I have never been more nervous about going to Texas than I am right now.
Sara and I are flying out to be with my family for Thanksgiving. They have
no idea what Sara and I found out last week. We're going to be parents.
It took us a little while to get over the shock. Don't get me wrong. I
was damn excited. I am going to be a daddy. I am the luckiest man in the
world. I am married to Sara and we're having a baby. Wow.
We're about an hour from landing in Dallas; the last time we were here was
last Christmas. It was the first time Sara and my family met. They were
out in Vegas for the wedding and my sisters helped Sara put together the
wedding via the phone and the internet. I'm sure that none of them are
expecting the news we plan to spring on them. I glance over at Sara.
She's sleeping. I'm glad. She needs the rest. The doctor said that the
reason why she's throwing up is hormones. It's good for the baby, even
though Sara's not enjoying it.
We've had a few adjustments in the last week. For starters, I can't have any meat in the house. Just the sight of it makes Sara throw up. I don't want to know what the smell will do. I hope she's ok while we're in Texas. My family is big on eating meat, especially at Thanksgiving. She's assured me that she doesn't expect me to give up meat while she's pregnant, just as long as I don't eat it in the house. I love this woman. She's having our baby and I'll do whatever it takes to make them happy.
We land in Dallas and we pick up a rental car. I didn't want my family to pick us up, I know they would, but none of them live near the airport and I know how my mom and sisters spend days before Thanksgiving cooking up a storm. Sara holds my hand as we drive to my parents place. My dad is on the road a lot, but I know he's home this week. In fact, I expect that all six of my sisters and their families will be at the house when we get there. They love Sara.
I pull into the driveway and look over at my wife. I love her. She smiles at me and squeezes my hand. I lean over and kiss her gently. I intend it to just be a brief kiss before we head inside, but Sara cups my face with her hands and deepens the kiss. How can I possibly say no to this woman? Finally, we break the kiss. Both of us are grinning. I raise an eyebrow at her. "Ready?"
She smiles. "Yeah."
We walk hand in hand to the door. Before we can reach for the handle, the door swings open. They must have heard the car. We are pulled into numerous hugs as everyone greets us. In the Stokes clan this can take a while. I glance over at Sara and see that she's turning a little green. She excuses herself and rushes to the bathroom where I'm sure she's throwing up. I follow her and I know that my family has concern on their faces. Sara is just rinsing her mouth out when I catch up with her. She grins at me as I offer her my hand. I lean in and kiss her, and as we break apart, my eyes search hers. She smiles. I whisper in her ear. "I love you, Sara."
She grins and whispers back. "I love you, Nick."
We make our way back to the living room where the rest of the family is. I was right, they all look a little concerned, but my mom has a sly look on her face. I'm sure she's guessed.
I wrap my arms around Sara from behind. She leans back into me and puts her hands on my arms. I look around the room and smile. Conversation picks up again. I lean down and whisper in Sara's ear. "How should we tell them?"
She chuckles and whispers back. "You mean my running from the room to throw up didn't give it away?"
I chuckle. "I think mom has figured it out, but I think everyone else must think you just had to go to the ladies room."
She caresses my arm with her hand. She whispers. "I have an idea."
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh, brilliant wife, what would that be?"
She chuckles and whispers back. "Ask them if they'll be busy around the end of June."
I laugh. She's clever this woman that I love. Of course, my laughter has attracted the attention of the rest of the room. With everyone staring at me I grin. "Sara and I were just wondering what everyone is doing around the end of June."
We get some curious glances as to why that would be funny. My mom is the one who answers the question though. "What did you have in mind, Nicky?"
I know that my grin is huge. I slide my hands down to Sara's stomach. "Oh, because that's when I'm gonna be a daddy."
The squeals that emitted from my sisters as they surrounded us could rival the sounds greased pigs make when they're being chased at the fair. My mom just smiles and winks. I wink back. I knew she'd figured it out. My dad hugged Sara and congratulated us. I think he hopes that we'll have a boy to carry on the Stokes name.
Later on, my mom makes a point to tell Sara stories about me when I was a baby. She even promises to pull out some boxes with some of my old baby clothes. I never knew she kept that stuff.
As Sara and I lay in bed that night, I can't help but splay my hand out over her abdomen protectively. There is nothing that I would not do for this woman. I know she's not asleep yet; our body clocks are still on the night shift. I kiss her neck and she giggles.
She whispers in the darkness. "I love you, Nick. I'm so glad we're having a baby."
I grin. "I love you too, Sara. It's the most amazing thing to think that you're carrying our baby." I pull her closer and she turns in my embrace. She leans up to kiss me and we become lost in each other.
We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
We've had a few adjustments in the last week. For starters, I can't have any meat in the house. Just the sight of it makes Sara throw up. I don't want to know what the smell will do. I hope she's ok while we're in Texas. My family is big on eating meat, especially at Thanksgiving. She's assured me that she doesn't expect me to give up meat while she's pregnant, just as long as I don't eat it in the house. I love this woman. She's having our baby and I'll do whatever it takes to make them happy.
We land in Dallas and we pick up a rental car. I didn't want my family to pick us up, I know they would, but none of them live near the airport and I know how my mom and sisters spend days before Thanksgiving cooking up a storm. Sara holds my hand as we drive to my parents place. My dad is on the road a lot, but I know he's home this week. In fact, I expect that all six of my sisters and their families will be at the house when we get there. They love Sara.
I pull into the driveway and look over at my wife. I love her. She smiles at me and squeezes my hand. I lean over and kiss her gently. I intend it to just be a brief kiss before we head inside, but Sara cups my face with her hands and deepens the kiss. How can I possibly say no to this woman? Finally, we break the kiss. Both of us are grinning. I raise an eyebrow at her. "Ready?"
She smiles. "Yeah."
We walk hand in hand to the door. Before we can reach for the handle, the door swings open. They must have heard the car. We are pulled into numerous hugs as everyone greets us. In the Stokes clan this can take a while. I glance over at Sara and see that she's turning a little green. She excuses herself and rushes to the bathroom where I'm sure she's throwing up. I follow her and I know that my family has concern on their faces. Sara is just rinsing her mouth out when I catch up with her. She grins at me as I offer her my hand. I lean in and kiss her, and as we break apart, my eyes search hers. She smiles. I whisper in her ear. "I love you, Sara."
She grins and whispers back. "I love you, Nick."
We make our way back to the living room where the rest of the family is. I was right, they all look a little concerned, but my mom has a sly look on her face. I'm sure she's guessed.
I wrap my arms around Sara from behind. She leans back into me and puts her hands on my arms. I look around the room and smile. Conversation picks up again. I lean down and whisper in Sara's ear. "How should we tell them?"
She chuckles and whispers back. "You mean my running from the room to throw up didn't give it away?"
I chuckle. "I think mom has figured it out, but I think everyone else must think you just had to go to the ladies room."
She caresses my arm with her hand. She whispers. "I have an idea."
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh, brilliant wife, what would that be?"
She chuckles and whispers back. "Ask them if they'll be busy around the end of June."
I laugh. She's clever this woman that I love. Of course, my laughter has attracted the attention of the rest of the room. With everyone staring at me I grin. "Sara and I were just wondering what everyone is doing around the end of June."
We get some curious glances as to why that would be funny. My mom is the one who answers the question though. "What did you have in mind, Nicky?"
I know that my grin is huge. I slide my hands down to Sara's stomach. "Oh, because that's when I'm gonna be a daddy."
The squeals that emitted from my sisters as they surrounded us could rival the sounds greased pigs make when they're being chased at the fair. My mom just smiles and winks. I wink back. I knew she'd figured it out. My dad hugged Sara and congratulated us. I think he hopes that we'll have a boy to carry on the Stokes name.
Later on, my mom makes a point to tell Sara stories about me when I was a baby. She even promises to pull out some boxes with some of my old baby clothes. I never knew she kept that stuff.
As Sara and I lay in bed that night, I can't help but splay my hand out over her abdomen protectively. There is nothing that I would not do for this woman. I know she's not asleep yet; our body clocks are still on the night shift. I kiss her neck and she giggles.
She whispers in the darkness. "I love you, Nick. I'm so glad we're having a baby."
I grin. "I love you too, Sara. It's the most amazing thing to think that you're carrying our baby." I pull her closer and she turns in my embrace. She leans up to kiss me and we become lost in each other.
We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
