I Hate California

forty five

Joe and I were seated around the kitchen table, both scrolling on our laptops trying to buy more baby supplies. I felt like we were so behind with everything that has been going on and that we needed to hurry up and finish the nursery and fill up baby girl's closet. 

Sage was in the backyard playing with Joe's brother Patrick since he was in town and she was having a blast that she finally had someone to play with. Sage hasn't seen Patrick in two years so she was really tiring him out on all of their missed out playdates apparently. 

"What colors were you thinking of making the nursery? I know you said you wanted to coordinate it with Sage's room, but hers is yellow. How do you wanna do it?" Joe asks, looking up at me. I thought for a second. The room is white for now and I thought that I wanted to keep it like that, but now I'm wondering if we should add some sort of design like pastel flowers or little suns, like Sage suggested. 

"Maybe we can just add on designs, flowers and little suns all over the walls? I think I want to keep it white" I inform him as he nods his head. 

I had already filled up my cart with many clothes, onesies, dresses, and little shoes and socks for all the occasions. I was happy to find outfits that said "Little Sister" and "Just like my big sister" on them to always include Sage somehow. I know she would be excited to see her sister wearing these. 

Joe showed me what he had found. He was looking at the furniture and we decided on white furniture for her room since the other rooms also had white furniture. He picked out a white wooden crib and a white changing table that also was a dresser that had wooden handles that I loved. We already bought the bassinet that was going to be put in our room, just haven't set it up yet. I continued looking for more bottles, pacifiers, and bibs for the baby. Sage had many plates and bowls that we were going to pass down to the baby since she was also getting a whole new set that she had picked out a while ago. 

"Mommy, Uncle Patty said that he is too tired to swing me on the swings" Sage pouted as she ran into the house. Patrick followed behind her, trying to catch his breath as he closed the back sliding doors. 

I laughed, pulling her into a hug as I felt her body heat against mine. She was sweating through her clothes and her cheeks were bright red. 

"I think someone needs to take a bath" I say, furrowing my eyebrows up at her. I was happy that Patrick volunteered to help give her a bath, so I told Sage to show him where to get her after bath supplies from and also to pick out a new outfit. 

I watched them as they ran up the stairs and I looked over at Joe who was smiling at me since we finished our shopping for today. I was honestly nervous because we haven't informed Sage that I was going to be flying to New York City for the weekend to go meet Jack at the studio. We haven't seen each other in such a long time and there was so much that I wanted to try out at the studio. I also wanted to pick up some stuff from my apartment to bring back to our house. I haven't been away from Sage for more than two days and I knew she would absolutely freak out, knowing that I would be leaving without her. I wanted to leave now and not wait until I was super pregnant since I know that would be more difficult for me. 

"I think we should tell her tonight, you literally leave in two days" Joe says, snapping me out of my trance. 

I sighed, knowing he was right. I kept on holding back on telling her, but it needed to happen. I went up the stairs awhile after to check on Sage and Patrick. Sage was getting changed into her clothes as Patrick looked stressed holding the bottle of lotion just waiting for her. I let out a laugh as I knocked on her door, letting myself in and helped Sage put her shirt correctly. 

"Why is your shirt wet?" I asked Patrick seeing that his shirt was almost drenched. He gave me an annoyed look and sighed, making me laugh even harder.

"Your daughter splashed water at me" He said emotionless. Sage cackled out loudly, proud of her actions.