More than Expected

Part 37

November 4, 2013
"What's wrong?" Rick asks as he steps out of the shower. The couple spent the last couple of nights at his house with Royce so Martha could get some quality time with her grandson as well. "Lanie and Jenny keep asking me to come have lunch with them." Kate sighs, "So? Go, have lunch with your friends." "Rick, I can't just up and leave. We have a son." She reminds him. "Babe, pump some milk so I can feed Royce if he gets hungry, and go meet Lanie and Jenny for lunch. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of our son." He assures her.
"I know you are. It's not about you being alone with him. It's me. I don't know if I can be away from him." She says as she looks over at the bassinet to see her son whose fast asleep. Rick smiles before crawling into the bed and pulling his girlfriend into his arms. He presses his lips to hers, "You're such an amazing mom." He whispers, "Really? Even though I probably stress him out?" He chuckles, "You don't stress him out. But, as much as I love watching you be a mom, you still need to be Kate."
She sighs and looks down at their hands that he's intertwined, "Yeah, I guess." She agrees, "Look, go meet them at Remy's. You know Agatha is always quick with ordere. She'll have you guys in and out of there within an hour." He states. She nods, "Okay, okay, I guess I'll be a seventeen year old for a few hours." She concedes, "Enjoy it. In two weeks you'll be an adult." He reminds her before pulling her into him to kiss her cheek. She giggles, "You know what else happens in two weeks?"
He raises his eyebrows in question, "I'm six weeks postpartum." She says before standing from the bed. "Kate, why do you have to say stuff like that to me when you know we still have to wait two weeks?" He whines. She giggles and makes her way into the shower to get herself ready for their son's appointment. After her shower, she looks at herself in the mirror and she can hardly believe that a month ago she had given birth to the little boy that has both her and Rick wrapped around his little finger. It really was a miracle what her body went through.
That doesn't keep the insecurities away though. She'd teased Rick about her six week postnatal check up where she'd get the green light to have sex again, but she's actually terrified of the idea. Her body is different. Her hips are wider, her stomach isn't as flat and the area around her belly button is stretched and loose, and stretch marks cover her lower stomach, hips, and breasts. She knows Rick always thinks she's beautiful, and even more so now, but he hasn't seen her post-pregnancy naked body yet. What happens when he does?
She quickly throws on a sweatshirt and leggings before twisting her hair up into a bun and putting on a minimal amount of makeup. She walks out of the bathroom to see Rick has gotten Royce dressed and ready go, "Ready beautiful?" He asks. She blushes. He always had perfect timing with certain terms of endearment. She smiles and nods, "Yeah, let's go." She says. They make their way downstairs and Rick settles their son's car seat into the base of his car while he and Kate climb into the front seats and the little family is off to their pediatrician.
When they arrive at the doctor's office, Kate signs Royce in while Rick sits with the baby carriage at his feet and gently rocks it so their son stays asleep. Kate sits next to her boyfriend and rests her hand on his thigh, "He sleeping?" She asks. "Yeah, hoping he stays that way through the appointment." Rick says. Before she can answer, a nurse calls out Royce's name. They walk back to one of the exam rooms where the nurse asks them to undress their son so that he can be weighed and measured. The minute his little body feels the cold scale, he erupts in squeals.
      "Alright he weighs 9 pounds 5 ounces and is measuring at 21.75 inches which is right on track. You can lift him, but keep him undressed. Dr. Swann will be in in a few minutes." The nurse says before leaving the room. Kate holds her son in her arms and tries to calm him before the doctor gets in. Rick rests his hand on Royce's back and the other on Kate's hip. "I really don't think I can leave him, Rick." Kate admits with pleading eyes. Before he can talk, Dr. Swann walks in.
      "Hello. How are we today?" She asks, "Good." Kate answers, "Good. How's this little guy doing?" "He's perfect." Rick says. "Awesome. Alright, just lay him on the table and I'll start the physical." Dr. Swann says. Kate lays Royce on his back on the exam bed and stands close by as she watches the doctor check their son physically. "How often is he eating?" "Every two and a half to three hours." "Breastfeeding or formula or both?" "Breastfeeding." Kate answers and the doctor nods. She finishes the physical, "He is growing well. His weight and length are on track."
      "I am going to write a prescription for Vitamin D drops. I don't want this to be alarming, it is standard procedure for breastfed babies. It just provides them with a little extra Vitamin D. Give it to him through a syringe daily. How's he sleeping?" "Like a champ. He sleeps probably five to six hours straight through the night and then about nine hours on and off throughout the day." Kate answers, "That's very good. He's developing perfectly. You two are doing great. I would suggest starting tummy time soon if you haven't, just so his skull doesn't flatten on the back since he sleeps on it. It could also help him reach those milestones earlier. Do you two have any questions for me?"
     Kate looks at Rick who shakes his head and then she shakes her head, "Alright, perfect, I will see you guys in a month for his two month check up. Until then, just keep doing what you're doing because he's doing great." Dr. Swann says before handing Kate the perscription slip for his Vitamin D drops and then leaving them be. Rick dresses Royce back into his onesie and places him gently in his car seat before they check him out and pick up his Vitamin D drops.
     "You're sure you two will be okay?" She asks. "Kate, we'll be fine. He'll probably sleep the entire time and I might do the same." Rick promises. "Okay, let's go home so I can feed him before I go." She says. She nurses him once they're back at Rick's place before placing him in his bassinet. She kisses her boyfriend, "Please call me if anything goes wrong." She begs, "Nothing is going to happen, but if it does I'll call." He promises and kisses her forehead.
      Kate walks through the door at Remy's and smiles when she finds her friends already in a booth, "Hey girl!" Lanie exclaims as she and Jenny stand to hug Kate, "Hi guys." She greets them and slides across them in the booth. "How is everything? How's Royce?" Jenny asks, "He's amazing. He gets bigger everyday." Kate says as she pulls her phone out to show them her latest picture of him. It was one Rick took yesterday of him passed out in his baby swing while they were making dinner together, "Omg, he's so cute." Lanie says as she looks at the picture.
     "Yeah, he looks just like his dada." Kate giggles, "How've you been feeling?" Lanie asks, "Good. I'm tired, but he sleeps pretty good through the night. Other than that, I just fall in love more and more everyday." She admits, "How're you girls doing? How's senior year?" Kate asks. They easily fall into a discussion about school. How the pep rally was as boring as it's always been and how Principle Gates has become more relaxed. It makes her miss the hallways of Stuyvesant a tiny bit. They laugh and embarrass each other in conversation for an hour.
     It makes Kate feel like a teen again until the bill comes and they must go their separate ways. "Give that baby a kiss for us? I'm going to stop by wherever you are this weekend to get my hands on him." Lanie tells her and Kate nods, "Okay. We should be back at my parents' by then, but I'll let you know." She promises as she hugs both of the girls and gets in her car. When she gets back to Rick's, she heads upstairs to find both of her boys still fast asleep. She giggles and changes into her pajamas before crawling into bed next to Rick. His arms immediately wrap around her and he nuzzled his face into her neck making her smile before closing her eyes to fall asleep as well.
Part 37! Comment please!