The first light of morning crept through the blinds, casting soft, golden beams across the room. Tim stirred slowly, blinking awake as the peaceful quiet of the house began to dissolve with the sounds of life. He was just beginning to settle back into the covers when a tiny voice broke the calm.
"Daddy!"
He opened his eyes, a sleepy smile tugging at his lips. Mira, their two-year-old daughter, was standing by the side of the bed, her big blue eyes wide with excitement and her little bedhead making her look even more adorable. She clutched her stuffed bunny in one hand and a sippy cup in the other, like she was ready to conquer the day.
"Daddy, up!" Mira insisted, tugging at the blanket covering Tim's leg.
Tim chuckled softly, reaching down to scoop her up and bring her into the bed with him. "Good morning, pumkin ," he said, his voice still rough with sleep.
Mira giggled as she climbed over him and plopped herself right in the middle of the bed, her little legs swinging excitedly as she snuggled up between her parents. She immediately reached for Lucy, who was still curled up on her side, her hand resting on her growing belly.
Lucy stirred at the touch of her daughter's tiny hands, a soft smile crossing her face as she woke. "Morning, baby," she whispered to Mira, her voice gentle and full of warmth. She reached over to brush a strand of hair from Mira's face before giving her a sleepy kiss on the forehead.
"Mommy, wake up!" Mira demanded, patting Lucy's arm as if trying to ensure she was really awake.
"I'm up, I'm up," Lucy laughed softly, reaching out to pull Mira closer. She sat up a little in bed, propping herself up against the pillows, one hand resting on her belly. "How'd you sleep, love?"
"Good," Mira replied happily, holding up her bunny for emphasis. "Bunny sleep too."
Tim watched the two of them, his heart swelling with love. There was something about moments like this—just the three of them (soon to be four)—that made all the chaos of life fade away. No work, no stress, no worries. Just family.
Mira wiggled in between them, resting her head against Lucy's belly. "Baby sleep?" she asked curiously, her little voice soft and full of wonder.
Lucy chuckled, running her fingers gently through Mira's messy curls. "I think so," she said softly. "But maybe we'll feel some kicks soon."
Tim leaned over, placing his hand on Lucy's stomach next to Mira's tiny one. He loved watching Mira's fascination with her soon-to-be sibling. She was still too young to fully understand what was happening, but she knew enough to be excited—and that was more than enough for Tim.
"Are we ready for this?" Lucy asked softly, her eyes flicking up to meet Tim's. She had that soft glow about her that came with pregnancy, but her expression held a hint of anxiety. This wasn't their first rodeo, but still, the idea of adding a second child to their already full lives sometimes felt overwhelming.
Tim smiled reassuringly, squeezing her hand. "We've got this," he said confidently, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "We're a team."
Lucy smiled back, her heart calming a little at his words. She knew Tim meant it. No matter how hectic things got, no matter how many sleepless nights they had ahead of them, they'd face it together—just like they always had.
"Pancakes?" Mira suddenly piped up, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.
Tim and Lucy both laughed softly, sharing a knowing look. Pancakes had become their little Sunday morning tradition—messy, chaotic, and always accompanied by Mira trying to "help" with the batter. It had become something of a ritual, one that neither of them could imagine starting their week without.
"Pancakes it is," Tim said, lifting Mira out of bed and setting her on her feet before helping Lucy up. She was five months along now, and while she was still getting around fine, Tim was always ready to lend a hand.
Together, the three of them made their way to the kitchen, Mira happily chattering the entire time about how she wanted blueberries in her pancakes, and how she was going to make sure Bunny got some too. Tim set her up on her little stool by the counter while he started pulling out the ingredients.
Lucy leaned against the counter, her hand resting on her belly as she watched Tim and Mira interact. Her heart felt full—fuller than she ever thought possible. This was what she had always dreamed of, even when she was afraid to admit it. A loving family, a home filled with laughter, and the comfort of knowing that no matter what life threw at them, they would face it together.
"Bunny needs pancake!" Mira said seriously, holding up her stuffed animal as if to emphasize the urgency of the situation.
Tim chuckled as he poured the batter onto the griddle. "Bunny will definitely get a pancake," he assured her. "But Bunny has to share, okay?"
Mira nodded solemnly. "Okay. Bunny share."
Lucy smiled to herself, watching them as Tim worked his way around the kitchen with Mira right beside him, her little hands eagerly trying to help where she could. She felt a flutter in her belly—soft at first, then a little stronger. The baby was moving.
She placed her hand over the spot where she felt the kicks, her smile growing even wider. "I think someone's awake now," she said softly.
Tim glanced over at her, his eyes lighting up some more as he wiped his hands on a towel and crossed the kitchen to stand beside her. He placed his hand on her belly again, feeling the gentle movement beneath his palm. "Hey there, little one," he murmured softly, his voice full of wonder.
Mira, ever curious, reached out to place her own hand on Lucy's belly too. She looked up at Lucy with wide, excited eyes. "Baby coming soon?"
"Not too soon," Lucy said gently, brushing her fingers through Mira's hair. "But soon enough."
Mira seemed satisfied with that answer, her attention quickly shifting back to the pancakes sizzling on the griddle. "Pancake time!" she announced excitedly, bouncing on her little stool.
Tim smiled at the sight, his heart full to bursting. He kissed Lucy on the cheek before returning to the stove to flip the pancakes. "Almost ready, kiddo," he said, glancing over his shoulder with a grin.
Lucy watched them both, her hand still resting on her belly as she soaked in the peacefulness of the moment. Sunday mornings like this—filled with love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos—were what made everything worth it. They were her favorite part of the week, a reminder of how far they'd come and how much they had to look forward to.
She had everything she needed right here, in this kitchen, in this home, with these people she loved more than anything in the world.
And as she watched Tim set a plate of pancakes down in front of a very eager Mira, Lucy couldn't help but smile. This was their life—beautiful, messy, and full of love. And she wouldn't trade it for anything .
If you have any suggestions, you can write them in the comments and I'll try to write them as quickly as possible.👍🏻
