Chenford family

The night that changed everything PT2

(Decided to write another pat of Tim and Lucy adjusting to their new life as parents.)

A few days later, Lucy and the baby were finally ready to go home. The hospital room, once bustling with nurses and the beeping of monitors, now felt quieter, almost serene. Tim carefully packed up their belongings, making sure nothing was left behind. He carried the bags down to the car and returned to get Lucy and their little one.

Lucy sat on the edge of the hospital bed, cradling their tiny miracle in her arms. When Tim walked a few steps in front of her, her heart skipped a beat. He was doing that effortless, hot "dad walk"—the one where he carried their baby, safely buckled in the car seat, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. There was nothing flashy about it, and yet Lucy couldn't take her eyes off him. If she weren't recovering, she might have grabbed him and whispered something about baby number two right then and there.

Instead, she smiled to herself, filed the thought away for later, and followed Tim out of the hospital.

In the car, Lucy rode in the backseat, sitting next to their son. She kept adjusting the car seat straps, even though Tim had already triple-checked them. It was just her instinct as a mom kicking in. Tim glanced at her through the rearview mirror, smiling at the sight of his wife gazing down at their baby with pure adoration. He didn't say much as he drove them home, but his heart was full.

When they arrived, Lucy felt a wave of relief and exhaustion. Tim brought everything inside and then helped her up the stairs to their bedroom. She put Tayden down for a moment in his bassinet, but there was something she still needed to do.

"I just feel disgusting," Lucy admitted quietly.

Tim nodded, understanding without judgment. He helped her into the bathroom and got the shower running at just the right temperature. Lucy had showered at the hospital, but it hadn't felt like home. Tim gently guided her under the warm stream of water, washing her hair with slow, soothing movements. He shampooed and rinsed her hair carefully. Then he took his time washing her body, his touch tender and attentive.

When she was done, Tim helped her out, dried her off, and found the comfiest set of pajamas he could. He guided her to the bed, propped up pillows, and helped her settle in with Tayden in her arms. As Lucy nursed their baby, Tim sat beside them, watching with that big, goofy grin that Lucy loved so much. He still couldn't believe it—his son, his wife, his little family. It was everything he'd ever wanted and more.

When Lucy eventually fell asleep, Tim sprang into action. He adjusted the covers around her and tiptoed out of the room. He wanted her to sleep as long as possible, to give her body a chance to recover.

When Tayden started fussing a couple of hours later, Tim was already downstairs. He quickly made a bottle with the milk Lucy has pumped earlier that day, fed his son, and settled on the couch. After burping him, Tim lay Tayden on his chest, letting the baby's soft breaths lull him to sleep. He didn't even realize he'd dozed off until he was woken by Tayden's tiny cries.

Tim changed his diaper and made another bottle, the quiet house wrapping them in a cocoon of peace. When Tayden fell asleep on his chest again, Tim stayed where he was, unwilling to move and disturb the moment.

Hours later, Lucy came downstairs. She stopped at the staircase when she saw them—the love of her life, holding their baby, both of them sound asleep on the couch. The scene was perfect, and she couldn't resist capturing it. She snapped a quick picture before settling in nearby, careful not to wake them. The four hours of sleep she'd managed to get had done her wonders, but seeing her husband and son together made her heart swell even more.

The rest of the day passed in a quiet rhythm of feedings, diaper changes, and stolen moments of rest. Tim started dinner while Lucy nursed Tayden. It was something simple but nutritious—one his way of taking care of her.

The next day, around 11:30 AM, Angela and Nyla arrived. Tim and Lucy had decided not to allow visitors at the hospital, wanting to keep those precious first days just for their little family. But now, they were ready to welcome their friends into this new chapter of their lives.

Angela and Nyla brought lunch, which Lucy was endlessly grateful for. The smell of fresh food filled the house as laughter and chatter bubbled up around the table.

The two women cooed over Tayden, marveling at how tiny he was. Angela got a turn holding him first, but it didn't take long before Tayden started squirming and fussing in her arms.

"Well, I guess he doesn't like me much," Angela said with a mock pout, handing him over to Nyla.

Nyla took him gently, cradling him with ease. Almost immediately, Tayden settled down, his little face scrunching into something resembling contentment.

"See? He just needed the cool aunt," Nyla teased, shooting a wink at Angela.

When the four of them were about to sit down and eat, Tayden's tiny cries started up again. Lucy knew what he needed. She grabbed a burp cloth and settled into the living room with Tayden. Facing away from the dining area, she covered up and began nursing him.

"Do you mind if I nurse him here?" Lucy called back to Angela and Nyla, her voice tentative. She didn't care much if they saw, but she wanted to be considerate.

Angela's voice came immediately. "Not at all! Don't worry about us."

"Yeah, stay with us," Nyla added. "You don't need to hide, and besides, it's your house!"

Lucy smiled, grateful for their support, but stayed in the living room to quickly cover up, to keep it private. She was comfortable nursing around Tim, but this wasn't something she liked sharing with anyone else. Not like that.

Tim had already cut her food into bite-sized pieces, so when Lucy rejoined them, she could eat with one hand while still nursing Tayden. The group ate together, chatting between bites, the warmth of their friendship filling the room.

Despite the challenges of sleepless nights and new routines, things felt perfect. It wasn't easy—but for Tim and Lucy, every little moment was worth it.