The Seven Husbands of Taylor Swift

40

TAYLOR SWIFT
I was 20 weeks pregnant when I went to get my second ultrasound, and it felt surreal to realize it was my fourth pregnancy while having only one son. The weight of that hit me sometimes—two pregnancies that didn't lead to the joy of taking a child home in my arms, but here I was, hoping this time would be different.

London, my sweet boy, had been practically begging for a brother for months. He was so excited at the thought of having someone to play with, to share his toys and adventures. But we both knew it was a 50/50 chance, and honestly, I wasn't ready to deal with the possible fallout if the news wasn't what he hoped for. So, we decided to leave him at home for the appointment, just to avoid any tearful meltdowns at the OB/GYN if the baby turned out to be a girl.

As Travis and I sat in the exam room, I couldn't help but glance over at him, the nerves building in my stomach. He caught my eye and smiled, reaching over to squeeze my hand.

"Whatever happens, we've got this," he said softly, his voice steady and full of warmth. I managed a small smile in return, though my mind was racing. This was supposed to be a joyful moment, but the weight of everything—of the past, of our hopes for the future—felt heavy on my shoulders.

The door opened, and the ultrasound technician came in, her cheerful demeanor cutting through the tension just a little. I lay back on the table, lifting my shirt as she spread the cool gel across my belly. "Ready to see your baby?" she asked kindly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. The screen flickered to life, and soon, the black-and-white image of our baby filled the monitor. The soft thump of the heartbeat echoed in the room, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

"There's your baby," she said, pointing to the screen.

We both stared, mesmerized by the flickering image of our baby. Every time I saw an ultrasound, it never failed to amaze me, that little life growing inside me.

"Looks like we've got a wiggler today!" the tech said, laughing as the baby moved around on the screen.

The technician moved the probe slowly, searching for the right angle. "Are you ready to know the gender?" she asked, her tone cheerful but professional.

I looked at Travis again, my heart pounding. He gave me a reassuring nod. "Let's do it."

"Alright," the tech said, her eyes brightening as she moved the wand across my belly, the sound of our baby's heartbeat filling the room. "It looks like you're having..."

I held my breath, the room suddenly feeling smaller as my heart pounded in my chest.

"A girl," she smiled warmly.

"A girl? Really?!" Travis's voice cracked with excitement, his grip tightening on my hand.

"Yep. This is 100% a baby girl," she confirmed, pointing to the screen with a smile.

Travis jumped up, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes!" he said, his excitement bursting into laughter. "Girl dad!"

His joy was contagious, and I found myself laughing with him, my worries melting away for just a moment. "Girl dad, huh?" I teased, giving him a playful nudge.

He grinned down at me, eyes sparkling. "I'm going to spoil her rotten. She doesn't even know yet."

I smiled, feeling the warmth of the moment, but I still needed to hear something else. "Is she healthy?" I asked, my voice soft but tinged with anxiety. "All 10 fingers and toes?"

The tech's smile deepened as she turned her gaze back to the screen, adjusting the ultrasound slightly. "I'm still looking," she said calmly, "but everything looks amazing so far. Flawless heartbeat, nothing wrong with the spine or the face. The placenta looks great too. I'm loving it all."