By the start of her second trimester, Courtney's pregnancy symptoms had begun to level off. She wasn't throwing up at all hours of the day and night anymore (although, she wished she wasn't throwing up at all, but she would take what she could get) and her mood swings weren't nearly as often as they had been.
Her hormones leveling off couldn't have happened any sooner; both Duncan and Courtney's job performance had been decreasing from lack of sleep. Duncan's boss had even gone as far as to threaten firing him if his performance didn't increase. Courtney discovered it was hard to give children music lessons, or help them come to terms with the error of their ways, while she was struggling to stay awake.
It was midmorning on Saturday, almost a month after the first doctors' appointment, and Courtney was sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by color swatches, wallpaper samples, and catalogs filled with baby furniture. Next to her sat a notebook with several detailed columns filled with information ranging from prices of items to store comparisons and baby names.
Courtney's eyes flickered from her blueberry muffin, a recent craving of hers, to Duncan who strolled into the kitchen, eyes still half-closed with sleep and walked straight to the coffee machine. Once he had taken a few sips, he made his way to the chair next to Courtney kissing the top of her head in greeting before sitting down.
"Should I ask what all of this crap is or would it be easier for me to just pretend I don't see anything?"
"I'm just trying to get ideas for the baby's room. You know, narrowing down colors, choosing cute wallpaper, the simple things for now."
Duncan nodded slightly taking another sip from his coffee before quirking an eyebrow.
"Fine, I'll bite. We don't know the sex of the baby yet, how are you 'narrowing down' colors?"
"Well," Courtney consulted her notebook, "I have the obvious colors, pink and blue, but I have gender neutral colors as well, greens, yellows. Right now nothing is definite, I'm just getting ideas."
"Sounds like a plan. I'm gonna get to have some say in this too right?"
"Of course. After all someone is going to have to do all of the work," Courtney said, grinning sweetly.
"Glad to know I'm so useful. You realize we don't have enough space for the baby to have his or her own room, right?"
"Yes we do. We'll just change the guestroom into the baby's room. We rarely get guests that stay over anyway and if we do they can stay on the couch."
"You make a valid point," Duncan agreed, grabbing the notebook quickly.
"You've got a list of baby names too?"
"Feel free to add any."
"When were you gonna let me in on this little gem of a notebook?"
"Sooner rather than later. You've been so busy and stressed out about your job; I didn't want to make it worse."
"Well, I'm gonna start stealing this bad boy and adding things to it."
"You are more than welcome to. I'm excited to see what names you come up with," Courtney stated with a wink.
Duncan chuckled, stood up and walked to the dishwasher to get rid of his mug.
"You're goin' out with Lizzy today right?"
Courtney nodded.
"Where are you going?"
"Actually I'm not sure of the specifics, but we're going maternity clothes shopping. Lizzy wants to get me fashionable maternity wear; she thinks if I'm left to my own devices I'll dress myself poorly."
"Wow, sounds riveting. Enjoy that. You're not even showing yet. How are you gonna know what sizes to get?"
"Educated guessing," Courtney replied, checking her watch. "I'm going to go get ready. You know how Lizzy gets if she has to wait."
"Yeah, the last thing we need is for her to be sitting in the driveway honking the horn and disturbing the neighbors so bad that they call the cops. Again."
"This one's hot."
"Lizzy, I'm pregnant and I'm going to get fat. I'm not sure looking hot should be one of my main priorities."
In the two years since Duncan and Courtney's wedding Lizzy had become slightly tamer, this was mostly due to her relationship with Courtney's older brother, Kellan. Although both enjoyed a good party, Kellan was more than content to chill out at home and Lizzy had been able to adapt. They had tiptoed around a romance for half of a year before Kellan finally worked up the nerve to ask her out; they had been together ever since and the couple had recently moved into an apartment.
"So, how's my bro?"
"Oh he's fantastic in bed."
"Sweet Lord, that was not what I meant and you know it," Courtney practically shrieked. "Ugh, I need to get a lobotomy now. I don't want to remember that."
"Shut up, beotch! You had to have known that was going to be my answer," Lizzy said, throwing Courtney a short sleeved shirt. "But to truthfully answer your question, he's fine. He's also mega excited about becoming an uncle, he's going to spoil your kid rotten."
"I know. He's already given me a list of toys he 'called' to buy him or her. There are days when I worry about him."
"How've you been feeling though? I mean I'm afraid to call you 'cause I think you're gonna throw up on the phone again. That was so gross and you know I'm a sympathy puker."
"It's not like I could control it, Liz, jeez. But I'm much better now. I've even gone entire days without regurgitating my food."
"Thanks for the visual," Lizzy mumbled.
After tallying up the items in their shopping cart Courtney did some quick mental calculations.
"Lizzy, I didn't bring enough to pay for all of this."
"Don't worry about it. It's on me," Lizzy smiled, pulling out a credit card with Kellan's name on it. "Well, it's on your brother."
"I made a list," Duncan volunteered the next day as the couple sat waiting in the doctors' office. "While you were out with Lizzy."
"List of what?"
"Baby names I like. And I picked up a couple of baby name books at the library."
"Well aren't you efficient. Am I going to get to see your list?"
"Maybe. If you're good," Duncan mumbled before covering her lips with his.
Dr. McGuire knocked lightly and walked in, ending the couples kiss.
"Awe, aren't you two just the most precious thing? If only my husband was as attentive as you. You know the drill Courtney, lie back on the table."
The visit went much like the first, with random buttons being pushed on the ultrasound machine and emotions running high when Courtney and Duncan got to see their baby again, with the added bonus of a few more added pokes and prods from Dr. McGuire to all different places on Courtney's body to make sure she was healthy too.
"I think I might have a surprise for you two today," Dr. McGuire smiled. "Listen closely."
She tapped some keys on the machine, until the room was filled with a quiet, whooshing sound. The couple looked at the screen again in awe.
"That would be your baby's heartbeat. It's pretty strong for how far along you are."
"This is amazing," Duncan grinned.
"Everything is moving along well. Courtney, you and the baby seem to be doing just fine so far. Keep up the healthy eating as much as you can and if you feel well enough start exercising lightly. Activities like yoga and light weights are good, don't go take up kickboxing or softball, 'kay?"
"I think I can arrange that," Courtney responded as Duncan took the paper towels from her hands and wiped the jelly off of her stomach.
"Great. Remember if you have any questions or concerns feel free to call me here at the office or if you can't reach me here you have my cell."
"Thanks so much Dr. McGuire," Duncan said, shaking her hand.
"Don't mention it; it's my job," she joked. "Well I will see you two in another three or four weeks, whichever works best with your schedules."
Dr. McGuire waved over her shoulder as she left the room. Duncan turned to Courtney immediately, a smile threatening to break his face.
"Did you hear that? Our baby has one strong heart. Maybe he'll be an athlete."
"He?"
"Or she. I'm game for either."
"Well I'm glad you're so excited."
"I live to make you happy."
As the two left the building and headed to their car Courtney turned to Duncan and batted her eyelashes.
"Can we stop and pick up something for dinner?"
"Sure Princess. What did you have in mind?"
"I have been craving anchovy pizza since this morning."
"Oh man, it begins."