Chapter 9
Three years to the day after Shawn and I first 'discovered' the Gemini twins, Rex and Mimi's baby girl Cassandra was born. We were at the annual Horton-Brady 4th of July party when Mimi went into labor. We all went to the hospital and waited anxiously for news. Cassandra Kate Brady was born July 4th 2005 at 8:39pm. Shawn and I were the first people to visit with the new parents. When I got to Mimi's bedside, she handed the baby right over to me and said, "Cassandra, meet your auntie Belle." I looked down at the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen. "Hi sweetie. I'm your auntie and it's my job to spoil you rotten, give you sugary stuff that mommy and daddy won't give you and let you get away with everything." I cooed. I handed the baby back to Mimi. "She's so beautiful Meems. I'm so happy for you." I genuinely meant it. "I would keep an eye on the baby when Belle's around though because I'm sure she's gonna try to smuggle her out of the hospital and take her home with us." Shawn joked. "Well, it's funny you should mention that. Rex and I were thinking about guardians for Cassandra and you two were the first people on our list. Would you be her Godparents?" "Of course!" I exclaimed, "if it's OK with Shawn that is." "Absolutely. We'd be honored to be her Godparents," agreed Shawn.
On the way home from the hospital, Shawn and I stopped by the pub for dinner. Grandpa Shawn came over and we told him all about baby Cassandra. After he went off to put in our orders, I reached over the table and took Shawn's hand. "You know what? I think I'm just going to enjoy our new Goddaughter and stop obsessing over having a baby of our own. It will happen some day and if it doesn't then we can adopt." Shawn leaned over the table and kissed me. "I'm so glad that you think that way. No matter what, we will have a family."
About a month later, Shawn and I had Rex, Mimi, and baby Andi over for dinner. It was such a nice August night that we ate dinner out on the terrace. Of course, Andi didn't leave my arms the entire evening. I was happy to get my baby fix every couple of days. Shawn and I even took Andi overnight one weekend to give her parents a break. After dessert, we sat and chatted for a while I snuggled with a sleeping baby. I was in heaven. Around 9:30 I placed Andi in her stroller and Rex and Mimi headed home. Shawn and I stayed outside enjoying the sounds of nature cuddling in our porch swing. "Shawn, I'm late." He opened one eye, and said, "Late for what?" I looked at him in disbelief, "Late as in late." Finally a glimmer of recognition crossed my husband's face. "Ohhhh. Well, what do you think?" "I'm afraid to take the test. I'm so tired of disappointments when it comes to those two little blue lines that are supposed to appear on the home test and never do." Shawn turned to look at me. "I think you should take the test tomorrow morning. I'll be there with you blue lines or not. We're in this together for the ups and downs, OK?" "All right. Well, we have to clean up from dinner so we can get to bed at a decent hour." I got up and headed to the kitchen.
Three years to the day after Shawn and I first 'discovered' the Gemini twins, Rex and Mimi's baby girl Cassandra was born. We were at the annual Horton-Brady 4th of July party when Mimi went into labor. We all went to the hospital and waited anxiously for news. Cassandra Kate Brady was born July 4th 2005 at 8:39pm. Shawn and I were the first people to visit with the new parents. When I got to Mimi's bedside, she handed the baby right over to me and said, "Cassandra, meet your auntie Belle." I looked down at the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen. "Hi sweetie. I'm your auntie and it's my job to spoil you rotten, give you sugary stuff that mommy and daddy won't give you and let you get away with everything." I cooed. I handed the baby back to Mimi. "She's so beautiful Meems. I'm so happy for you." I genuinely meant it. "I would keep an eye on the baby when Belle's around though because I'm sure she's gonna try to smuggle her out of the hospital and take her home with us." Shawn joked. "Well, it's funny you should mention that. Rex and I were thinking about guardians for Cassandra and you two were the first people on our list. Would you be her Godparents?" "Of course!" I exclaimed, "if it's OK with Shawn that is." "Absolutely. We'd be honored to be her Godparents," agreed Shawn.
On the way home from the hospital, Shawn and I stopped by the pub for dinner. Grandpa Shawn came over and we told him all about baby Cassandra. After he went off to put in our orders, I reached over the table and took Shawn's hand. "You know what? I think I'm just going to enjoy our new Goddaughter and stop obsessing over having a baby of our own. It will happen some day and if it doesn't then we can adopt." Shawn leaned over the table and kissed me. "I'm so glad that you think that way. No matter what, we will have a family."
About a month later, Shawn and I had Rex, Mimi, and baby Andi over for dinner. It was such a nice August night that we ate dinner out on the terrace. Of course, Andi didn't leave my arms the entire evening. I was happy to get my baby fix every couple of days. Shawn and I even took Andi overnight one weekend to give her parents a break. After dessert, we sat and chatted for a while I snuggled with a sleeping baby. I was in heaven. Around 9:30 I placed Andi in her stroller and Rex and Mimi headed home. Shawn and I stayed outside enjoying the sounds of nature cuddling in our porch swing. "Shawn, I'm late." He opened one eye, and said, "Late for what?" I looked at him in disbelief, "Late as in late." Finally a glimmer of recognition crossed my husband's face. "Ohhhh. Well, what do you think?" "I'm afraid to take the test. I'm so tired of disappointments when it comes to those two little blue lines that are supposed to appear on the home test and never do." Shawn turned to look at me. "I think you should take the test tomorrow morning. I'll be there with you blue lines or not. We're in this together for the ups and downs, OK?" "All right. Well, we have to clean up from dinner so we can get to bed at a decent hour." I got up and headed to the kitchen.