyes locked on the 'peep'.

After returning to the car, Carolyn once again sat behind the wheel. Captain Gregg held his child, earnestly trying to console her. She had been crying. Seeing her tear filled eyes and quivering bottom lip broke his heart.

"I do not understand why they must wound the baby to give these 'vaccines'." Daniel was still trying to calm the infant.

"I thought that you understood, Daniel," Carolyn sighed. "Here, give her this." She pulled a plastic bag from her purse.

Taking it out he asked, "What is it?"

"A pacifier. Little miracles," his wife responded. "It resembles the nipple on a mother's breast."

The seaman said nothing but raised an eyebrow at his wife.

"The long end goes in the baby's mouth." Carolyn was trying to focus on driving.

Captain Gregg slowly offered the item to his daughter. With a quick sucking motion, the pacifier was in place. Baby was content for now, suckling the pacifier.

"Ingenious!" He marveled at the simple item.

—-

Later that day.

Everyone in the Gregg Muir household were in an all out effort to find the lost pacifier. Baby was crying up a storm and yes, it started raining outside. They searched the car, the inside rooms, even Scruffy's bed. The Captain finally found it in the baby's cradle. He was about to give it to the baby when Carolyn's objections stopped him.

"Daniel! We have to sterilize it, first."

He looked at his a wife and put the pacifier in his mouth and closed his eyes. Taking it back out he spoke.

"There. I have just willed it to be clean." He gave it to the crying infant, who willingly accepted it.

From that day on, anytime a pacifier needed to be sterilized, Carolyn would stick it her husband's mouth.

Captain's log entry.

be fully informed about baby's doctor appointments before reaching the office. Ask as many questions as need be, no matter how absurd. Be kind and courteous to the doctors and nurses even when more vaccinations are due or other procedures are needed. They do not mean to hurt the baby. No 'roughing up' the doctor. It is perfectly acceptable to laugh if baby spits up on the doctor, but be aware that your wife may object. Always keep spare, clean pacifiers available. They seem to vanish often.

—

The Summer months had crept up on everyone and the weather was getting warm. Carolyn made an unusual request of her husband. She wanted him to go shirtless if no one else was home. A request that he was delighted to honor. It reminded him of being on his ship as well as being on their honeymoon in the tropics.

This Saturday was one such morning. Martha needed to go shopping and she was dropping off Candy at a friend's house and Jonathan had practice and a ball game later.

Baby stayed at home with her parents.

Carolyn wore one of the sundresses that they picked up on their honeymoon and Daniel went shirtless for her. He was proud to show off his 'manliness' and even more proud that she made the request of him.

After pulling her hair back, Carolyn was returning to the bedroom where her Captain was taking care of the baby. She walked in on an odd sight. Her husband was holding the baby close to his collarbone. Baby was busy running her mouth over it looking for something. Daniel looked befuddled. Carolyn had to laugh out loud and then tried to cover it with her hand.

"Is she doing what I think that she is doing, my dear?" he quietly asked.

"Yes. She is looking to latch on to you. She must be getting hungry." Carolyn took their child and sat in the rocker to nurse.

"Consider it a compliment, Daniel. She feels comfortable with you."

Captain Gregg didn't know what to think of it.

Captain's log entry

- If baby is still nursing and seeks to suckle milk from you, do not take it too personally. It absolutely, positively has no reflection on one's manliness. It's just a simple reflex action from the child being hungry.