Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
And while it did break my heart at times that my own mother would never get to meet Judah, or any other children I had, it warmed my heart to know that my children would have such an amazing grandma to grow up with.
“Okay. We have to pull this together,” Sofia said, clapping her hands. “Elisa, you’re on makeup. I’ll do the hair. Mom, her dress looks like it could use a bit of a steam. Let’s get you married, lady,” she said.
The next half an hour was a complete blur of my hair being pulled this way and that, and my face being fussed over as Adrian kept offering me sips of water or ice chips. Little by little, it did ease the nausea.
The photographer showed up, and I got to take some pictures in the room before it was time to head downstairs and marry the man I’d been in love with practically since I’d laid eyes on him.
I stood off in the wings, watching the flower girls twirl down the aisle in their little white dresses, tossing pink and red rose petals to the delight of everyone gathered.
“Okay, buddy, your turn,” I said to Judah, who looked adorable, but somewhat uncomfortable, in his little suit with his white pillow.
He was all smiles as he did a little shimmy all the way down the aisle to stand next to the groomsmen, tossing his pillow up and down.
Thank God that Lucky had snatched the ring away from him as soon as he made it there.
I was walking myself down the aisle.
But, it seemed, as I pressed my bouquet to my belly, it seemed I wasn’t actually alone as I heard the Bridal March start, and I moved into the center of the aisle.
My gaze slid to Aurelio, finding him beaming at me.
I knew down to my bones that I wanted to spend forever with him.
I wanted to make babies and raise wonderful human beings with him.
I wanted to sit in our rocking chairs on the back porch watching our grand babies play.
The ceremony passed in a bit of a blur.
Then Aurelio’s lips were on mine.
I pressed my forehead to his as the crowd cheered.
And as he looked at me, I smiled.
“I’m pregnant.”
Adrian was right.
It was the best possible gift I could have given him.
Aurelio - 7 years
“Mama!” our two-year-old son called, voice shrill.
“Shhh,” our five-year-old daughter scolded.
“Mom’s sleeping,” Judah added.
From day one, Judah had taken his big brother role very seriously. He’d been anxious for siblings as soon as he knew what such things were. Sure, he’d been mildly disappointed to learn his first sibling was going to be a girl. Until he was assured that girls liked to play with blocks, trucks, and with mud as well.
He’d been soft and sweet with his little sister, if a bit disgusted by all the drooling, spit-up, and various other smells that came from babies.
But when he’d learned he’d have a little brother, he’d been over the moon. Though the difference between him, at nearly nine, and his younger brother, at only two, made a big difference in how he interacted with his brother, compared to how he had with his sister.
“No more sleeping,” our toddler insisted, frowning, then trying to make a dash for the stairs.
“Mom’s got a baby in her belly,” Judah reminded his brother as he grabbed him around the belly, and carried him back to the living room. “It makes her sleepy.”
As usual, the mention of a baby made our toddler pout all the more.
Unlike Judah, and our daughter, our youngest was not thrilled at the idea of having a younger sibling.
In his defense, we hadn’t exactly planned on having another so soon.
What could we say?
One fateful night, Judah had a sleepover with one cousin, our daughter with the other, and my mom had taken the baby.
And, well, when the kids were away for the first time… ever, the prospect of being about to have shameless, as loud as we pleased sex was too tempting to resist.
Not much thought had gone into it.
And a few weeks later, there was a positive pregnancy test on the bathroom counter.
We had no regrets, other than our youngest’s displeasure at being ousted as the baby so soon.
“Come here, bud,” I said, reaching down for our toddler as he made his way to me. “Why do you need Mom?” I asked.
“He prolly wants a snack,” our daughter declared.
“He needs a nap,” Judah countered.
“No nap!” was the immediate response to that.
The other two shared a knowing look that said He totally needs a nap.
“How about we go play outside?” I asked, not sure I had it in me to try to fight him to take the nap he clearly needed, so I figured that it would be easiest to let him just run himself ragged until he passed out by himself.