You Get It

lady

i would listen to the song as you read because once again, I heard this song and got inspired. i think I've spent a little too much time around my country music loving best friend lately. 😬🤷🏻‍♀️
—
"You mean to tell me you can run against 200 pound men but you're intimidated at the thought of possibly having a daughter? Baby, I love you but that literally sounds crazy. A baby is a baby." Olivia held back a laugh as her eyes tried to return back to their normal state from the wide eyed, amused look. Her husband was quite possibly her favorite human being and the strongest she'd ever come across so it never occurred to her that the NFL superstar could ever be scared of anything. Specifically having a little girl for his first child.

The conversation came up ahead of Olivia's appointment the following day which would reveal their first child's gender. After a few weeks of waffling between knowing or waiting to be surprised at birth, they'd decided to find out as a way to ease some of the anxieties and stresses around names and nursery themes.

"You said no judgement, right? Plus I'm in trouble if she gets your attitude and appetite." He mused, trying to not laugh at the look on his wife's face. "But for real, Liv. I'm obviously gonna love the baby no matter what but I can't shake how intimidating the thought of raising a little girl is. I can't tell you no, and I may have to tell quite possibly the most beautiful girl in the world"

"Hey" she pouted playfully.

"She'd take after her gorgeous mother of course" he tried to smooth over, quickly looking away to avoid the playful glare she shot in return. "But having to be stern with a little girl or the first man in her life is scary. I know boys. I get boys. I helped with Dillon. Hell we even helped with Jordan for crying out loud."

"You're not wrong" Olivia sighed out, shaking her head side to side before smiling and letting out a light chuckle. "And that just goes to show you how incredible you'll be, boy or girl."

"I'm just a little nervous is all. I just want to be a good dad. No matter if the baby is a boy or girl. I'm just glad I have you to do this with. There's no one else I could see by my side" His eyes never straying from hers as he intertwined their fingers and stroked the back of her hand.

"You will be an amazing father. Girl or boy, our kid is the luckiest to have you. And you're pretty incredible at the whole first love thing. She'll have an amazing example of how to be treated and what kind of standards to have because you love me so well and I have no doubt in your fatherly instincts. We got this. You've got this." She leaned in and kissed him, his nerves settling under her touch.

"You're right" he smiled, placing his hand on her belly.

—-
The next morning, they settled into the doctors office. The white walls did little to settle the nerves they felt but excitement was slowly creeping into their first and only feeling.

Holding hands and taking deep breaths, they only broke away from each other's gaze when they heard the doctor come in.

"Hi, Olivia. Hi, Spencer. " the OBGYN greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Nausea is going down a little so pretty good. Anxious about finding out the gender" Olivia said as she fidgeted with her fingers.

"Totally normal. We're gonna do the ultrasound and make sure baby is healthy and growing and then we'll take a peek to find out the gender" the doctor placed the gel on Olivia's bump and moved the wand around as they heard a strong heartbeat. After a few moments and the room feeling like it would burst from excitement and nerves, the doctor spoke up.

"Alright, things are looking great. Baby is measuring just as we would hope and things look healthy. Are you guys ready to find out the gender?"

Raising her eyebrows over at a clearly nervous Spencer, Olivia reached her hand out to him and intertwined their fingers.

"Yes, we're ready" she said firmly.

"Congratulations, Mom and Dad- you're having a baby girl."

"See, babe all the nerves for- wait I'm sorry did you say girl?" Olivia questioned wide eyed.

"Seems like it. We'll confirm with certainty at your 20-week anatomy scan but yes, it seems you're having a baby girl. Congratulations"

Stunned into silence, Olivia barely heard Spencer thanking the doctor before shaking her shoulder lightly to gain her attention.

"Baby, you good?"

"Holy shit. We're having a girl."

"That's a good thing, right? A healthy baby is all we're worried about. Weren't you just telling me how it'll be great and I'll be amazing to either just yesterday?" He questioned with slight confusion.

"That was about you! And when I was positive we were having a boy. Girls turn 16 and hate their mothers. They have attitudes. And periods. And just, just, what? How can I raise a girl? You know what- I blame you." Her frantic thoughts coming out at rapid speed as she cleaned up and got dressed.

"Blame me?"

"Yes. This is your fault. No more away game surprises for you. Because I can't deal with this more than once. Absolutely not." She let out with a furious head nod as she collected her things and walked out, leaving a very confused Spencer behind to try to gather what just happened.

—-
Later that night, after dinner and ice cream to help sooth her nerves and the shock of it all, Olivia and Spencer were lying in bed when she broke the comfortable silence they had been sitting in.

"Okay so freak out aside, I think you deserve an explanation." She said as he nodded for her to continue. "I'm just nervous. It was easy for me to calm your nerves when I thought we were having a boy and when it comes to you in general because you're you. Steady. Loving. Patient. I know first hand the way it helps those who love you and know how lucky our little girl will be to have you. But I just struggle with the idea that I won't be enough. That I won't be the strong female role model she deserves." She trailed off, tears threatening to fall. Confidence and seeing herself and all the good in her was still a work in progress. Spencer always helped and eased it but it never quite went away when change or huge life events came up. Being loved so well helped to heal parts she didn't think would ever get better but it never completely took away those plaguing thoughts and doubts.

"Liv, there isn't any other woman on the planet who I would want raising my daughter besides you." His hand found her cheek to shift her face and make eye contact. "You always tell me to celebrate my wins and constantly tell me how great I am but I don't think you really get how proud I am of you and how incredible you are. She's lucky to have you. Just like me." He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled into his side and rested her head on his chest.

"Thank you" she whispered, tracing circles on his arm. She closed her eyes, trying to let sleep take over. The neves wouldn't be going away anytime soon but she was grateful to have him by her side through it all.

After a few moments of silence, Spencer felt her breathing steady and when he was sure she was sleeping, shifted his body so he was face to face with her stomach. Careful to not wake her, he began whispering.

"Hi baby girl. It's daddy. I know this may be silly but I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. Figured this may be the only time I can corner you because if you're anything like your mom, you'll be doing most of the talking once you come." He let out a light chuckle before continuing his thoughts. "We're really excited for you. I was scared at first but knowing you're coming is the best thing to ever happen to us. I don't exactly know whats gonna happen and I don't have the whole dad thing down. But I know we both got pretty lucky. We got your mom to figure it out with us. If I'm being totally honest, I just hope andwant you to be just like her. Smart. Funny. Tenacious. Loving. Forgiving. Just the most incredible person. You can always count on me. I'll go to war for you, no hesitation.  Both of you really. And the rest of the football team of kids, I'm plotting- just don't tell Mom that I said that. But I want you to really hear from now, right from day zero- watch your mom. She'll show you exactly what it means to be the best person you can imagine. I'm gonna stop now because I don't want you to do what she does and tune me out but I love you, baby girl." Gently kissing Olivia's growing bump after feeling a slight kick from the inside, Spencer turned on his side and drifted off to sleep, never once noticing the smile and silent tear that fell from his wife's eyes. She wanted them to have their moment.