Even though Carlisle said that Joshua was healthy, Dr. Thomason wanted to have a quick checkup to make sure. I mean we couldn't say no he's a vampire baby so he'll be fine. I finished fitting his baby coat around him that was still a little baggy. He was so small that I was always afraid that I was hurting him. Edward didn't even like dressing him because he was so little.

"Ready to go?" he said walking into the room

"Yep, can you just grab his seat?" my eyes never left my son

Edward placed the seat on the bed and I carefully lifted his squirming body into it. I buckled him up and he made a face like he was going to cry.

"You are such a fussy baby"

He was always crying whether we picked him up or laid him down in the crib. I know it's only been 2 days since he was born and babies cry but I felt bad because neither Edward or I could comfort him.

"We should probably ask him about that. Maybe there's something we can do"

"I'm pretty sure he's just colicky"

"Probably" he grabbed the seat "Off we go buddy"

"Abby and Ryan you guys be good for grandma and Phil okay. I don't want to hear any bad news" I kneeled down so they could give me a hug

"They'll be perfect angels" she told me

"I'm sorry we have to leave while you guys are here"

"It's fine sweetheart we understand. Anyways we've got my other two favorite people here to keep us company"

"My cell number is on the fridge so feel free to call me if you need us" Edward told her

"We'll be fine go" she waved off

As I walked out to the car I checked my watch and realized that he was due to eat right when we'd be there. I hope he could hold off until after the appointment but that didn't seem likely. Edward had to help me get into the car since I was still sore but the pain in my abdomen was getting better rather quickly which surprised me.

"How's your stomach?" he asked after he put Joshua in

I rolled up my shirt so he could see how beautiful my flabby stomach was. It was all full of those pesky pink stretch marks and honestly I called it my 'jelly roll'.

"Oh just great" I said sarcastically

"You look fine but like I've said numerous times, once you're changed it will all be gone"

"I can't wait for that day" I pulled my shirt back down

"Oh, my Bella" he leaned over to kiss my cheek

"Can we stop so I can get something to drink? I forgot to this morning and if I don't drink neither does he"

"Yeah, do you want me to stop at coffee shop?"

I nodded and we stopped at the first one we saw. Edward jumped out of the car only to return seconds later with a bottle of orange juice- he knew what I wanted by now.

"Thank you"

"He's sleeping right now but when he wakes up Dr. Thomason better cover his ears" he laughed

When we arrived at the doctor's office, Edward went to sign us in while I took seat. Joshua was fidgeting from the movement of taking him out of the car that he started to whine. I carefully took him out and cradled him against my shoulder.

"All set" Edward said coming back to sit next to me "Hey my little man"

"So what do I say that he keeps crying?"

"Yeah and that we're not sure how to comfort him"

He grabbed Joshua off my shoulder to cradle him on his own. Edward literally was obsessed with him. Every time I go to pick him up, he beats me to it.

"You're whipped by your own baby" I laughed throwing a blanket over Joshua

"Hey, this is definitely our last baby-unless you fall pregnant this month…"

"No way!"

"Then I want to spend every second possible with him while he's this little. He's already 2 days old and he's changed so much. He won't be cuddly like this for long"

"I know" I grabbed his little hand "What are they going to do with him?"

"Probably just check his weight, vitals, height, and stuff like that"

"Needles?" I gasped, I know normal babies usually get vaccinated

"I'm not sure but it's possible"

"I rather not…"

"Honey, he'll be fine. He won't even remember it"

"But he's half vampire so I don't think he needs one. Can't Carlisle do it if it's needed?"

"Calm down" he wrapped an arm around my waist

"Joshua" the nurse called from the back room and my heart began to beat fast

Edward passed him back over to me so he could grab his seat and she directed us to one of the last rooms where she pulled down a laptop.

"He is gorgeous" she smiled

"Thank you"

"So home birth?"

"Yep" I sighed

"What a trooper" she laughed "I assume you feel fine and everything checked out? If you haven't then we'll need to make an appointment for you as well"

"Nope, I was already checked"

"Okay, good" she typed "Any issues during the labor or birth?"

"Nope" Edward spoke up "Everything went perfect"

"That's great" she smiled putting the laptop up "Alright the doctor will be in shortly"

Once she left I took I stood up and rocked Joshua gently. He was wide awake now so if I was right, he was due to eat now and his hand in his mouth proved me right.

"He's about to get really pissed off" I held his pacifier in his mouth hoping he wouldn't cry

There was a quick knock at the door and Dr. Thomason entered.

"Hello guys" he smiled "This must be little Joshua"

"It is"

"He's just beautiful" he said

"Thank you"

"I'm pleased to see that everything went well considering he's, what, about a month early?"

"Yes, everything happened so fast and Bella really wanted a home birth"

"I warned you he'd be here early" he laughed "Can you undress him for me so I can get some measurements?"

I stood up to lay him down on the table and unsnapped his fleece jumper. He immediately started screaming his head off, face going red.

"Wow he's got some lungs on him" he said shocked

"You have no idea"

I stepped away and watched as he weighed, measured, and checked him over. Of course he screamed through the whole thing and it had me on the edge of my seat and Edward squeezed my knee. I didn't like hearing him in distress even though I knew Dr. Thomason wasn't hurting him. It was over quickly and he handed Joshua back to me and I dressed him again and covered him up with his blanket.

"How much did he weigh when he was born?"

"5 pounds 13 ounces" Edward answered

"Well, since he has a low birth rate I would try to time his feedings and get him on a schedule so he gains some ounces but he is absolutely perfect"

"That's good"

"Any other questions?"

"Ya, we've been noticing that he seems to cry a lot and neither of can really comfort him, especially when he's eating"

"You're breastfeeding right?"

"Yes"

"He might be drinking too fast and it's giving him a stomach ache. Try rubbing his tummy while you nurse or unlatch him in intervals so he doesn't drink too fast. You could also try to pump a couple bottles so you can see how fast he's drinking. Or he may just be a cranky baby" he laughed "But I see no signs of any problems"

"Okay, we'll try it"

"Now I'll have my nurse come in because as I'm sure you know he needs the hepatitis vaccine" Dammit so close

I nervously nodded as we said our goodbyes.

"Thank you Doctor" Edward said to him

"You are very welcome. Enjoy him and I'll see you guys later"

"Bye"

I could feel him looking at me but my eyes focused on the peaceful baby in my arms and how in about a minute he'll be in pain.

"Are you going to need to wait outside?" he asked kneeling down in front of us

"Maybe" I wiped a tear "Stupid hormones"

"You're getting yourself all worked up for nothing"

There was a knock on the door and the nurse entered carrying the needle that was going to pierce my baby's skin.

"I promise I'll be quick" she smiled at me

Edward had to pry him out my hands so he could lay him back on the table. The nurse unsnapped his jumper while getting the needle ready.

"I think I need to step out"

"It's fine Bella. Believe me you're not the first parent to have done that" the nurse laughed "We'll done in a minute"

Edward nodded at me and I quietly excused myself into the hallway and leant against the wall. I could hear the nurse asking Edward to hold his leg and then…screaming. I wanted to rush in there and comfort him, I mean what mother can't watch her child get a simple shot? The nurse walked out of the room and smiled at me.

"All done"

"Thank you"

When I walked back in Edward was holding him contently and Joshua was just whining now.

"Sorry" I muttered

"It's alright love"

Edward handed Joshua to me and guided me out of the room. He seemed fine but he had a little band aid on his thigh. I didn't bother putting him in the seat and just carried him through the parking lot we were almost at the car when his cries were getting louder and I tried comforting him by rubbing his back in soothing circles.

"We're almost at the car then mommy will feed you"

I passed him over to Edward while I got situated then opened my arms back up for him. He carefully laid him in my lap and went to hook the seat back in. He latched on rather quickly and even though we were in the car, I threw the blanket over me in case someone walked by.

"Slow down buddy" I hissed "You're going to get a tummy ache"

Trying to do what Dr. Thomason told us, I pulled him off me after about ten minutes. He whined angrily that I had stopped his snack but I didn't want him to have an upset stomach and be cranky all night.

"Hold on buddy" I sat him up and patted his back lightly

He squirmed but otherwise didn't cry so I figured he was good until we got back. I buckled back in his seat and the joined Edward up front, reaching for my juice.

"Everything went well"

"I knew it would be" he reached over to grab my hand

"I know but I just like hearing that he is" I looked back at him and smiled "How is it possible that we made another perfect human being?"

"I wonder that every day" he laughed

Instead of going of going to our cottage Edward took the other path towards the big house. I figured the kids must've been there. Of course Joshua started to whine again which caused me to groan.

"Relax" he rubbed my arm soothingly

"Hello" Esme greeted us at the door "I invited Renee and Phil over. I hope that's okay"

"It's fine Esme" I hugged her

Once we got into the house I spotted Abby sleeping on the floor in the corner of the room. Her stuffed animal was tucked tightly under her arm. Ryan ran up to us and I pulled him into a hug. Edward placed the baby seat on the coffee table then turned to hoist Ryan up into his arms.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Can I hold Joshua?" he asked

"Can I have a hug first?" he laughed

Ryan wrapped his little arms around his father's neck and Edward rubbed his back. I turned to see that Rose had already taken the Josh out of his seat and was cooing at him.

"You are so cute" she smiled

Edward put him down and he walked over to Rosalie, placing his hand on his brother's head.

"Gentle" Edward told him

Joshua let out a good cry causing Ryan to jump then start crying. He turned around and reached for Edward.

"He doesn't like me"

"No honey, he's just hungry" I calmed him

Rosalie got up and gently handed me my baby. His face was all scrunched up and he was punching his little fists in the air.

"Got it?" Edward asked

"Yep, I'm good"

I casually walked into the bedroom passing Carlisle on my way.

"Hi Bella, did everything go okay at the doctor's?"

"Oh yeah he's absolutely perfect" I smiled down at him "He basically said that he may be crying a lot because he's eating too fast so we have to watch that but other than that he's fine"

Joshua gave a whine which diverted my attention back to where I was going in the first place.

"That's good, see you downstairs"

I laid my baby down on the bed and unbuttoned his jumper. Thinking it was probably smart to change his diaper while I was at it. It was nothing to disgusting, just wet. To my surprise he never resumed crying and just looked around the room. He seemed perfectly content.

"Not hungry now huh?" I placed my hands on my hips "But as soon as I go downstairs you will be"

I scooped him up and made my way back to the living room. Everyone looked up as I entered.

"That was fast" Edward said

"Just a wet diaper" I announced "What want him?"

"Me" Ryan yelled

"Okay buddy but you have to let daddy help you"

Edward moved him off his lap and kneeled down in front of him. I whispered for Alice to grab the camera while passing the baby over to his brother.

"Now you have to hold his head okay?"

"Okay mommy" he made a cradle with his arms

I placed Joshua in his arms but Edward kept close and to be honest he was doing more of the holding. It was still cute to see Ryan's face light up when Joshua looked up at him. I can't believe how much he's grown, how much they all have grown.

"Such a big boy" I told him "Can you look at Auntie Alice so she can take a picture"

He smiled up at her obviously proud of himself. These were moments that I killed for. But as I saw how happy everyone was I couldn't escape the dark thought in the back of my mind. The Volturi were going to come and I wanted to be ready for it even if Edward disagreed.