The daughter of Kylie Cantrall

Hungry

The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the peaceful room where Kylie Cantrall and her husband, Peder Lindell, were deep in sleep. The tranquility of the night was suddenly interrupted by the sharp, hungry cries of their newborn, Malaki, echoing through the stillness.

Kylie stirred first, her maternal instincts kicking in as she blinked away sleep. She turned to Peder, whose brow furrowed in the dim light. "Did you hear that?" she whispered, already reaching for her phone to check the time.

Peder groaned lightly, his voice still thick with sleep. "Yeah, it's Malaki. I'll get him," he said, pushing himself up and rubbing his eyes.

Kylie smiled at his willingness to help, even in the middle of the night. "I'll grab the bottle," she offered, slipping out of bed and padding quietly to the nursery.

As she entered the softly lit room, Kylie's heart melted at the sight of Malaki in his crib, his little fists waving in the air, clearly hungry and ready to be fed. "Hey there, buddy," she cooed, gently lifting him into her arms.

Malaki's cries softened as he recognized her voice, and he looked up at her with wide, expectant eyes. Kylie settled into the rocking chair, adjusting her hold on him. "Let's get you fed," she said, her voice soothing.

Peder joined her a moment later, holding the warmed bottle. He handed it to Kylie with a proud smile. "Look at him. He's already got you wrapped around his tiny finger," he teased.

Kylie chuckled as she positioned the bottle for Malaki. "What can I say? He's irresistible."

As Malaki latched onto the bottle, he began to suck eagerly, the sound of his contentment filling the room. Kylie felt a wave of love wash over her; moments like this reminded her of the bond they were building as a family.

Peder settled beside her on the couch, resting his arm on her shoulder. "You're doing amazing, you know that?" he said, watching Malaki with adoration.

"Thanks, Peder. It's been a whirlwind, hasn't it?" Kylie replied, glancing up at him with a smile. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything."

They both watched as Malaki's eyelids grew heavy, his little mouth still moving in rhythmic motions as he finished the bottle. "He's so beautiful," Peder whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Just like his dad," Kylie teased, nudging him playfully.

As Malaki finished his feeding and started to doze off, Peder reached over and gently stroked his son's head. "I can't believe he's ours," he said, a hint of wonder in his tone.

Kylie's heart swelled. "It still feels surreal. I love our little family."

They sat together in comfortable silence, watching their son drift into sleep. After a few moments, Kylie whispered, "Should we try to put him back down?"

Peder nodded. "I'll take him." He carefully lifted Malaki from Kylie's arms, cradling him close. "You're safe, little guy," he murmured, swaying gently as he walked over to the crib.

Once Malaki was settled back in his crib, Kylie couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and joy. She walked over, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "Sweet dreams, little one."

As they tiptoed out of the nursery, Peder wrapped an arm around Kylie's waist. "You know, we're really doing this," he said, his voice low.

Kylie smiled, leaning against him. "Yeah, we are. And it's amazing."

They returned to their bedroom, where the stillness felt comforting after the little interruption. Peder climbed back into bed, pulling Kylie close. "Next time, I'll handle the night feedings," he promised, a grin spreading across his face.

"Deal," Kylie replied, snuggling into him. "But just know, I love these quiet moments with him."

Peder nodded, planting a kiss on her forehead. "So do I. Here's to many more midnight feeds and moments of love."

As they settled back into their pillows, Kylie felt grateful for this new chapter in their lives. With Malaki sleeping peacefully down the hall, she knew that every cry, every smile, and every moment would weave their family closer together.