We Are Free

Breaking The News

*May 10th*
We got Ryker a present and said we are bringing party poppers. Halo and I are so excited to tell everyone but the kids don't even know yet.
    We have kept it on the down low even though every night since I found out, I lay on my head on her stomach. It is going to be an interesting nine months.
    Zac was cool with us bringing party poppers. Halo hasn't had her first appointment yet but she isn't even 10 weeks pregnant so what's the point. We go to Zac's house and all three kids are running around.
    Ryker can walk and say a few words now. He says momma, daddy, no, up, and juice. Blake is going to be two so she can say a lot more now. She is getting close to two word sentences.
      "Uncle Jace, Auntie Halo, Uncle Andrew, Auntie Emily!" Zane greets us all.  I lift him up and he laughs. "Ry Ry is already 1!" He says.
     "He is getting big hu." I say to him.
     "Yeah, and Blake is almost 2!"
     "She is getting big to."
     "Yeah." He switches to Halo and I lay the party poppers on the table. Ryker comes to me and I pick him up. I hug him and hand him the present I got him. Zac just lets them open when ever they want when they are young.
    He rips the wrapping paper off of it and looks at the box of match box cars. He smiles at me showing what teeth he has. I smile and he hugs me.
      "Juice!" He says.  I hand him his sippy cup and he was fine. He sits on my lap and I open one of his cars. He uses me as the race track and I talk to Zac.
      "Anything good been going on?" He asks me.
      "Nope." I smoothly lie and surprise myself. I have never been a good lair. He doesn't even second guess me and he calls me out on my shit really quick when I lie.
    He shrugs his shoulders before giving Ryker some Gerber bites. Ryker happily takes them. He sets his car down and eats. I feel anxious at the surprise that is coming for everyone.
    Anna shows up and the kids all hug her. The second Zac's mom and sister show up Ryker, Blake, and Zane all run to them. When Ryker gets sick with that he goes to Halo. She picks him up and puts him on her lap. Blake comes to me.
     "Up!" She insists.  I lift her up and set her on my leg. I bounce her up and down and she laughs as I do so.  Zac got pizza for everyone to eat. An hour later when all the kids complain they are hungry we all sit at the table.
    We are going to do the reveal after we are done eating and I am scared. I can't imagine how Chloe felt on Thanksgiving. I can't imagine how Halo is feeling. She looks sick. Before I know it she is running to the bathroom and I know why.
    I go after her and Zac stands up. I hold her hair back and tie it up with a hair tie on the counter. When she finishes she looks at me.
      "Might as well do it now."
      "You sure?"
      "I don't know if I threw up because of the baby or being nervous but either way I am not sick. They will wonder why and if I am not sick they will just put the pieces together themselves."
      "Okay." I get her some water with a dixi cup on the counter. When she is ready we go to the kitchen and everyone swarms her. They ask if she is okay and when she assures them she is I grab the bag with the party poppers in it.
       "She isn't sick. I promise but here. Since Ryker is the birthday boy we should let him do his. Then everyone do theirs." I hand Ryker his and I help him pull it he laughs then everyone pulls theirs. It takes them a while then Emily yells.
      "HALO'S PREGNANT!!!!!" Anna starts crying. Andrew and Emily hug her. Anna hugs her to.
      "My baby is having a baby." Zac and Chloe hug her. Emily and Andrew pull her shirt up and look at her stomach. Zane looks to. He kisses her belly.
      "I love you!" We all smile at him and he starts giggling at himself. When everyone gets over the shock that Halo is pregnant, Ryker starts opening presents. He gets a blanket, action figures, Legos, and a bunch of other things.
    The kids still have smiles from ear to ear and I do to. Halo does as well and we are very excited about it all. She has to schedule her first appointment and that one will tell us about the baby. We are excited for that to.
    It was fun seeing Chloe and Zac have kids but it is even more fun watching us have kids to. Halo feels the same way and I can tell by the look in her eyes. We will be back in a couple weeks for Blake's birthday.
    Zac and Chloe get the cake ready. We set Ryker in his high chair with his little mini cake. They help him blow his candle out and take it off. He starts ripping into the cake with a huge smile on his face.
    He gets cake all over his face. He gives Chloe and Zac some. Blake gets messy and so does Zane. We enjoy it and before we know it it is all over. The party is done and everyone has gone home.
    We leave the house and go home ourselves. We get home and the kids get in the shower for school tomorrow. School is almost out and we don't have nothing to do for the summer.
    Halo calls the doctor and gets an appointment for the 20th. At 8 weeks you can hear the heart beat. We don't know when she got pregnant so we don't know how far along she is.
    We will know when we go to the doctor. We just want a healthy happy baby and everything will work out in the end.
*May 20*
Halo's first appointment is today and in a week Blake has her party. We asked Anna to come to the appointment with us. She said she would and meet us there.
    The kids are excited and they are going with us. Emily wants to see the baby. I told her it will be really small. We get to the appointment and Anna goes in with us. Halo checks in and we all go back.
    She lays on the table and pulls her shirt up to her bra. She waits for the doctor to get ready. She puts gloves on.
     "Kids would you like to see?" The doctor asks them. They nod their heads yes and she motions for them to come to the tv screen. They watch it as she sticks the jelly and camera on Halo's belly.
    She moves it around a little bit before finding the baby. Emily squeaks with happiness.
     "There it is." Soon we hear a small thumping sound. "That's the heart beat. You have a very nice, strong, healthy baby." Halo starts crying and I do to. Anna comes very close and we see only one tear roll down her cheek. Emily and Andrew just watch the screen.
     "The baby is so tiny!" Andrew says.
     "As you come and watch the baby as Halo's belly grows you will see it get bigger. Next visit you will see little fingers and toes!" Emily jumps a little and smiles. The doctor prints out pictures of the baby to give to us. She cleans Halo's belly and puts the pictures in an envelope.
    She hands them to Emily and we say our good byes. We give Anna a picture.
     "I can't believe you are having a baby. Once we know the gender I am taking you shopping!" Anna says with excitement.
      "You don't have to do that mom." Halo says.
      "No none of that young lady we are going and that's that."
      "Okay mom."
      "Thank you."
      "Can I go to?!" Emily asks.
      "I don't see why not."
      "Yay!" She smiles and Emily starts skipping. Her long hair moving with her. I smile and so does Halo. We go to Zac's house and Emily and Andrew go up to the door with a picture of the baby.
    They knock on the door and Chloe opens it. They hand her the picture and she hugs them. They come back to the car and get in.
      "She liked it." Emily says.
      "That's good." I say.
      "I don't feel good." Halo says laying her head back.
      "Morning sickness?" I ask.
      "Yeah, I want to go home and lay down."
      "Okay, home we go." She tries to laugh but it doesn't work. We get home and the second she walks through the door she throws up. When she finishes she goes and lays down.
    She falls sleep quickly. I make the kids some food and they eat before going outside to play. It is getting nicer and they like it now. They have school on the day we have Blake's birthday.
    We will celebrate it after they get out. We are going to the park. I decide to take the kids out to get her a present from them. I let her know and she says just get Blake a Barbie or something and say it's from her.
    She doesn't feel good because of the baby and she is either puking or sleeping. We go to the store and get a basket. We go to the clothes isle. Emily wants to get her a dress. She picks out a big, puffy, dress that was mint and black with diamonds on the waist.
    It tied in the back and came with a little jacket. It was beyond cute. She gets her a little pair of sandals to go with it. Andrew gets her a a set with her favorite Disney princess and they were barbies.
    They come with extra outfits and shoes. He says it was a match made in heaven. I laughed at him and helped him put it in the cart. I get her a baby doll.
    It comes with a little carrier, outfit, shoes, bottle, diapers, and hat. I get her a just like me doll that looks like  her. We get her a ton of outfits, shoes, and accessories to go with it from Halo.
    We pay for everything and go home. I help each kid wrap their presents and Halo wakes up. She was wearing a crop top that was short on one side and long on the other. She was wearing my joggers to. Her hair was just thrown up in something.
    She acted like a Zombie. She gets some juice from the fridge. She throws it in the blender with some different fruits and ice. She blends it up and pours it in a water bottle for smoothies. She sits on the couch.
     "Have a good nap?" I ask.
     "Shut the hell up." She snaps.
     "Sorry."
     "No, I am sorry. I just don't feel good. My stomach hurts."
      "It's okay I still love you."
      "Better, I have your kid in me."
      "It's going to be a long nine months." I mumble it and she glares at me before  looking at the tv.
     "What the hell is this shit." She asks.
     "Ben 10." Andrew says.
     "Oh."
     "Why is Halo so grumpy?" Emily asks
     "Well when you have a baby in your belly a lot of things happen. One this is mood changes. She can go from happy to crying in no time. It's not her fault and she will be okay as the baby grows bigger."
      "Okay." She gets up and gives Halo a hug. She shows Halo the present we got for Blake from her. She wraps it and sets it with the others. I make dinner, Halo requested burgers on the grill.
    Andrew helps me make the burgers. I put them on the grill and Emily helps me make the mashed potatoes. She has her little apron on and her little chef hat.
    Andrew is keeping Halo company. He is laying on her belly talking to the baby. We eat dinner and Halo is feeling better. Her stomach doesn't hurt and she isn't feeling sick. She decides to go shower.
*May 28th*
The kids get out of school in a week and Halo is 9 weeks now. When the kids get out of school we go home and get ready. We bring everything to Zac's house and when he sees what we haul in his eyes drop to the ground.
"What the hell did you get her?!" He asks.
"You will see." He rolls his eyes and we put the presents by the already growing pile.
"Auntie Halo! Where's the baby?" Zane comes up to her. He grabs her shirt being to short to lift it up. He puts his hand on her stomach under her shirt.
"The baby is there. It is just really tiny. How about we go sit down and I will show you the baby."
"Okay!"
"That's a first."
"I know." They sit on the couch and she lifts her shirt up. Her stomach was still flat. He lays his tiny hands on her belly and then his head.
"I don't feel anything." He says.
"That's because the baby is to small. Do you remember when your mommy had Blake and Ryker in her belly?" He nods his head yes. "Her belly got big and as it got bigger you could feel the baby move more." He lays his head on her bare stomach.
"I love my cousin." He gives her stomach a quick kiss before getting off her lap and bringing his attention to me. He climbs on my lap and sticks his head under my shirt.
"What are you doing silly boy?" I ask him.
"Where's your baby?" Zac starts laughing.
"He did that to me both times Chloe was pregnant."
"Get out of my shirt sassy." He laughs and lays his head on my stomach.
"Is your baby tiny?" He asks me.
"I don't have a baby." He pulls his head out and looks at me with confusion on his face.
"Why?"
"Boys can't get babies in their bellies."
"Oh, Auntie Halo can I see the baby again?"
"Thanks kid." I roll my eyes he smiles at me as he slides off my leg.
      "Your welcome." I stick my tongue out at him. He laughs and goes to lay on Halo's belly again. Zac and I talk.
       "So, are you ready to be a dad?" He moves his eyebrows up and down with his elbow on the counter. His chin in his hand.
      "Hell no! I am no where near ready."
      "Okay when I had Zane you took me shopping. Now it is my turn."
      "You don't have-"
      "Shut the hell up." He cuts me off. "We are going and that's that. I will duck tape your mouth if I hear the words no, you don't have to, or I won't let you."
      "Okay, okay." I throw my hands up as he pulls a thing of baby food out of the microwave to feed Ryker. He sits on a stool and pulls Ryker's high chair to him. He opens the package and mixes the food up before putting a spoonful into Ryker's mouth. He chews happily as we talk.
      "What do you need?" He asks me.
      "We need a crib, dresser, changing table, stroller, the list goes on and on and on."
      "Well do you want to know the gender before we go?"
      "Okay, the day we find out the gender Anna is taking Halo and Emily. You can take me and Andrew that day to."
      "Sounds good." He finishes feeding Ryker and cleans him up before setting him lose on the floor. He giggles and laughs as he crawls around throwing hallow plastic balls. The living room floor was covered in baby toys and match box cars.
    Blake brings a present to Zac, drops it at his feet before taking her pacifier out of her mouth.
      "Pretty!" She says.
      "Do you want to open it?" He asks her.
      "Open!"
      "Okay you can open it. Go into the living room though." She nods her head, shoves her pacifier in her mouth, picks the present up and walks to the living room. She lays it on the floor and takes her pacifier back out.
      "Open!" They all look at her as she hands Chloe her pacifier. She sits on the ground and rips the paper off to reveal a puzzle made for kids. It had 6 pieces.
    She leaves the puzzle on the floor and grabs her pacifier. She shoves it in her mouth then gets up. Halo grabs the wrapping paper and throws it away. She talks to Zac for a minute.
      "Whose hungry?" Zac asks.
      "Me!" Emily says.
      "Me too!" Andrew chimes in.
      "Me three!" Zane says.
      "Food!" Blake smiles.
      "Yeah." Zac's mom says.
      "I could eat." His mom says.
      "Alright grab your coats, bags, shoes, and underaged loved ones and lets go eat." We all get ready and go to a restaurant. We get a table and everything we need. We get drinks and order our food.
      "I have to go potty." Zane says.
      "Lets go." Zac says.
      "No, Uncle Jace. Can you take me potty?" He ask me.
      "Sure." We get up and go to the bathroom. We go in a stall and he goes pee. I help him wash his hands and dry them. We leave the bathroom.
     "Dude, your garage door is open." Zac tells him.
      "See my bike?" He asks. We all start laughing.
      "No I saw two flat tires now zip it up and sit down."  He hangs his head and does as he is told. "Hey Jace, thanks for teaching my son that." He rolls his eyes.
      "Your welcome."
      "You ain't babysitting anymore."
      "Okay."
      "I would do it to though."
      "Exactly! He said it wrong any way." Zac puts his head in his hands.
      "Daddy, it was Harley."  Zac looks at him as I bust out laughing. Zac flips me off quickly and smoothly before looking at Zane.
     "Either way, it isn't worth the time kid."
     "But daddy, you tell me to be careful because I need it." We start laughing again.
      "You are my kid. That's scary." We laugh harder.
      "Well I am officially not looking forward to his teen years. I will start the education at 10."
      "If you teach him he will be a dad at 18." Chloe says. He gasps and looks at her before turning pink. He hangs his head in shame as we laugh at him. We finish eating and go to his house.
    Blake sees all the presents and grabs the big on with the barbies on it that has the princesses in it. She has a hard time picking it up. She grabs my jeans and pulls me to the ground.
    I help her with it and she rips the paper off the front. She looks at it and smiles showing all the teeth she has. I pick it up for them to see.
    I set it to the side after letting her tear the paper off the back. She grabs another present. We spend a half hour opening presents and when it is over she tries her best to slide the box with the Barbies.
    I open it for her and she takes the dolls one by one. She plays with them for a little before hearing cake. She goes to the kitchen and sits in her booster seat.
    The cake is put in front of her. She blows out the candles and we are all given a piece of cake. She gets messy and so does Ryker. Zane gets cake on his hands and face.
    When the party is over and one by one everyone has left, we just remain. When it is all cleaned up and the kids are playing quietly, we all sit at the bar and talk.
    I am not ready to be a dad. I want it more than anything, but I am not ready. No matter how many parenting books and magazines we read, we won't be ready for it.
    No matter how many outfits we have, diapers, wipes, bottles, and blankets, we won't be prepared. That's the fun part though.
    It makes everyday interesting and fun. It makes everything an adventure and that's just the way I like it.