We finally got to leave the doctor's office and headed for home to tell everyone the news of the twins. When we pulled up outside of the house Jude, Jesus, and Mariana were waiting outside on the front porch swing. Brandon helped me out of the car before we walked up to them. "So what are you having?" Mariana said bouncing up and down. "We are having Alexis and Benjamin." I said smiling and rubbing my every growing belly. "A boy and a girl!" Mariana said smiling. "Yup so auntie Mariana is going to have fun." I said and looked around the family. Everyone wore a smile and it was one happy day for all of us.
The night came quickly and we were all sitting around the table eating dinner together. "So your baby shower is in two weeks at Lisa's pizza. Do you have the list of people you want to invite?" Stef asked as she ate a fork full of salad. "Um, yeah I mean I want the girls from GU and Rita of course, and Lisa's going to be there but that's all of my friends I guess so whoever else Brandon and you guys want to invite is fine with me. Lisa said we would have the whole place to ourselves and plenty of pizza and refreshments, oh and games." I said and she nodded. "We'll let Rita know that all the girls are invited and that you are having a boy and a girl. And I will take care of the rest of the invitations too." Lena said and I smiled. "I love you guys." I said as a tear rolled down my face. "Awe honey." I heard Stef say and suddenly I was wrapped in a group hug. "We love you too and Alexis and Ben." Mariana said and I let more tears fall. "Freaking hormones." I said laughing and whipping my tears away.
Dinner went on without any more tears, but plenty of laughter and love. After we ate Brandon washed the dishes and the rest of the family went to the living room. "So we have something for you and Brandon and the babies but we can wait until Brandon gets in here." Lena said and I smiled but shook my head. There was no point in arguing that the family had given us enough, they wouldn't listen any way. "Can I know what it is? Or at least a hint?" I asked laughing. "Nope you can wait until Brandon is done but trust me that I think you will like what we got for you." Stef said and I smiled. "Fine." I huffed jokingly.
When Brandon finally came to join us he sat next to me. "Alright so you know that we had limited things left from when we fostered babies so Lena, Mariana, Jude, Jesus, and I went shopping for a few things and we figured that we could go ahead and give you this before the baby shower. Boys go get it please." Stef said smiling. Jude and Jesus went to the garage and came back in with two boxes. They set them in front of us and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. They had gotten us two matching cribs. "Thanks you guys." I said getting up to hug everyone. "Now the room just needs to be painted and then everything can be set up." Lena said as she hugged me tightly. "Can the two of you take them to the guest house and sit them somewhere out of the way please." I asked Jude and Jesus who quickly nodded before taking them out of the main house.
We stayed in the living room for a while talking and laughing and just spending time together as a family. But soon I became tired and excused myself to go to bed. Brandon soon joined me in bed and started to rub my back. "How excited are you about having a little boy and a little girl?" he asked softly as he rubbed the small of my back. "As long as they have ten fingers and toes each and are healthy I couldn't be happier. How about you babe?" I asked feeling relaxed with his hands rubbing small circles. "I feel the same way babe. As long as we have each other these two will grow up to be amazing people. I'm not saying that we will be perfect parents but we will be the best ones that we can be. And god forbid when our daughter starts dating they won't have to worry about me they will have to worry about my mom." He said laughing lightly and I couldn't help but join him. "That is very true. You know the letter your dad left me, he told me that I should consider thinking about being a cop myself." I said and he laughed some more. "I could see you being a cop."
The next few weeks went in a blur and before I knew it school was starting back up. Lena and Stef had decided to have me be home bound since I was pregnant with twins and that I could go into early labor. Lisa stood by her word and let me have a few more hours at work which helped both me and her. Brandon went to school and then after he would come to work, even if he wasn't on the schedule, so he could see me and make sure I had everything I would need. Lisa of course made sure nothing happened to me during the day and everyone did the same once I got home from work.
The nursery got painted half a pale pink and then the other half a sky blue. Jude, Jesus, and Brandon did it with instructions from Mariana. It was absolutely beautiful and ready for the babies to be born and come home. Then without me knowing they also painted the house that Mike had left Brandon and each baby had their own room and it was painted the same as the nursery in the guest house. But today was Saturday and it was the baby shower. Everyone I could have ever wanted there was there and celebrating with us.
"Callie I think it's time to open the presents." Came Rita's voice from behind me. I nodded and followed her to the middle of our group where Brandon already was. There was gifts all around two chairs. "Alright I guess it's time to open the gifts." Stef said grabbing everyone's attention. Everyone became quiet and all eyes were on me and Brandon. We had sat down next to each other and we started out with the gifts from the girls of Girls United. "You guys this is awesome." I said when I opened the gift from Daphne, Kiara, Becka, Carmen, and Gabi. They had gotten me two bumbo seats with treys, some bottles in different sizes, and two blankets that read, 'follow your dreams and never give up even when the times get tough'. "Kiara you did the saying didn't you?" I asked and she laughed. "That obvious?" she asked and I smiled its wonderful thank you." I said as I tried to get up and hug them. "Callie you sit right there the girls can get up and hug you and Brandon." Stef said in a very motherly voice. Which of course they did get up and hug me and Brandon.
The next few hours were amazing and the babies were set for at least a year. We played some games and gave each guest a thank you gift for coming to the shower. "So Callie are you excited about having a little boy and a little girl?" Carmen asked and I smiled. "Like I've been saying as long as they're health and happy when they're born then I'm happy, but yes I am excited. I mean it'll be easier to tell them apart." I said laughing along with the rest of the girls. "Have you thought about god-parents?" Daphne asked as she ate some pizza. "Brandon and I have talked about it but haven't really decided just yet, we will decided before they are here though." I told her and she smiled. "Just making sure that you have a plan in place for them if anything were to happen to you and Brandon." She said and I smiled. "Always so thoughtful Daphne and that is why I love you." I said leaning over and hugging her. "Of course. But don't let anyone on the street know that I got a reputation to protect." She said laughing and winking at me which caused us all to laugh.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure the mommy-to-be is getting tired." Lena said grabbing everyone's attention. "Just a little longer Lena. I promise I'm fine." I said and she gave me a knowing look. "Let's start winding it down to an end." She stated and everyone nodded. "Ladies it is about time we get back to GU." Rita said to the group. They all nodded before hugging me and saying bye to everyone else. Rita sat next to me while they did. "Callie you are going to make an amazing mother you know that right?" she asked. "I want to be the best mom I can be. I know I won't be perfect but I will try my hardest." I said looking her in the eye. "And that Callie is why you will be an amazing mother." She said hugging me before she made her exit with the girls of GU following behind her.
Later that night when it was finally just me and Brandon lying in bed we started talking. "We really do need to decide on god-parents for these two. I wish my mother had but of course if she hadn't we wouldn't be together but that isn't the point. I don't want anything happening to us and then they end up like me and Jude and so many other kids." I said. "I agree with you babe. But we have such a vast amount of family and friends that it's hard to choose. Who would you think could do it?" he asked tracing my face. "Well I mean I think Mariana could do it. But I don't want to make this decision on my own. I want your input." I said leaning into his touch. "I know Mariana could do it but what about a god father?" he asked and I couldn't help but laugh at how he said 'god father'. "What about Jude? I mean I know he's young but I think he could do it too. And I know he would love that he would be so involved in his niece and nephew's lives." I said and Brandon nodded. "So it's settled Mariana is the god mother and Jude the god father."