Chapter 10
The next morning was a scene out of a TV show. Shawn was sitting on the edge of the bed and I was in the bathroom watching the clock and trying not to stare at the little stick in my hand. Five minutes passed and I looked down. I ran out of the bathroom, and jumped on the bed screaming, "It's blue, it's blue!" Shawn took the test out of my hand, "We're having a baby! Belle, this is so great! We have to tell everyone!" He reached across the bed and picked up the phone. I grabbed it out of his hand and hung it back up. He gave me a puzzled look, "Why'd you do that?" I exhaled sharply, "because I'm not ready to tell anyone just yet. After what happened last time, I want to wait a little while longer to tell everyone. Even though your mom was the one who broke the bad news to everyone, I still had to deal with pity looks and glances for weeks after I lost the baby. If God forbid it happens again, I don't want to have to deal with that." "Ok Belle, it's up to you, but I really think we should at least tell our parents. We can wait to tell the rest of the world." Agreed Shawn. "Deal, but my Dad and Kate are out of the country travelling around Europe for a while so I don't know when we'll be able to tell him. We can go let your parents know though."
We told Hope and Bo our amazing news and of course they were excited for us. Besides them and my dad, we didn't tell anyone about the baby until Thanksgiving. It was the perfect time because everyone was gathered together. We all got together at Hope and Bo's house. It was pretty much the same crew that was around when we decorated the Christmas tree last year with the addition of Rex, Mimi and Andi. As was the tradition, we went around the table telling what we were thankful for. Health, family, good fortune were all mentioned by family members. I happened to be the last one to say what I was thankful for. "I am thankful that Shawn and I are getting a second chance at becoming parents this May." Hope smiled at me, Shawn squeezed my hand and the family clapped. I was so incredibly happy. I was already in my second trimester, so the threat of a miscarriage was greatly reduced.
Two weeks later we were all assembled at the Horton homestead again to decorate the Christmas tree. Just like last year we had a new ornament to add to the tree. Mason, Lucas and Sami's three-week-old was added to the tree. JP toddled around the living room, chasing Zack, Will and Abby were playing DJ and sneaking twisted Christmas Carols in to the playlist whenever people weren't paying attention. It was wonderful. After we had decorated the tree, the family dispersed into little groups to chit chat. About 15 minutes later Hope came up behind Shawn and me and declared, "There's one more ornament to put on the tree." Everyone turned to see what she was talking about. Hope held up a silver bulb with 'Baby' written on it in light blue. She continued, "Uncle Mickey, Julie, Jennifer, Bo and I remember the first time this ornament graced our Christmas tree. It was 1986, the year I was pregnant with Shawn. He was the first Horton to get an ornament before he was born. I thought it was fitting that we put it on the tree this year to celebrate Shawn and Belle's baby to be." I think the baby liked that idea, because I felt it move for the first time as she said that.
The next morning was a scene out of a TV show. Shawn was sitting on the edge of the bed and I was in the bathroom watching the clock and trying not to stare at the little stick in my hand. Five minutes passed and I looked down. I ran out of the bathroom, and jumped on the bed screaming, "It's blue, it's blue!" Shawn took the test out of my hand, "We're having a baby! Belle, this is so great! We have to tell everyone!" He reached across the bed and picked up the phone. I grabbed it out of his hand and hung it back up. He gave me a puzzled look, "Why'd you do that?" I exhaled sharply, "because I'm not ready to tell anyone just yet. After what happened last time, I want to wait a little while longer to tell everyone. Even though your mom was the one who broke the bad news to everyone, I still had to deal with pity looks and glances for weeks after I lost the baby. If God forbid it happens again, I don't want to have to deal with that." "Ok Belle, it's up to you, but I really think we should at least tell our parents. We can wait to tell the rest of the world." Agreed Shawn. "Deal, but my Dad and Kate are out of the country travelling around Europe for a while so I don't know when we'll be able to tell him. We can go let your parents know though."
We told Hope and Bo our amazing news and of course they were excited for us. Besides them and my dad, we didn't tell anyone about the baby until Thanksgiving. It was the perfect time because everyone was gathered together. We all got together at Hope and Bo's house. It was pretty much the same crew that was around when we decorated the Christmas tree last year with the addition of Rex, Mimi and Andi. As was the tradition, we went around the table telling what we were thankful for. Health, family, good fortune were all mentioned by family members. I happened to be the last one to say what I was thankful for. "I am thankful that Shawn and I are getting a second chance at becoming parents this May." Hope smiled at me, Shawn squeezed my hand and the family clapped. I was so incredibly happy. I was already in my second trimester, so the threat of a miscarriage was greatly reduced.
Two weeks later we were all assembled at the Horton homestead again to decorate the Christmas tree. Just like last year we had a new ornament to add to the tree. Mason, Lucas and Sami's three-week-old was added to the tree. JP toddled around the living room, chasing Zack, Will and Abby were playing DJ and sneaking twisted Christmas Carols in to the playlist whenever people weren't paying attention. It was wonderful. After we had decorated the tree, the family dispersed into little groups to chit chat. About 15 minutes later Hope came up behind Shawn and me and declared, "There's one more ornament to put on the tree." Everyone turned to see what she was talking about. Hope held up a silver bulb with 'Baby' written on it in light blue. She continued, "Uncle Mickey, Julie, Jennifer, Bo and I remember the first time this ornament graced our Christmas tree. It was 1986, the year I was pregnant with Shawn. He was the first Horton to get an ornament before he was born. I thought it was fitting that we put it on the tree this year to celebrate Shawn and Belle's baby to be." I think the baby liked that idea, because I felt it move for the first time as she said that.