Sunday, Oct 2, 2022- 1 day
Nineteen hours. I have been a mother for nineteen hours and we're being sent home from the hospital. Leonard is snug in his car seat next to me in the backseat as Sheldon carefully steers us home. I thought he was going slow yesterday morning on the drive to the hospital, but it's even slower today. Each block brings us closer to bringing our son home for the first time.
Sheldon carefully turns the car into the driveway, stopping short of parking in the garage. "I'll pull it into the garage after we get him inside. It will be easier to get his carrier out without the restriction of the wall right next to the car. Is that okay?" He suddenly sounds unsure while opening the door for me.
"That sounds like a great plan." I step away from the car, allowing him to reach in to retrieve Leonard's car seat. "I need to call Penny. She has called and texted me multiple times yesterday and today. I feel a little bad we haven't told our friends yet."
"You can do that later. Let's show Leonard his room." He's leading the way to the backdoor, unlocking it and gesturing for me to enter first. Sheldon takes Leonard into the living room, placing the car seat on the floor before unbuckling him. I watch in wonder as Sheldon lifts our newborn into his arms and begins to walk around the house with him. "This is the living room. I can't wait to show you Star Wars for the first time. Over here is where I do a lot of my work. I'll let you draw on my whiteboards, but please don't erase any of my work unless I say it's okay." This is so much better than what I was imagining for our first moments as a family of three in our home. I follow Sheldon down the hallway. "This is mine and mommy's room. We've got a portable crib set up for you for at night for the first few weeks." He steps into the nursery, remarking, "And this is your room. I decorated it; I hope you like it." Sheldon carefully places Leonard in his crib, straightening up, he looks at me, "He's home, Amy. He's finally home."
I step next to him, slipping an arm behind him before looking at our son in his crib, "I know. It's almost surreal." Leonard is asleep from the drive home. "I'm going to step outside to call Penny so she doesn't hear him if he starts crying."
I step through the backdoor to call my best friend. I take a moment before selecting her name in my phone. Her voice quickly answers, "Amy! Is everything okay? Why didn't you call me back yesterday?"
"Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Sheldon and I were busy with some last-minute baby stuff." Not a lie. It was unplanned for Leonard to be born yesterday. Sheldon and I want to hold off on telling our friends just a little while longer. We want at day or two at home before they all know and all of our secrets surrounding him are out in the open.
Penny sighs. "Bernadette and I were going to lunch and wanted you to join us. We were worried something had happened with the baby when you weren't getting back to us."
"No, the baby is safe and sound."
"Oh, good. Can we do a girls' night this week? I know your due date is next week; we thought it'd be nice to get out for a few hours before the baby is here and you're too busy to hang out for a while."
Another lie to my friends. "I'm not sure. I'm not feeling up to being too far from home or Sheldon right now. Speaking of which, I know dinner is supposed to be at your place this week, but could we swap and have it here?"
There's a hesitation before Penny asks again, "Are you sure everything is okay? You sound weird."
"Yeah, I've just been really tired lately. I promise I'll take a nap Tuesday afternoon and be perkier for dinner."
"I remember that," she chuckles. "It doesn't go away after the baby is born, but it's so worth it once they're in your arms." She has no idea that I'm already familiar with that feeling. It really is the best feeling in the world. We end the call before I head inside once again.
Tuesday, Oct 4, 2022- 3 days
Sheldon has been amazing since we brought Leonard home. For as many doubts as he had, he's a natural at caring for our son. I've only changed two diapers in three days, both of them right after I finished nursing. Sheldon's been encouraging me to relax and taking care of Leonard while I nap. Luckily, Leonard has also been sleeping more than anything, so he's mostly been bringing him to me when he needs to be nursed.
Our friends will be arriving soon, so it's time to keep them from learning the newest member of our group is here until we're ready for them to know. The plan is for me to wait in our room with Leonard until everyone is here. That's when I'll come out, revealing the fact that the baby was born. Sheldon has dozed off at the end of the couch with Leonard curled up on his chest. I notice his phone next to him, grabbing it to snap a picture of the quiet moment just as Sheldon opens his eyes, "Do you have to? You've taken so many photos since he was born."
"Hush," I brush off his annoyance. "This is our life now. Expect photos daily. Penny just texted; they picked up the food and are on their way. So, give me this guy until everyone is here. I don't think there's anything out that will give it away that he's here, but double check that I didn't miss something."
My son cuddles into my chest the moment he's in my arms and I carry him to the end of the hallway to hide until Sheldon lets me know it's time to come out. "The people you're about to meet are your family, Leonard, including your Uncle Leonard," I watch Leonard scrunch his face in his sleep. "He might get a little sappy when he meets you, but that's only because he loves you. Penny, Bernadette, and Rajesh will probably spend the evening passing you back and forth. Halley, Michael, and Ava will be so excited to meet you." My thoughts are interrupted by Sheldon knocking, indicating everyone is here.
Sheldon walks in front of me, blocking our friends' view. "Amy and I want you all to meet Leonard Cooper," he steps aside, revealing the tiny human in my arms.
"When?" Penny is rushing across the room, hands out, silently asking to hold him.
"Saturday afternoon," I sheepishly answer, knowing she'll know I lied to her.
The baby isn't in Penny's arms for a full minute before her husband reaches for him. "Leonard, huh?"
Bernadette talks over Leonard's comment, "How are you up and moving so much? It hurt to walk for weeks after I had the kids. How long were you in labor for?"
"It wasn't that bad. My contractions started late Friday night, but really picked up around five Saturday morning and he was born that afternoon."
"She barely pushed," Sheldon is practically bragging on my behalf. "I read about fetal ejection reflex. The woman's body knows what to do and forces the baby out without much work on the mother's part."
Howard is holding the baby by now and notices The Flash onesie Sheldon dressed him in this afternoon, "Aw, dressing like his daddy already."
"Okay, okay," Penny holds her hands up, stopping the chatter that has taken over the group. "We all know and understand why, but can we please not keep big things like this a secret in the future?"