The Perambulator Modification Hypothesis
Saturday, and Penny and Bernadette were sitting in the back of Howard's car, and they were excitedly in animated discussion together over which strollers, cots and other equipment they would be needing after the delivery of their babies in a few weeks time (sort of as Bernadette was a few weeks further on in her pregnancy than Penny).
Leonard and Howard's conversation though was on a totally different theme, discussing possible ways to increase the intensity of a laser beam, when Bernadette interrupted them.
"Howard please! Do not spoil this special day for me, you're not at Cal Tech now. You are coming with me to pick out our stroller cot and anything else I will need for your baby. And you are going to be excited about it", Bernadette told him quite firmly, In that familiar tone of voice that so mirrored his late Mother's.
"Yeah, and that goes for you too Dr Hofstadter", Penny informed Leonard, who concealed a grin as Howard rolled his eyes. The absolute picture of a hen-pecked Husband.
Howard turned into Santa Monica Blvd, and soon with a squeal of delight Dr Bernadette Wolowitz and Mrs Penny Hofstadter entered the store.
"Hey this is cool", Leonard exclaimed pointing to a stroller, and trying to be obedient to Bernadette's command and show Penny he was as excited in this venture as she was.
"Sweetie that's more for a toddler than a newborn, it's best that newborns lie flat", Penny patiently explained. Then added, "Though the trouble is it wont be long before we will need one though I guess", Penny said more to herself than Leonard.
Leonard made a mental note to do some reading up on this subject, 'Penny might need my input, so I guess I'd better start studying up on these things", he thought as he looked at the bewildering array of equipment in the store.
Meanwhile Howard had picked up something from the display on the counter, that looked like some lab equipment he'd seen at Cal Tech, and was subsequently engrossed for a while, working out how it was used.
"Howard, you don't need that", Bernadette explained, having noticed some of the other shoppers giggling as Howard tried to work out how the thing functioned. "Why not?, It might be handy?", Howard obliviously asked Bernadette. "It's a breast pump Howard, and I can guarantee, it won't work on you".
Howard's cheeks reddened visibly as he hastily replaced the pump back on to the counter.
Penny had meanwhile asked to look at a range of creams to help prevent stretchmarks. While imagining herself laying on the bed, while Leonard massaged the cream into her skin. Penny felt a shiver of excitement at the thought and suddenly feeling warmer as a result, and with a quick glance towards her husband she picked up three tubes. Though not without the notice of Bernadette, who seemingly had the same thought as Penny. though in her case, imagining being massaged by Howard, and also picked up three tubes for herself .
The two girls then picked up some of the more personal items that new Moms would need, like breast pads and other more intimate items they would need after childbirth, the really vital things would come later I.E. chocolate, flowers and pampering etc.
When Penny rejoined Leonard she was stunned to find he had, all by himself, collected a complete bedding set including mattress for a crib with the alphabet zoo design, Leonard's thinking being that the alphabet would give his baby a head start in academic ability, while Penny squealed with delight as she found the pattern with the animals on it so cute and therefore so pleased was she with his choice that she gave her husband a hug, before quickly selecting a crib.
"Hey!, This will look great when we go paint balling", Howard said, as he showed Bernadette a camouflaged diaper bag.
"Good gracious! Howard no" Bernadette told him sternly. So Howard sulkily put the Diaper bag back down.
As the two Moms to be looked at baby blankets together, Bernadette asked Penny how Leonard has been since they found out Penny was pregnant. "He's been driving me up the wall, really you would think I'd break if I carried anything heavier than a coffee mug", Penny whispered. Then added "It's getting so I'm almost glad when he has gone to work".
"Yeah Howard's exactly the same. Still I don't think it would be a good idea to tell them to stop fussing though, I mean, It's nice that they care so much", Bernadette reasoned.
Penny didn't have to think hard to imagine the hurt look on Leonard's face if she told him to stop fussing knowing that he would over think things and feel she was pushing him away, She shuddered at the mere thought of causing him hurt. "Guess you're right. It wouldn't do at all", Penny replied.
"yup and when all's said and done I guess we wouldn't want them any other way", Bernadette summed up. Penny looked over towards Leonard and as always the powerful emotion of love welled up inside her, 'I love you so much' , she thought to herself, but simply replied, "No we certainly wouldn't"
Meanwhile Leonard and Howard were in animated discussion over the different perambulators , while Bernadette had gone over to look through the different brands of disposable diapers. Penny, after pausing to look at some baby carriers and was just picturing herself wearing one with her little one securely strapped in it and walking proudly with Leonard when, "Penny?, Hi how are things going with your pregnancy?". Penny turned hearing the familiar voice of Dr Gallo. "Hello, how are you?", Penny asked politely and wondering at the reason for Dr Gallo being in a baby store.
Dr Gallo, who at that point was examining one of the baby carriers, and noticing the quizzical expression on Penny's face, Laughed, "Oh, I'm not here for me. No, I'm trying to buy something for my niece's baby shower, tomorrow, really I don't know where to start", Dr Gallo told her as she looked around at the multitude of items around the store.
"What about a baby blanket?", Penny asked her holding up the blanket she had picked up earlier.
"Oh that's pretty,", Dr Gallo enthused, then added, "I'll get one of those and perhaps a teddy bear as well. Thank you Penny, great idea. A blanket will always be useful", Dr Gallo said and was about to go over to the back of the store to pick one up, after Penny had indicated where they were. When Penny stopped her.
"Actually Dr Gallo. Can I ask you something?", Penny asked, the seriousness of her request written all over her face.
"If you could make an appointment, I'll see how I can help", Dr Gallo informed her.
"Oh please, It's just that it has been really bugging me for a few weeks now", Penny told her, her voice taking on a note of desperation.
Dr Gallo relented, "Well OK Penny but I must warn you I will not make a habit of these out of office consultations, but anyway let's move over to here away from eavesdroppers", and they moved to a much quieter part of the store.
"That's better, now then Penny what's the problem", Dr Gallo asked, giving Penny her fullest attention.
"Well with all the problems I have had recently, I would really like to know. Do you think I'll be a good Mom?", Penny asked earnestly.
"Dr Gallo thought for a moment then gave Penny her considered opinion. "No Penny I don't think you will be a good Mom", she paused for effect before adding, "I think you'll be a great one. Truly Penny, a bad Mom would not care enough to ask that question of herself let alone someone else, and why my reasoning that I think you'll be a great Mom. I have seen Penny the huge amount of love you have for your husband, I have also seen the absolute adoration he has for you and I truly believe that you both will have no trouble in extending that love to your offspring, and that you will cherish him/her or any others that you might have later, just as much as you both cherish each other. Does that answer your question?".
Penny's relief was clearly visible, "Thank you so much. It has so been worrying me lately", Penny gratefully told her.
"That's OK Penny now enjoy you're pregnancy, though no doubt you will not be thinking that when you are throwing up everyday, and if you have any more concerns then come and see me?, OK?. Now I must get my niece's present. Goodbye Penny, take care.".
"Goodbye Dr Gallo and thank you for listening", Penny replied, as Dr Gallo made her way over towards the baby blankets.
Penny stood for a while and ran through Dr Gallo's reasoning in order to get Dr Gallo's words firmly implanted in her mind. So that in any cases in the future. If ever she has periods of self doubt then she can always remember them and reflect. Then she rejoined her husband and Howard.
"It would be child's play. All we have to do is, we fit a tray across here add some flexi solar panels to the hood, the laptop we fit to the tray, hmm, maybe with velcro...", Howard was saying as Penny drew closer. "and we can fit a holder for a cellphone on the front, and maybe some weights in the base to lower the point of gravity", Her husband added, before Howard excitedly interrupted "Et Voila! We can surf the net while we push junior along the sidewalk".
"Er Leonard?, don't you think that it would be advantageous to look where your going if your going to be pushing your smart and beautiful baby in the stroller", Penny informed him, and putting a spanner in the works in the process.
"And if you think you're putting lead weights in the base then you can push it all the time Jack", Bernadette added to Howard, as she joined them just after Penny.
Then later after the two fathers to be had loaded their purchases in the trunk with supervision from the two mother's to be, they started again, "You know if we were to fit a small electric motor and some low gearing...", Howard began as Leonard excitedly interrupted, "and fit a more efficient braking system and maybe a pedestrian sat nav...", Bernadette turned and gave Penny a shrug and an old fashioned look which Penny imitated then the two women smiled lovingly at their husbands, those Guys never could stay away from engineering or physics for long.
