birds // hs

4. Let's Hear it for the Boy

"Shit!"

I looked at Harry. "What's the matter now?"

"This fucking crib just pinched me again!"

I gently pried his hand open and kissed his swelling finger, then picked up the crumpled instructions.

"Did you try reading these?"

"What the hell are those?"

"I'll take that as a no."

I carefully unfolded them and smoothed them out, my eyes scanning the tiny writing before I instructed Harry on how to finish fitting the tiny pieces together.

We had been working all day on the nursery by putting furniture together, laying out the rug on the brand new hardwood floor, hanging pictures and paintings on the walls, and setting up the plants. My mom and Pops brought over the old rocking chair that once held my mom and me, and then my brother.

So last was the crib. It was a big, white piece of furniture with a pale green bottom that perfectly matched the earthy theme of his nursery. The walls were a light eggshell color and every decoration held the same hues of green and yellow, tying the whole room together and making it look very modern.

I let Harry take a nap on the floor while I finished stocking the changing table with cloth and regular diapers, baby wipes, plenty of toys to distract him, and all the necessary powders and ointments that my mom bought for us.

"Poor Harry," she whispered as she stepped over his sleeping body and patted my back. "Have you two been working all day?"

"Since eight o'clock this morning."

"Oh my. Well I can see why he's so tired."

I looked down at him and smiled, my heart fluttering as the baby kicked inside me.

"I just feel like I need to get it all done in one day," I explained, letting out a deep breath as my mom draped a fluffy blanket over Harry.

"You've got two more months, darling," she reminded me in her trademark motherly tone. "Don't worry, okay? You'll be more than ready when he gets here."

I leaned into her and closed my eyes. "Thanks, mom."

"No problem, baby. I'm going to bring your dad dinner at the clinic and then go to the gym so I'll see you tomorrow, alright? I'll run to the grocery store and bring you guys some real food before I come."

"Thank you, mommy. I love you."

"I love you too, angel." She kissed my head and squeezed my shoulder, then waved to Harry as she left. Not that he saw it anyway.

Once I was done sweeping and dusting off all the new furniture, I turned off the lights and shut the door so Harry could sleep for a little while.

He had been so amazing the past few weeks, he deserved more sleep than I could ever let him have. He had been punctual to every single birthing class, every baby CPR course, and every shopping trip that lasted from sunup to sundown.

And nights weren't much better. I had constant bellyaches, headaches, foot aches, and backaches, so he always stayed up with me to help me soak in the tub or hold an ice pack on my sore muscles. Sometimes he could even talk me into letting him give me a massage but I didn't like that very much. I would much rather just cuddle into him and watch a rerun of some cheesy TV show. And that's how most of our nights ended.

I plopped down onto the couch and turned on one of my most recent finds: a compilation of real home birthing videos, stories of people who have lost babies, and what to do if that happens. Of course Harry told me not to cloud my mind with such negative thoughts but I couldn't help it. And my doctor told me it was completely normal so I continued watching it.