Hi everyone! For my next series of chapters, I decided to do important milestones in Mei-Li's life and explore Neil and Audrey adjusting to parenthood, since we might never see it on the show. :( So this chapter is in honor of Mei-Li's "birth" day being today (March 13, 2020). Stay safe everyone!
"Audrey, have you seen my keys?" asked Melendez. It had been six weeks since Mei-Li had been born and the Lim-Melendez household looked as if a tornado had torn through it. Between feedings, diaper changes, laundry, and few other scattered tasks, the rest of the housework had been put on the back burner.
"Try the table inside the door!" shouted Lim from upstairs.
"They're not there," Melendez called.
"Try the island in the kitchen," Lim said.
Melendez went to look and his keys weren't there either, "Not there either."
"Then I don't know where you put them, Neil, and I can't help you look for them because I'm too busy with the baby," said Lim.
Melendez went upstairs and into Mei-Li's nursery where Lim was sitting in the glider to feed her. Melendez smiled when he laid eyes on his two girls and said, "I'm going to miss spending my days with my two beautiful ladies," he said and kissed the top of Lim's head.
"Very funny, Neil," Lim said sarcastically.
Mei-Li finished nursing and Lim went to go grab a burp cloth when Melendez held out his arms and said, "Here, I can take her while you go shower."
Lim smiled, but gave him her look, "Neil, you really don't need to be getting baby spit up on your suit," she opened one of the drawers of the changing table and lo and behold, Neil's keys were in there, "Missing these?" she teased as she held them up while tossing him the burp cloth.
Melendez rolled his eyes at her jokingly, but smiled, "Thanks. Just put them by my briefcase in the dining room."
"Better hope Daddy doesn't lose them again, Pumpkin, or else he won't be able to get into his office," Lim kissed Mei-Li's head and left the room.
Melendez smiled at Lim's retreating form and then back down at his daughter, "Well mija, Daddy has to go back to work today, but I'll be home later tonight. And I promise I'll read you a bedtime story and sing you a lullaby and snuggle with you when I get back," Melendez heard Mei-Li burp and then noticed she had spit up on the rag, "And that's how you're going to thank me for spending quality time with you aren't you?" he tossed the dirty rag into the hamper and went downstairs, starting a pot of coffee and gathering his things.
Lim came down a few minutes later and took the baby from him, "Come here little lady," she cooed at Mei-Li, "Now let's say goodbye to Daddy while we go have our own adventures for today."
"What are your plans for today?" asked Melendez as he poured coffee into his tumbler.
"Well, we're going to go to story time at the library, then grocery shopping, and if I'm feeling particularly adventurous, I might make some tea while Mei-Li takes her nap."
"Mm. Sounds like you have a full day planned," commented Melendez. He knew Lim was going just a tad stir crazy, but he also knew she wouldn't trade him or Mei-Li for anything. He looked at his watch and said, "I have to get going. Love you," he kissed Lim.
"Love you too," Lim smiled against his lips.
"Have a wonderful day, mija. Te amo," Melendez kissed Mei-Li's cheek.
Melendez went to leave when Lim stopped him, "Neil," she smiled teasingly and held up his keys.
Melendez shook his head and laughed as he took his keys from her, "I'll see you later tonight."
Melendez left and pulled out of the driveway. Lim looked down at the infant in her arms and said, "Well, Peanut, Daddy has to go back to work, so it's just you and me today. But we're going to have a good time, aren't we sweet girl?" Mei-Li cooed a little and Lim smiled at her, "I thought so. Now let's get you ready for the day," Lim got Mei-Li ready to go outside and prepared the diaper bag, another MotoChic bag similar to the one she carried back and forth to work, before leaving. If it was the one thing she did hate about motherhood so far, besides the late night feedings, it was the fact that every woman within a five mile radius oohed and aahed over Mei-Li. Sure, she was a cute baby, but why did complete strangers feel the need to love all over her child? It always brought out a certain protectiveness in her that Lim had never felt before in her lifetime.
Lim would freely admit to anyone that motherhood had been an adjustment. If she was being honest with herself, it really had profoundly changed her, no matter how cliché that phrase was. Of course, she still loved her job and she still loved Neil with all her heart, but the moment she had laid eyes on Mei-Li, her whole world had changed. She finally understood what it meant to love someone more than yourself and that you would die for them. She would do absolutely anything for Mei-Li. No matter how stressful the day had been, how much had been going on, or how anything else in life was affecting her, simply laying her eyes on Mei-Li made everything melt away.
Lim had always been on the "if it happened, it happened and if it didn't, it didn't" bandwagon when I came to having kids. She thought it might happen when she was married to Kashal, but the universe thought otherwise. After her divorce and her disinterest in pursuing any more romantic relationships, her relationship with Neil and the pregnancy had honestly blindsided her. She had spent her nights wondering whether or not she would even be a good mother given the fact that she was a tomboy and not the most feminine of personalities. Even now, she sometimes felt out of place whenever she took Mei-Li out since she wasn't in all sorts of mommy Facebook groups or Mommy and Me classes. She didn't need advice on how to care for her own child from strangers on the internet.
But since it had happened, Lim wouldn't change anything about her life. Sure, she was certain she stuck out like a sore thumb compared to all of the other moms when it came to taking Mei-Li to story time or the park, she was wondering how she was going to balance her career and motherhood in a few months, but nevertheless, she was thrilled to get to watch Mei-Li grow up over the years. And another delightful aspect was she had been able to watch Neil become a wonderful father. Lim had always known that Melendez had wanted kids, but to see his dream finally come to fruition made her heart swell. Watching him feed her, sing her lullabies, and rock her to sleep were some of the simple memories she would cherish forever.
When Lim arrived home from her errands, she fed Mei-Li and changed her diaper before settling back down in the glider to rock her to sleep, humming Hush Little Baby softly. As Mei-Li slowly began to fall asleep, Lim smiled down at her and said, "You know what sweetheart? I know it's only been six weeks, but I already can't imagine my life without you. I've never fallen in love with anyone faster than I have with you. I love Daddy too, but we both love you more than you can ever know. We love spending time with you and rocking you to sleep and feeding you. If I'm being honest, I even enjoy the times where I'm changing your diaper. I have all sorts of hopes and dreams for you. I wonder if you're going to be stubborn like me or stubborn like Daddy?" Lim chuckled to herself, "But no matter what kind of woman you grow up to be, just know that you'll always be my greatest blessing in life." At this point, Mei-Li had fallen asleep, so Lim kissed her forehead and placed her in her crib. She turned out the light and gently closed the door behind her.
Melendez arrived home later that evening and Lim was reading in the living room. She turned towards the door when she heard him enter and stuck her bookmark into the book, "Hi," she smiled.
"Hi," Melendez smiled and kissed her.
"How was your first day back at work?" asked Lim.
"Busy," Melendez sighed, "And I missed being at home with you and Mei-Li."
"We missed you too," she smiled and wrapped her arms around him, "But we had fun."
Melendez kissed her again and said, "You've become a wonderful mother, you know?"
Lim leaned her head against his shoulder and responded, "Well, I feel like I can do anything with you by my side."
They heard Mei-Li start crying and they both went upstairs to check on her. Melendez went over to her crib and whispered, "What's wrong mija?" he asked as he lifted her into his arms.
"I think it's time for me to feed her again," said Lim.
"Well, I'll leave you ladies alone," Melendez handed her to Lim and quietly left the room.
Lim smiled at his retreating form and then down at their daughter. As of right now, Neil and Mei-Li were two of the only people on Earth whom she couldn't imagine without in her life.
