Baby

23

March 29, 1991

Stevie was laid back on the table her shirt under her breasts a towel tucked into the waistband of her jeans. It was the third time she was here alone. Well, she wasn't alone, Karen was in the waiting room but this was the third time she was here. 

"Alright, Mrs. Buckingham a little pressure. So sorry." The doctor sighs pressing the transducer very firmly, and very close to her very full bladder and she winces lightly but a smile soon forms on her face when the doctor turns the screen around.

"Oh look at their little nose." Stevie sighs.

She was fourteen weeks pregnant. She had taken the test the day after Misty's birthday and she got it confirmed at her Gynecologist appointment two weeks later and then she had a second ultrasound at eight weeks pregnant where she got what the doctor  called an amniocentesis and today she was back for thirteen/fourteen-week ultrasound considering that while she was still thirteen weeks pregnant two days later would be the start of her fourteenth week. Her amnio came back clean which she was so grateful for, but now they were just checking over the baby. 

"So you are officially out of miscarriage zone and you are really healthy so this is looking like it's going to be a good pregnancy." The doctor smiles.

"I'm glad. So do you think I could tell my husband and our daughters yet?" 

"Is this a third or fourth pregnancy?" 

"No, well...I had a miscarriage back in the seventies and I had a couple of abortions in the eighties. But we adopted two little girls." Stevie explains.

"Well, yes I'm surprised you haven't told them already." The doctor smirks.

"I wanted to make sure everything was okay. Especially after the miscarriage in the seventies." Stevie shrugs. 

"Well, everything looks perfect. I'll see you back in four weeks." He smiles handing her a paper towel to wipe her stomach. 

"Thank You." She smiles wiping her stomach and sitting up as the doctor hands her the pictures. 

Once the doctor leaves, she looks down at her stomach.

"Well baby, how are we going to tell your daddy and your sisters hmm?" Stevie rubs her stomach. 

She didn't know how Lindsey didn't know she was pregnant. She was showing slightly and usually, he was wrapped around her like a leech at night, but he didn't and if he did, he didn't make it known.

***
When Stevie got home, having claimed it was a meeting, she walked into the living room and Cordelia was jumping up and down, 

"MOMMY'S HOME, MOMMY'S HOME, MOMMY'S HOME!" 

"Yes, I'm home what's the matter?" She questions.

"Daddy said we had to wait for mommy to get home and then he was going to get pizza and then we could color the eggs." She states.

"You've never had pizza before." Stevie states.

"Daddy says it tastes really good so I want to try it." She gives a big toddler toothed grin. 

"Well, where are your sister and your father?" 

"Upstairs. Diaper change." Cordelia explains.

"Well come on, let's go up and see daddy." Stevie holds her hand out for her. 

Stevie and Cordelia make their way upstairs and pop their head into Misty's nursery and Lindsey's just finishing up the diaper and Misty giggles as Lindsey pulls down her red long sleeve shirt and pulls up her little jean leggings. 

"Hi, butterfly." Stevie beams down at Misty. 

"How was your meeting?" Lindsey questions.

"Enlightening." Stevie kisses his cheek.

"Enlightening how..." Lindsey trails off.

"We should probably transition, Delia into her toddler bed." She smiles.

"I don't know if I remember how," Lindsey tells her.

"Well, you'll remember...even if she has to sleep with us tonight. But anyway, if you are seriously getting Pizza please go now, because I am starving and I really want a giant plain greasy pepperoni pizza." Stevie rubs his bicep taking Misty into her arms. 

***

On Saturday night, after Lindsey had hidden the eggs and Stevie laid out the baskets Lindsey went upstairs and Stevie started to follow him but she stopped. "Honey, I'm going to get some water do you want some?" 

"I'm okay. I'll see you upstairs." He nods. 

When Lindsey was gone, Stevie quickly dove into the hall closet and she pulled out the really small yellow Easter basket. In said Easter Basket was the newest ultrasound picture, along with three plain little onesies a white one, a grey one, and a navy blue one. Then there was a little giraffe security blanket. There was a little set of crib seats that were gray with white crescent moons on them. In Cordelia and Misty's basket, she placed matching teeshirts that said big sister on them, and then in front of each of their baskets she put their names, Cordelia June, Misty May, and Baby Buckingham October 1991

The next morning Cordelia went on the hunt for the eggs. Stevie was taking pictures and Lindsey had gone into the living room with Misty. He did a double-take when he saw the third little basket on the couch and his eyes bulged out of his head. 

"STEPH!" Lindsey called.

"Yes?" Stevie pops into the living room and Lindsey just looks at her.

"Surprise daddy." Stevie smiles.

It was then that Cordelia appeared. She had all twelve of the eggs in the little basket and she sat it on the floor quickly going over to the Easter Baskets. 

"Mamma, what dis?" She points to the yellow basket.

"Well...it's your little brother or sister's Easter basket." Stevie smiles sitting on the couch.

"But that's Misty's Easter basket." She points out.

"I know, Delia, but you're going to have another baby brother or sister soon," Stevie explains.

"How?" She asks

"Well they're growing in Mom's belly right now, give me your hand," Stevie demands holding her hand out. Cordelia obeys and places her hand in Stevie's and then Stevie presses it to her stomach. "And they're growing in there and getting all healthy so they can come out and meet you. And when they're here next year, the Easter Bunny will leave them a basket that goes along with if it's a little girl or a little boy." 

"How come he doesn't know now?" 

"Well, the Easter Bunny doesn't know now, because nobody knows. It's going to be a surprise when they're born. Mom doesn't even know what it is. It could be a little girl like you, Misty, and mom or it could be a little boy like Daddy. If it's a little girl he'll leave them an orange basket...because you already have pink and Misty already has purple and if it's a boy he'll leave either a green basket or a blue basket." Stevie smiles.

"When will they be here..." She trails off.

"Well, they'll be here in October baby," Stevie explains. "That's about six months away." 

"How far along are you?" Lindsey asks.

"Fourteen weeks. Baby Buck and I are all healthy and I'm not at risk for miscarriage anymore. That's why I waited so long to tell you. I took a test the day after Misty's birthday." Stevie smiles. 

Lindsey just chuckled lightly and shook his head. "We're going to have three kids." 

"It's going to be great, baby." Stevie pulls Cordelia into her arms ad squeezes her tightly.