"From your head down to your toes
you're not much, goodness knows.
But you're so precious to me,
sweet as can be,
baby of mine.
Baby of mine"

(Baby Mine -Alison Krauss)

Title: Pregnancy Adventures

New Year's Eve 2008

When I was growing up, I wasn't one of those girls who told their mom every single thing that happened in their life, but I did share a decent amount with Renee. She was my best friend and I loved telling her things, but I knew when enough was enough. It was dumbfounding to me that it was nearly impossible to not blurt out our secret the moment we saw her at the airport, but Jake and I had the perfect surprise. I knew it was going to be amazing and my nerves were going wild with my anxiousness.

"I'm so happy to be back here." Renee mused from the backseat of the Rabbit. I looked back at her with a smile.

"How are things with you and Phil?" I asked casually, trying to not be obvious about the bruise I saw on her shoulder that she tried terribly to cover with her sweater. I could see the pain flash in her eyes before she regained her composure.

"We're sorting through some stuff; a bump in the road." She hummed lightly, avoiding the topic as usual. I sighed softly and extended my hand to her which she grasped lightly.

"You don't have to tell me now, but I want you to know that I'm here to listen if you want to talk about it. If he's hurting you, please don't go back there." My voice was full of a concern that I had never known before. It was motherly like; maybe things were already kicking in? I always looked out for Renee and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. Renee squeezed my hand gently and shook her head.

"You've always taken care of me. I can handle this, trust me Bella." Renee murmured quietly before looking out the window again. I knew I wasn't going to get very far on the subject; I never did, but it was worth the try. I couldn't stand the idea of Phil hurting my mom in any way, but I could only hope she'd come to her senses soon enough.

"Billy and Charlie are excited to see you." Jake said after a moment of tense silence. He gave me a small smile that I saw from the corner of my eye. I could see Renee smile from the rear view mirror.

"Those old boys get excited over anything nowadays." Her laugh was light and it made me happy to hear. It was the vibrant Renee laugh that she had been missing recently.

"They are so excited that they planned for a dinner at our house, without informing us." I chimed in with my own laughter. It was partially true, but she couldn't find out all the details yet.

"Hopefully they aren't the ones cooking." Renee laughed a bit louder which Jake and I joined in on. She did have a point.

"Remember the time Charlie put a metal can of beans in the microwave?" I murmured, laughing at the memory. He had tried to surprise us with dinner when Renee was down for fall break a few years ago. Sheesh, what a long time ago it really was; senior year in high school. Renee covered her mouth to stifle a snicker.

"That was a disaster. I felt like I was cleaning the entire time I was there." She muttered quietly with humor in her voice. It was truly a disaster to clean that mess up. The rest of the short ride to our home was quiet; filled with a good silence instead of a tense one like when the subject of Phil was brought up. Who know talking about Charlie's adventures in cooking could relieve tension? I was thankful that it did; creating a pleasant environment for all of us.

"Luckily, it'll be a light dinner since there is a party down at the beach tonight to bring in the New Year." Jake grinned happily as he grabbed Renee's bag from the trunk of the car. We quickly flitted our way through the gate and into the house to get out of the bitter cold. The snow was piled up to at least 2 feet now and there was a biting breeze sending little flurries of snow around in the air. Jake had cleared off the pathway earlier this morning and it made our dash into the house easier. A shiver ran throughout my body, but the warmth of the house enveloped me in a hug. Renee shook the snow off of her sweater and smiled lightly at me; her cheeks and nose pink from the cold.

"Damn snow…" She muttered with a shake of her head. I laughed along with her. Neither of us had been big on snow or the cold, but it's funny how things work out. I wouldn't trade anything about the life I have now; not even for 365 days of sunshine.

Charlie and Billy were sitting in the living room watching ESPN on the 32 inch TV Jake and I had gotten recently. We rarely watched TV, but it was good for movie nights. Both men had large smiles as they came closer to the foyer to greet us. Renee hugged Billy first, greeting him warmly and with her exuberant excitement.

"It's good to see you Renee." Billy smiled, showing his laugh lines clearly. She smiled at him before hugging Charlie tightly. A light blush came to his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around her. I smiled softly to myself at the sight and still had the hope that they could rekindle, especially with this bump in the road Renee had mentioned.

"Bella told me you two planned dinner here without their knowledge?" Renee's voice was playfully accusing as she had a stern hand on Charlie's shoulder. Charlie scratched the back of his head sheepishly while Billy let out a chuckle.

"We should probably check on it." Charlie said and motioned us towards the kitchen. My nerves started to build in my stomach again at the approaching show. On our table sat simple grilled cheese sandwiches. Jake let out a hearty laugh when he looked at the table and then back to the two men who wore proud smiles.

"At least you didn't burn their house down." Renee laughed as we all made our way over to the table. Jake rubbed my arm softly and I smiled over at him; it was time. Just as we were all taking a seat around the table, I looked over to the oven. The light was on and I smiled to myself.

"Dad, I think you left something in the oven." I murmured. He looked over at the oven and back at me and shrugged his shoulders. "Aren't you going to get it? It could burn." I said in a voice that sounded more curious than irritated.

"You worry too much, Bells." Charlie laughed and took a bite of his grilled cheese. Renee rolled her eyes and fell right into the trap by getting up to go over to the oven. She pulled open the door, checked to see if it was hot, and reached inside to pull out what was left inside of it.

"What is it?" Jake asked with a curious tone. Renee turned around to face us with her brows pulled together in confusion. In her hand she held a hamburger bun that she looked at strangely.

"It's a bun." She laughed like her normal erratic self, probably thinking that I had forgotten in there or something. "That could have been in there forever." Renee said before closing the oven door.

"Where did you find it?" I asked, trying to control my mixture of excitement and nerves. Renee gave me a puzzled expression once more.

"You saw me pull it out of the oven." She stated and looked at me like I was crazy.

"So, you found a bun in the oven?" Jake's voice was playful as the words rolled off of his tongue. Renee nodded before she froze, catching onto the meaning behind what Jake said. I stood and approached Renee slowly as she remained in a frozen stance, brows pulled together and tears brimming in her eyes.

"Mom…" I murmured, reaching my hand to her. She snapped her head up suddenly and let out an excited shriek which nearly caused me to jump out of my own skin. She began to scream with her excitement as she pulled me into a tight hug. I couldn't hold back my own tears as we embraced; creating a memory that I would never forget.

"I'm going to be a Grandma." She choked out through her sobs of happiness. I nodded and she pulled me in for another hug. It felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders to know that she was thrilled and not upset at the news. I could finally breathe again. I smiled into her shoulder as we continued to hug. We could have stayed in that moment forever; bliss surrounding us.

"That makes us old." Charlie laughed from his seat at the table. Renee playfully stuck her tongue out at him.

"You're the old one here." She teased happily before wiping the tears from her eyes. She smiled at Jake before going to give him a tight embrace. He lifted her off of the ground and swung her around in the small area.

"Congrats Grandma!" Jake shouted with his own excitement before putting Renee back on the ground. I sighed with content as I took in the sight of my family. It couldn't get better than this.

It wasn't long before we were making our way down to the beach for real food and the celebration. Jake kept his arm wrapped tightly around me, murmuring something about keeping our little peanut warm. I had dressed nearly to the extreme in warm clothes, but I wanted to enjoy the party without losing my toes or fingers in the process.

"You are all insane." Renee sniggered as she pulled her jacket tighter around her body. Jake let out his robust laugh.

"That's only the beginning of it." He grinned as we continued our way towards the beach. It would have been convenient to drive, but it was tradition to walk; see your neighbors, converse with one another, and socialize with your environment. I didn't mind it too much, but my body had been accustomed to it more than Renee's.

We reached the beach and it looked like a scene out of a movie. It felt like I was staring at something made by video effects because of how beautiful the view in front of me was. Snow replaced the sand, but the waves still crashed onto the surface. The moon was bright and illuminated the snow, making it look like it was glowing. The stars filled the sky completely tonight without a cloud to be seen; something very rare in Washington. The people I have come to know as my family sat around a huge fire on the fallen logs. Some of the kids were playing in the snow and making forts or snowmen. There was a long table set up with food in heated pans and there were people standing around eating and talking. Seth was completely wound up with excitement while he waited by the table with the fireworks. Billy, Charlie, and Renee headed over towards Sue and some of the other members of the tribe while Jake and I joined the Pack around the fire.

Jake headed towards the group of his brothers that were gathered on the opposite side of the fire from the girls. He kissed my cheek softly before making his way over to them. I smiled to myself before turning towards the girls. Emily greeted me with a warm smile and tight hug. The fire lit up her face, but even in the dark, she was beautiful. I have even more of a bias since she is my best friend. "How did your mom take it?" She asked curiously as we took a seat on the large wooden log. She pulled a blanket around us and I smiled gratefully.

"She freaked out; in a good way." My smile was large, still reveling about how well Renee took it. I'm not sure why I expected her to be upset, but a part of me had feared that. I was beyond relieved that she was excited and it increased my excitement.

"I knew she'd be excited." Emily said with a genuine tone. Emily was usually right; I should learn to believe her more often. "You and Jake are really beating Sam and I." She said with light laughter.

"The wedding is only 9 months away." I teased, pushing her lightly. Emily giggled with her enthusiasm. I couldn't wait to see her become Mrs. Uley.

"We're going to have to make sure your maid of honor dress is big enough!" Emily grinned with mischief. We both assumed that I'd carry a big baby since Jake is a wolf. I was not looking forward to becoming the size of a meteor. I groaned and Emily patted my knee in comfort while chuckling softly to herself.

"You get to look forward to that too. I give you 2 months of being married before you get pregnant." My tone was playful as I mocked Emily. She faked a shocked expression before showing her famous up curved smile.

"You're on."

It wasn't long before Jake and the others returned to the fire. I hadn't noticed the people gathering around as I was lost in conversation with Emily. Almost everyone was gathered by the fire, minus Seth and Embry who were getting ready to light the fireworks when it was midnight, which was only a couple minutes away.

"My beautiful wife…" Jake murmured softly with a smile as he sat next to me. I leaned into him, resting my head on his chest as his warm arms wrapped around me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body and into mine; it brought me such a comforting feeling. Jake tilted my head to look up at him and immediately, I was lost in his molten brown eyes. I could see how incredible of a person Jake is just by looking into his eyes; they shown with love and sincerity.

"I love you." I whispered quietly. His hand cupped my cheek and I leaned into it. The fireworks began to go off and chorus' of 'Happy New Year's' were coming from all around. The fireworks exploded in the air in several different colors, reflecting in Jake's eyes. He pulled my face to his and kissed me deeply; sending a different fire throughout my body. Our kiss was soft and special as we treasured this moment. We pulled apart and he placed his forehead on mine; our breathing ragged as we intertwined our fingers; like two puzzle pieces locking together.

"I love you more." He rested his hand on my still flat belly as we welcomed in the New Year with our family.

Pregnancy Fun

February 2009 (2 Months)

Being pregnant was something entirely new to me. It was hard to explain things at times, but it was the best and worst feelings that I had ever felt. Jake and I had gone to my OBGYN in January and she said I was due on September 28th, 2009. She gave me a list of books and different articles I could read to educate myself as a new mother. So far, I've read every single of the things she recommended and then some of my own that I checked out from the library. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could; especially about what was happening inside of me each new week that passed. Right now at two months pregnant, our little baby is the size of a tadpole and little buds are appearing that grow into arms and legs. I'm in complete amazement at every new fact that I learn about the life growing inside of me.

On the other hand, I've had a really bad spout with morning sickness. I knew it was going to happen, but nothing could have prepared me for it. Mine is morning, midday, afternoon, evening, night, and late night sickness. My Ob said it should calm down by the third month, but the moodiness could last a little longer. It was completely miserable to go through and left me more tired than ever. It was harder than ever to work and I even took a couple days off when it got really bad. Jake felt helpless since there was hardly anything he could do to help me, but just being there made all the difference. His support nearly carried the both of us through this. We were coming to the end of our 7th week and nearing the end of February.

I sighed from my position in Jake's arms and adjusted slowly. I whimpered from my sore breast rubbing against Jake's side and pulled back a bit. He sat up and looked at me, concern burning in his brown eyes. His warm hand rubbed soft circles into my back.

"What's bothering you baby?" Jake whispered quietly. What kind of question is that? I wanted to slap my hand to my forehead, but I resisted the urge. My irritation flared up and I settled for rolling my eyes.

"What isn't bothering me?" I snapped and turned so my back was facing him. Jake sighed and lay back on the bed in his original position.

"Just trying to help." He muttered and I felt a twinge in my heart. I hated hurting him, but there was hardly anything I could do to stop it. I knew it was frustrating for him with my sudden changes in mood and I wished desperately to control it, but it was out of my grasp. The hot tears spilled from my eyes and landed on my cheeks as I tried desperately to sort out my emotions, but they were haywire.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm being a bitch and I don't want to be." I sobbed and turned to bury my face in Jake's chest. He rubbed my back once again and brushed my hair out of my face. I looked up at him slowly to see his eyes full of love and concern. His large but gentle hand stroked my cheek while his thumb glided under my eye to brush away my tears.

"You're not a bitch, Bella. I'd never think that of you. We'll get through this, okay? I love you sweetheart." He murmured before placing a soft kiss on my forehead. I wanted to protest, but sighed in defeat and curled into his side.

March 2009 (3 Months)

Jake excitedly pulled me along side of him as we made our way inside of the doctor's office. It was our 3rd month checkup and I was thrilled to see our little baby. I was hitting the 10th week mark halfway through March. I still suffered from mood swings, nausea, tiredness, heartburn, and indigestion, but hopefully those would be over soon for everyone's sake. I had snapped at Emily, Charlie, Sam, and most of all Jake. That doesn't include random people at work and unfortunate strangers at the store, gas station, or the diner. I couldn't wait to get control over my feelings again and stop hurting the ones that I love.

We entered the office quickly to get out of the crisp air. March was one of my favorite months since it was the month that Jake and I actually started our relationship, but the cold still irritated me. It was crazy to me to think that this all started three years ago. I was still pained by the absence of the Cullen's which was going on four years. It would never be as if they didn't exist, but I did my best to not think of them too much, especially while pregnant. I didn't want to add fuel to my emotional fire that was already ablaze.

The cozy office was fairly empty for a Tuesday afternoon with only one other couple in the lobby. Jake took a seat in one of the brown patterned chairs as I signed in at the front desk. The receptionist smiled at me before I went to sit by Jake. He interlocked our fingers and I sent a soft smile his way before resting my head on his broad shoulder. The warmth from his body comforted me like a favorite blanket and I never wanted to lose touch with him.

"You two look like you're meant for each other." A raspy, but soft voice called out. I looked up and found it was the other pregnant woman in the room speaking. She looked like she was at least 7 months and ready to pop already. The man with her had a smile as he rubbed her bulging belly. I could say the same about the two of them.

"Thank you." I responded with a smile to her. She nodded and focused back on the magazine she was reading before. It didn't take long before we were called back and set up in a room. I felt my excitement increase when I saw the ultrasound machine in the corner. I sat on the examination table and couldn't control the bouncing of my hands in my lap. Jake laughed and shook his head at me.

"I can't wait to see our baby either." He murmured just before my doctor came in. Dr. Jackson was a woman in her mid-forties with slightly graying blonde hair and pale blue eyes. She was one of the best OBGYN's in Forks and she was Renee's Ob too. I found it to be amusing that we were sharing the same doctor with years between the actual events.

"Hello Bella, Jacob. It's good to see you two again." Dr. Jackson said in her smooth voice. It was a really soothing sound when she was telling me about the baby. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been tired a lot recently. I don't have the morning sickness so much anymore, but I still get some indigestion and heartburn. I've been pretty moody and a little sore." I listed off the main things that bugged me. She nodded as she jotted some things down on her clipboard.

"Let's get your weight and vitals." She murmured before checking my blood pressure and heartbeat. She weighed me and I was shocked to see a four pound increase from the last time we were here three and a half weeks ago.

"Is that normal?" My tone was full of worry. Gaining extra weight was something I dreaded. Dr. Jackson laughed and nodded her head.

"I suspect you'll be carrying a large baby, seeing the size of the daddy. You haven't been overeating, so it's natural weight brought on by the hormones increasing the nutrition in things that you do eat. Don't worry, it's all typical." She murmured before pulling the ultrasound machine over towards the table. I could feel my heart rate quicken with the waves of oncoming anxiousness.

"I hope the baby isn't too big. I don't want Bella to get hurt." Jake mumbled. I knew there was concern for me behind his words, but I squeezed his hand gently in reassurance. Nothing would make me regret this part of our lives.

"Weight gain can be a little tricky in the first few months, but everything that is happening is completely normal. I'm predicting another 30 to 40 pounds or so. Don't worry, she'll be fine. Bella, please lift your shirt." Dr. Jackson said as she pulled out the gel and I did as she said. She squeezed a decent amount onto my mostly flat belly and it sent chills around my body as she started to rub it in a little. I hated how cold this stuff was. She turned on the machine and started to roll the transducer probe around my belly; trying to find the right view of our baby. It only took a few seconds before she looked over her shoulder at us with a smile. "There we go."

I couldn't contain my happiness as the small peanut shaped baby came onto the screen. Jake squeezed my hand lightly again as he was mesmerized by the screen. It was such an incredible feeling that brought immense joy to me every time we got to look at our little bundle of joy. Any thoughts of doubt that I ever had went away when I could see the little being inside of me. It didn't matter if I gained extra weight or got horrible stretch marks; this little baby was worth every ounce of it. I couldn't wait to meet my son or daughter.

It felt like all too soon the appointment was over and we were heading home with our new sonogram pictures. I sent Renee an updated one after every appointment and she would call gushing about how excited she is. Charlie kept his pictures of the baby on the fridge and he was even excited each time I gave him an updated one. I smiled softly down at the picture of my baby before looking over to my handsome husband.

"Do you think we're having a boy or girl?" My voice was soft as I questioned. Jake looked over at me with a small smile of his own before looking back to the road.

"Definitely a girl." I could hear the excitement laced in his voice easily. I could imagine Jake being wrapped around our daughter's finger immediately. My heart swelled with happiness at picturing Jake with our child. He'd be such a wonderful father, everything about him screamed so.

"I think so too." He looked over at me with another smile that made my heart flutter before taking one of my hands in his as we continued our ride home.

April 2009 (4 Months)

"I think I'm pregnant too." Jake groaned out loudly from his spot on the couch. I looked over to him from the recliner and giggled; my poor husband. Ever since the last week in my third month, Jake had suffered similar symptoms to what I had. Dr. Jackson called it couvade or hatching, but Jake still wouldn't give up the fight that he was pregnant too. He had been nauseous and having a stomach-ache for the last couple of weeks. He also gained a few pounds and experienced a change in appetite. He was miserable, but I was amused that he was able to experience this with me; it might have been worse since the whole imprinting thing.

"Sweetheart, you're not pregnant." I chuckled softly before moving to sit with his head in my lap. I stroked his hair softly as he grumbled once more.

"It sure does feel like it." Jake jutted out his bottom lip which caused me to giggle again. He was completely adorable, even when not feeling good. "It's not fair that you've had energy these last couple of weeks while I've felt like crap." He whined while turning onto his side and burying his face in my belly.

"I had my turn with it." I teased while rubbing his back soothingly. Jake mumbled something unintelligible into my stomach before dozing off into a light sleep. The feelings of happiness surrounded me quickly. There was nothing that could compare to what Jake did for me, even in the simplest of ways.

I had decided that the fourth month of pregnancy is one of the better months. My skin and hair were bright and glowing with all my new hormones. My morning sickness had subsided and I actually had more energy. My bump was starting to become more defined and it looked like I was pregnant instead of just tubby. My normal clothes were becoming tighter and tighter as weeks passed, so I usually settled for one of Jake's t-shirts and sweatpants.

Emily told me I was going to be forced into wearing summer dresses when it was warm enough; I don't think I could stop her, even if I actually tried. I'm sure I wouldn't mind; Emily had been one of my biggest supporters throughout this time and it was the least I could do to please her. It was one of the best feelings to know that she was there for me throughout the thick and thin and I'd never lose her as my best friend. She was doing more than enough to help out during my pregnancy, including going with me to my doctor's appointments when Jake had to work.

"Maybe we'll hear the heartbeat today!" Emily exclaimed excitedly from the passenger seat of my truck. The excitement ran through me like an electric shock, but also a little disappoint that Jake would miss it if we could hear it.

"I hope so. I wish Jake would be able to hear it too." I murmured quietly, mostly to myself as I continued the drive into Forks.

"We could send him a video!" Emily suggested with a voice full of enthusiasm. I smiled over to her and nodded in agreement. No wonder why she was like my other half!

"We've got to get lunch after the appointment. I really want ribs." My stomach growled along with the thoughts running through my brain. Emily chuckled and softly poked my belly.

"There is definitely a wolf in there." She mused while I laughed along with her. No doubt about it. I pulled into Dr. Jackson's office building and parked closest to the door as I could. It didn't take us long to get checked in and into an examination room. It was difficult to control the bouncing of my leg as my impatience grew. "Calm down, Bella." Emily said with a light laugh, putting her hand on my knee to stop my noisy movements. I rolled my eyes at her and settled from twiddling my thumbs together.

"I always get anxious for my appointments." I told her nonchalantly as I looked around the medium sized room. There were a few paintings on the walls and a container with pregnancy pamphlets, but other than that the room had naked walls.

"I run into that a lot." Dr. Jackson said as she walked into the room, obviously catching what I had said. I shot her a small smile as she greeted Emily and I. We ran through the basics of every appointment and soon I was lying back on the cushioned table with my shirt rolled up and the icy gel being spread around my tummy.

"Will we be able to hear the heartbeat?" Emily asked in an excited tone. Dr. Jackson laughed at her eagerness while she set up the machine.

"It's a possibility. Bella is nearing the end of the fourth month, so it's likely we'll be able to hear something, but every patient is different. You should be able to start feeling the baby move within the next couple of weeks." Dr. Jackson explained in a matter of fact, but casual tone as she continued to mess with the ultrasound machine.

"What about the gender? When are we able to find that out?" Emily questioned once more. I looked at her and she just smiled in response.

"We should be able to tell around the middle of the 5th month." Dr. Jackson stated before turning back towards me. "Let's see if we can hear that little munchkin's heartbeat." She smiled before pressing the probe into my belly. She rolled it around for a bit, causing the ticklish sensation I always got. It wasn't long before my little peanut appeared on the screen of the machine. A swooshing pitter patter sound started to come from the machine and I heard my breath catch. I looked to Dr. Jackson with questioning eyes and she nodded with a smile. "That's a healthy heartbeat for a healthy baby."

Tears began to spill over my eyes as they remained glued onto the screen. Everything felt surreal in that very moment. Chills covered my entire body from head to toe, making the small hairs on my arms stand at attention. The life inside of me came even more alive with the sound of a heartbeat and it made my heart fill with an entirely new happiness. The sound was like music to my ears; a personal lullaby that I would never tire of.

I could hear a happy cry come from Emily as her eyes were on the small screen that held the image of my baby. She wiped the tears from her eyes before pulling out her phone and starting a video. She pointed it at me and moved her mouth for a cue to talk. "Hey baby, we're at the doctor's right now and we have a surprise for you; here is our baby's heartbeat." I mumbled out as clearly as I could through my tears with a smile. Emily moved her phone to focus on the monitor as the little pitter patter continued to fill the room. Time passed too quickly and I was saddened when we left. I wished to listen to the heartbeat all day.

"What a blessing…" Emily murmured from the passenger's seat once again. I couldn't agree more; this entire life was a blessing that I never thought I would have or deserve.

May 2009 (5 Months)

We're skipping a few months after this so you won't get bored with all the fun pregnancy facts.

I am just about halfway through my 5th month of pregnancy and so far it has been a lot better than the previous months. I've had an increase in my appetite which Jake likes to tease me constantly about. I've also gained another ten pounds or so and you can definitely tell I'm pregnant. There's no way to hide this bulging baby anymore, not even with sweatshirts, but as Emily says, I wear my bump proudly. I've been fortunate enough to have minor stretch marks so far, but they still worry me slightly. Jake constantly reminds me of how beautiful I am to him which always boosts my self-confidence. I have no idea where the time is going between work, school, and doctor's appointments. We were going to start shopping for our baby once we found out the gender, which would hopefully be later today.

"Did you know that your uterus is compared to the size of a cantaloupe now?" Jake asked in an excited tone while looking up from one of our many baby books. I glanced over to him from my spot in the recliner and smiled softly.

"I think that's about right." I murmured, softly running my hand across my bump. A gasp left me as a sudden movement occurred in my stomach. It felt like a surge of gas ran through me and left a tingling sensation all over.

"Bella, what's wrong? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?" Jake's voice was rushed and full of panic as he moved from his seat to crouch on the ground next to me. I ran my hand across my stomach very slowly again and felt the same gurgling sensation. I felt the tears start to stream down my face as I looked into Jake's worried eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off by grabbing his hand and placing it on the left side of my belly. He looked at me with confusion before I felt the sensation again. Jake's eyes went wider more quickly than I thought possible as he looked between the bump and I.

"That's our baby moving…" I murmured softly, resting my hand on his as our little bundle kept moving around inside of me. Jake had his mouth open slightly as his expression was one of awe and adoration.

"That's incredible. I love you so much." He whispered before placing a gentle kiss in the center of my stomach. As if on cue, the baby moved once more and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Let's get to our appointment so we can find out if this little love bug is a girl or boy." I nearly knocked Jake over as I got to my feet and started skipping towards the door while his laughter resounded behind me. The excitement was pulsating through my views at the thought of finding out if we were having a daughter or son, and I couldn't wait to get there.

Naturally, it felt like it took forever to get back into our examination room. Everything was going at a deathly slow pace from the regular check up to the questions, but finally it was time to see our baby. Jake would finally get to hear our little peanut's heartbeat for himself and I could barely contain my enthusiasm.

"I see you are very anxious today, Bella. Hoping to see the gender?" Dr. Jackson mused as she spread the gel across my bump. I laughed out softly and nodded.

"I just know we will be able to." I murmured before she put the probe to my stomach and started moving it around to find the view of the baby. The little swish swoosh thump filled the room and Jake tightened his grip on my hand. His eyes were filled with the same look of adoration that I have witnessed throughout my pregnancy. They filled with a love that I knew only he and I could ever share. I squeezed his hand gently and smiled at the incredible man. The thought would never leave my head of how lucky I was.

"It looks like you're in luck. The baby is in just the right position." Dr. Jackson said while moving the probe and pushing down slightly. I wanted to scream with excitement, but I found a way to control myself. It felt like everything went into slow motion for the next few moments because of how excited I was. It was like time couldn't keep up with me.

"So, what is it, Doc?" Jake questioned with his own eagerness. Dr. Jackson smiled at both Jake and I before pointing to the monitor.

"Congratulations. You're having a boy."

September 2009 (9 Months Pregnant)

I am a walking house or at least that's how it feels. Dr. Jackson wasn't kidding when she said I'd put on 35 more pounds. Our little boy was huge and I didn't need to see him to know that he was going to have the wolf gene. Immediately after finding out the gender, Jake and I told our family and they were more than excited. Charlie and Billy seemed to be the most excited out of everyone and I couldn't wait for them to meet their grandson. They would go on and on about all the different things they were going to do with him. The pack was especially thrilled as well. Everyone couldn't wait to meet little Daniel Ephraim Black; Jake and I came up with his name together after long debates about other names.

We also began our baby shopping right away. I never realized how much stuff babies truly need until I had to go buy it myself. Daniel has everything that he could possibly need and then some. I received a lot of amazing and generous gifts at my baby shower which Emily hosted for me. He has the most adorable bibs and booties that any baby could ever have. I couldn't wait to see him in his outfits and how handsome my son would be. Emily helped Jake and I set up his nursery which was originally the guest bedroom. It was a beautiful beige color with safari animal decals covering the walls. There was a dark oak crib with a safari animal mobile and bedding. A rocking chair sat in the corner with another warm and cozy Pendleton blanket draped across the back. Everything was absolutely perfect and I knew Daniel was going to be one of the luckiest and happiest babies.

Emily was a lifesaver throughout this entire time. She has been planning her wedding with a little help from me, but still has never lost tempo in keeping up with my pregnancy. She regularly came to my doctor's appointments and spent time with me every day. She even went out of her way every month to take a picture of my growing bump and then she even got Jake and I professional pictures. There will never be enough words in the universe to describe my love for Emily and how grateful I am for her. Today is her wedding and I am privileged to be the maid of honor, even at nine months pregnant.

Around my 7th month of pregnancy, Jake and I enrolled in birthing classes. The classes really prepared us for the arrival of our baby and we've had an overnight bag packed since the first class. We were both too excited for the arrival of our blessing. Jake almost seemed more enthused than I was, if it were possible. He never missed an appointment and no words could come close to how much that meant to me. Jake was the most supportive person in my life and even more now with our baby on the way. He took care of my every need and comforted me through the hard times. He put up with my crazy mood swings and my whining about aches and pains. He went over and above the average expectations a wife could have of her husband and made me the happiest woman alive.

I smiled softly to myself while rubbing my huge belly. It was still surreal to me that there was a little human inside of me that Jake and I gave life to. I never pictured my life turning out like this, not in a million years, but I wouldn't change a single thing about it. All of the pain and hurt just made the happy times even more special.

Emily was humming a light tune next to me in the backseat of the car. We were parked just a little bit away from the church while guests were filing in. Emily had this weird thing about wanting to walk in through both doors, but I was not one to mess with the bride on her wedding day.

She was beautiful in her extremely traditional Quileute wedding dress. It was beige with turquoise and white beadings on fringe coming down from the front. She barely had any makeup on, but she didn't need it; Emily had natural beauty. Her thick and long black hair was flowing down her back with seamless straightness, and most of all, there was a joyful smile glued to her face. Whenever she doubted her self-confidence because of her scar, I would be the first to lift her back up. She shined brightly like the sun from inside and out.

"You look beautiful. I'm so happy for you and Sam." I murmured while brushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Emily looked over at me with a huge smile and I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Thank you, Bella. I don't know what life would be like without him. I also don't know what life would be like without you. You're the best friend that I've ever had and I love you dearly, but that doesn't mean you're going to win the bet." Emily's voice rang out with sincerity and her laughter filled the car.

"You never know…" I laughed while pushing her slightly. Emily giggled once more with bright eyes. She reached out and placed a hand on my pregnant tummy. Daniel responded to the touch and shifted slightly, causing Emily's eyes to go wide with delight. She is going to be such a good Godmother.

"Maybe this little booger with come out today to be a special guest at the wedding." She looked up with mischievous eyes and I shook my head with laughter. Jake appeared outside of the doors of the church looking ravishing in his attire. He waved his arm and motioned that it was time for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to start going in; the wedding was about to begin.

"That's my cue." Emily's eyes were wide as we started to get out of the car. It was a very difficult task for me at this point, considering I couldn't see my own feet, but I wobbled my way over to Jake. He supported me more so than my own body. Emily stood beside the church and smiled. I could see the anticipation written across her face and her heart was nearly coming out of her chest.

"Next time you walk out of these doors, you'll be Mrs. Uley." Jake said to her with an encouraging smile. Emily let out a small laugh before motioning for us to go inside. I couldn't wait to see my best friend marry her true love; it would be a day to remember.

The wedding was incredibly beautiful, just like the two individuals who tied themselves together. There were no words to describe the happiness I felt by seeing Emily and Sam smile and kiss for the first time as husband and bride. Emily looked the happiest that I had ever seen her and that goes for Sam as well. Imprinting makes no mistakes; you're soul mates and there can be no denial of that. The prayers and the ceremony were perfect for them and made my pregnancy emotions kick into overdrive with the tears.

The entire ceremony made me nostalgic about my own wedding. It was crazy to think that Jake and I would be married for a year in just another month. By the time our anniversary rolled around, we would have our son in our arms. I had always had a stigma about girls who got married young and had children at a young age, but that vanished when it became my own amazing life.

The reception was equally as beautiful as the wedding. It reminded me so much of my own, but it had Emily's unique twist on it. People were dancing, singing, laughing, joking, and having a good time all around the area. It was such a pleasant atmosphere and even the grumpiest person would smile from it. The entire moment and scenery looked like it belonged in a romance movie.

I smiled at Jake from my seat at our table. I had been having cramps and achy feet so I decided to hold off on breaking out the famous Bella dance moves, not that they existed. Jake was happily dancing with Sarah while Quil and Embry were having some sort of dance contest. It would have been nice to be out there with everyone, but I didn't think it'd be a good idea to put a lot of stress on myself with the baby being so close to due.

The cramps had slowly begun to get more painful in the last hour. It was really affecting me, but it was my best friend's wedding so I didn't want to make a scene. I wasn't due for another week or two and this was probably the false labor thing that they talked about in birthing class. I tried my best to brush it off and act normal as the happiness continued on.

"Ready to pop?" Charlie asked with a gruff laugh as he sat next to me at the table. I grinned while gritting my teeth through the pain.

"Nearly." My voice was strained but I tried to hide it with a smile. I'm sure that I looked quite weird, but that was nothing new for me. Progressively, it was becoming harder and harder to do so.

"Everything okay?" Charlie's voice was full of concern as he looked at my flushed face. I nodded and tried to remain nonchalant, but a sharp sensation in my stomach made me cry out. Within seconds, Charlie was on his feet and standing next to me. "What's going on?" His voice was panicked as he grabbed onto my hands.

"I think the baby's coming." I whispered with my own panicked tone.

"Oh Lord."

Everything after that moment was a blur.

Jake had carried me to the cruiser at Charlie's request and I remember freaking out about my overnight bag. It had my favorite pair of sweats and t-shirt in it that I wanted to have with me, but Jake said we didn't have enough time to grab it ourselves. Emily said she'd go by our house and grab it before they came up to the hospital.

"How far apart are they?" Charlie asked from driver's seat as he sped towards the hospital. Billy was riding in the passenger seat, but he was mainly quiet with his own nerves. Jake's eyes were full of frenzy and panic at our current situation. Birthing class could only prepare you so much. He held my hand as we sat in the backseat of the cruiser. The hospital was about 10 minutes away now and I couldn't wait to get there. It felt like I was out of my own body, but feeling everything at the same time.

"They've been three minutes apart for the last 30 minutes." Jake's voice was shaky. There was no way that I could comfort him at the current moment. Another shot of searing pain spread throughout my body as another contraction hit. I felt a gush of water leave me and I didn't need to look up at Jake to know he was freaking out. "Holy shit Charlie! She either just peed on me or her water broke. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do." Jake was nearly losing it.

"Everything is going to be okay, Jacob. We're nearly there. Just keep supporting her. You're doing great, son." Charlie's voice rang out with pride and sincerity as he spoke. Even through my haze of pain, that was something I would always remember. It was like Jake snapped back into reality at Charlie's words. He looked to me and I could see the love burning in his eyes, but the special moment didn't last for long as another painful contraction hit, causing me to cry out. The pressure was building and sending a burning sensation across my body along with pounding and stabbing feelings to go with it. Tears had rolled down my face for what felt like the longest time and there was no chance of stopping them.

"I love you, Bella. You're doing great. I wish there was something I could do." He murmured into my ear as he held me to him. I wanted to have room to breathe, but I think Jake needed me close more than I needed him, so I let him hold me. The comforting thought of seeing our son held me together; I repeated it as mantra through my pain.

My labor was a blur of different things after we arrived at the hospital. The florescent lights blinded me as I was moved into a room and hooked to all sorts of machines with less harsh lighting. Charlie and Billy were against the furthest wall in the room with expressions that I was too delusional to decipher. The I.V didn't even bother me with how much of my agony I was in. The doctors barely had time to do that with how fast my labor was moving; must be a wolf thing.

The pain was excruciating as I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside. My body was covered in sweat and I could barely see through the pain. If Jake wasn't a wolf, I'm sure I would have broken his hand from how hard I was squeezing it. I knew it pained him to hear me scream and watch me go through this, but it was all worth it.

After an hour of labor, pushing, crying, screaming, and begging for it to be over, out came Daniel Ephraim Black on September 19th, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.; 9 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches long.

Happy Birthday baby Daniel!

I know I haven't updated in a while, but at least this is a long chapter full of good fluff and happy stuff!(:

I've been busy with my first couple weeks of college and keeping up with all the reading. It's been a fun time so far!

Please review! Please review! Please review!

Did I mention please review? I really love to hear what people have to say about my fanfiction so if you're reading this, please leave a review and let me know what you thought. Constructive criticism is appreciated! I love hearing from readers so feel free!

What to look forward to:

Chapter 14: Parenting adventures, Jake changes a diaper, and lots more!

Love,

GVE