Big news for a big girl

Little Jane was running all around the house. Whenever her father came home from work, she ran to him and jumped into his arms, yelling: "Papa!" She was a real daddy's girl. She lit up as soon as she heard her dad park the car in the driveway and waited for him to come play with her. When Frank was the one to put her in bed she didn't cry or scream, she just laid down and fell asleep right away.

Angela spent the whole day with Jane, she tried so hard to bond with her, but she never got the same spark from her daughter's eyes that Frank did. Angela loved playing with Jane though, but lately she was feeling a little nauseous and she always fell fast asleep with Jane at naptime. She hadn't told Frank about it because she didn't want to worry him. He was so happy. He was happy about work and always happy when he came home. He was happy about Jane and happy about everything that Angela did.

Angela had been thinking about taking some classes and maybe learn to become a chef. She had always loved to cook and bake and she had dreams about making cook books with her own recipes. Before she started feeling so nauseous and tired all the time, she had been trying out all kinds of new recipes. She was determined not to fall asleep while putting Jane down for a nap and instead try to make something new and tasty for Frank.

"Come on Janie, let's go take a nap."

"No nap." Jane said.

"Yes nap. So you'll have energy to play with daddy when he comes home from work."

"Papa?" Jane asked and ran towards the door.

"No sweetie. Papa comes home after you've taken a little nap."

"No nap."

"Why not?"

"No nap."

"Well, it's great to argue with a one year old, but honey, unfortunately, it's not up to you." Angela said as she picked up her daughter and carried her into their bedroom. "I'll lie down with you sweetheart, and you can nap in mommy's bed."

"Mama bed." Jane said.

"Come on. I'll read you a little story."

Angela picked The Velveteen Rabbit, an old book that she had inherited from her mother, a book that was read to her hundreds of times as a kid. The third generation that would grow up to love this book.

As Jane drifted off to sleep, Angela started to feel tired. She almost fell asleep but she was so determined on cooking something that she managed to pull herself up and walk into the kitchen. Since it was almost summer, she decided on making an ice cream cake for dessert. That was Jane's favorite treat.

Angela usually tried to make something healthy, and Jane wasn't allowed to have candy. But sometimes she was allowed Ice cream or cakes that Angela baked. Jane sure had an appetite and usually ate a lot. The one thing she hated the most was green vegetables. She refused to eat all green vegetables, especially brussels sprouts. She often threw tantrums if she saw them anywhere near her food or on her plate. Angela given up on brussles sprouts but instead she sometimes put broccoli in her pasta dishes or soups.

Angela was busy cooking that she didn't realize that Jane had woken up from her nap and was playing in the living room until she banged her head on the table and started to cry very loudly.

"Oh lord. Janie what happened?"

"Janie bang." She cried and held her head.

Angela kissed Jane's head and felt a little bump starting to grow. She picked her up and put her in a high chair in the kitchen.

"Do you want to try mommy's food?"

Jane nodded her head and sucked up her nose, still feeling shaken up about that accident.

"You know who will be home soon?" Angela asked as she fed her daughter ravioli.

"Papa." Jane shrieked and spit the food straight into Angela's face.

"My bad, shouldn't have asked you a question while you were chewing." Angela said while wiping her face. "Do you like it?"

"Yum yum." Jane said and chewed loudly with her mouth open.

"I just have to put some sauce, and cheese on it and then it will be perfect. I tried putting mixed meat and vegetables into the raviolis, I hope your father will like it.

"More." Jane yelled.

"At least you like it, my little sous chef." Angela tickled Jane and fed her more. "But now we'll just wait for papa to come home, so we can eat dinner with him." She took Jane out of the chair.

"Do you want to help me set the table?" Angela asked and Jane handed out her arms, wanting to help her mother.

When they had set the table, Angela decided to wear something nicer. Maybe a summer dress, since it was the middle of May and it was already getting pretty warm outside. She opened her closet and put on a sundress that Frank had given her for her birthday. While putting on the dress, she felt like she had put on some weight, but still she hadn't eaten all that much, since she was feeling so nauseous all the time.

"Papa." Angela heard Jane yell as the door opened. She put on a little lipstick and went to greet her husband.

"Hey honey. Dinner is ready."

"Hey darling. Wow, you look great in this dress."

"Thank you. But I think I've put on some weight since the last time I wore it, it doesn't fit as well as it used to."

"You look gorgeous. Don't mind some little extra weight, you look great."

"Thank you." She said and Frank kissed her on the cheek, holding little Jane.

"Mmmm. What smells so good?"

"It's a new ravioli recipe I wanted to try."

"Can't wait to try it."

"Jane loves it, even though it has some green vegetables."

"Yum yum." Came from the little girl as her father placed her in her chair.

Angela sat down and put food on Jane's plate and her own. Jane dove right into it and fed herself. Angela just looked down at the plate and didn't really feel like eating it.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just feel a little bit nauseous."

"I've noticed. Are you both feeling nauseous and tired?"

"Yes. Yes I am. All the time."

"Have you been to the doctor?"

"No, of course not. It's just that time of the month you know."

"Really?"

"I think so, it's been a while…" Angela jumped up from the chair as she had a realization. "Oh god." She said and grabbed her stomach. "I think Jane's going to be a big sister."

BANG

Jane's plate fell on the floor with a loud noise.

"Bang." Jane said.