The first few weeks at home with Brielle were a blend of joy, exhaustion, and learning for Remy and Drea. Their once peaceful house now buzzed with the sounds of a newborn—soft coos, tiny cries, and the occasional lullaby playing from a speaker. The cozy home, with its modern décor and warm tones, seemed to embrace this new chapter, but it wasn't without its challenges.
The nursery, which Remy and Drea had painstakingly prepared, was finally being put to use. The soft lavender walls, the white crib with plush toys, and the rocking chair by the window made it a calming space for their little girl. Brielle's presence filled every corner of the house, her tiny outfits hanging in the closet, baby bottles on the kitchen counter, and a diaper bag always ready by the door.
Drea was the more hands-on one in the beginning, adjusting quicker to the sleepless nights and frequent feedings. She often joked that all her experience multitasking with MuseBeauty and her podcast had prepared her for this, but the truth was, it was harder than she expected.
"Babe, I think she's hungry again," Drea said one night, her voice thick with exhaustion as she rocked Brielle gently in her arms.
Remy, lying on the bed next to her, sighed and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Already? I swear we just fed her an hour ago."
Drea chuckled softly, "Welcome to parenthood."
Remy got up, stretching her arms before walking over to the crib. "Let me take her for a bit. You need to sleep, babe."
Drea, grateful for the help, handed Brielle to Remy and collapsed back onto the bed, closing her eyes. Remy held their daughter close, swaying gently as she whispered soothing words. The quiet moments at night, even with the exhaustion, were some of her favorites. She felt closer to Brielle during these times, even if she was still getting used to being a mom.
During the day, their roles often switched. Remy would handle calls for Chrome 23 and oversee her businesses while Drea took care of Brielle. But they quickly realized that their old routines needed to be more flexible now. There were moments when Brielle would cry just as Drea was about to start recording a podcast episode, or when Remy was in the middle of a meeting, and they'd have to pause everything to tend to her.
One afternoon, Remy was in her home office working on booking talent for an upcoming Chrome 23 event. She had her headset on, going back and forth with one of her team members about logistics. Meanwhile, in the living room, Drea was feeding Brielle while watching over some product samples for MuseBeauty that had just arrived. Both women were juggling their work and new parenthood with a kind of chaotic rhythm they hadn't expected.
"Babe," Remy called out from her office, her voice loud enough to carry down the hallway but not too loud to wake Brielle. "You seen my phone charger?"
Drea, cradling Brielle in one arm, rolled her eyes playfully. "Probably in the kitchen where you always leave it!"
Remy came out a few seconds later, rummaging through the kitchen drawers. "I'm losing my mind with all this stuff around here," she muttered, pulling out the charger.
Drea smiled as she bounced Brielle on her knee. "Welcome to the new normal."
Despite the adjustments, there were many beautiful moments. Like the first time Brielle smiled at Drea while they were playing in the nursery. Drea's heart melted instantly. She couldn't believe how such a small gesture could bring so much joy.
"Remy! Come here!" Drea called excitedly from the nursery, her voice filled with emotion.
Remy rushed in, concern on her face. "What? What happened?"
Drea, beaming, pointed to Brielle who had just given her the tiniest, most perfect smile. "She smiled! Did you see that?"
Remy's face softened, and she leaned down, kissing Brielle's forehead. "You're growing up too fast already," she whispered, smiling down at her daughter.
Nighttime was still a challenge, though. Remy and Drea had set up a routine—one of them would stay up late with Brielle while the other got some rest, and then they'd switch halfway through the night. But some nights, Brielle would fuss and cry no matter what they did, leaving both of them bleary-eyed by morning.
One particularly rough night, Remy was pacing the living room, holding Brielle who wouldn't settle no matter how much she rocked her. Drea, equally tired, came out of the bedroom, her hair a mess and dark circles under her eyes.
"Switch?" Drea asked, her voice hoarse from sleep deprivation.
Remy handed Brielle over with a grateful nod. "I don't know what's going on. She's been crying for an hour straight."
Drea cuddled Brielle close, swaying gently. "She's probably just going through a growth spurt. I read about this. It'll pass."
Remy collapsed onto the couch, watching Drea with admiration. "You're really good at this, you know?"
Drea smiled, though tired. "So are you. We're figuring it out, one sleepless night at a time."
As the weeks went by, Remy and Drea slowly found their rhythm as parents. They learned how to balance work and Brielle, supporting each other whenever one of them felt overwhelmed. Remy found herself getting more comfortable with the baby routines, from changing diapers to late-night feedings, and Drea, despite her exhaustion, thrived in her role as a mother, finding joy in even the smallest moments with their daughter.
One Sunday morning, they sat on the couch together, with Brielle napping peacefully in Drea's arms. The sun streamed through the living room windows, casting a soft glow over the room. Remy glanced at Drea, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for this new chapter in their lives.
"You know," Remy said quietly, her voice full of emotion, "I didn't think I could love our life more than I already did. But this... being here with you and Brielle... it's everything."
Drea smiled softly, leaning her head against Remy's shoulder. "We're building something beautiful, aren't we?"
Remy nodded, wrapping her arm around Drea, holding her and Brielle close. "Yeah, we really are."
And in that moment, with their little family all together, they knew that no matter how challenging the days ahead might be, they had each other—and that was enough.
