Meeting Mr Firth

28

So the weeks passed with us being busy with planning things for our little girl. Cathy was never more excited, trying to help us choose clothes for the little one and making drawings to decorate the room with. We all were beyond happy.. And nervous too. Especially one particular day..

-Colin, babe, would you stop walking around the room please?
-I'm not..am I?
-You're nervous, I get it. I'm nervous too..but I thought you trust your instinct..
-I do..but I can't help being nervous. Is a big day. Almost the biggest..
-The biggest is still months away..
-If I'm so nervous for this scan I don't want to know how I'll be then.
-If you pass out and let me struggle alone I wouldn't talk to you for ages.
-I'll try not to..
-Alright. Is already 10am.. We can go even if we'd be a little early.
-Good, great. Let's go!

I never saw him driving quicker in my life..I actually feared the police would stop us. I told him I'd rather get to the hospital for the scan and not for hospitalisation.. So he calmed down a bit and drove more carefully..
***
Once we got to the hospital he stopped right in the middle of the lobby and took a deep breath. I thought he was going to pass out for real..

-Babe..babe!
-Yeah?!
-Are you fearing you might have been wrong?
-Me? No way!
-Then why are you shaking?
-Because.. It is an unique moment?
-Or because you think your instinct were screwed..
-Maybe..
-Would you trust my instincts?
-You never said anything about your instincts..
-Just because they're the same as yours.
-So you're certain is a girl..right?
-I am.
-So am I..
-Shall we find out?
-Let's!
***
-Hello!
-Hello, doc!
-Everything alright? Mr. Firth, you look a bit pale.
-I'm fine. Thanks, doc.
-And how are you?
-Ready and willing to know the baby's sex, doc. Shall we?
-Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back.
-Take a seat, babe. Please..even the doc noticed you're unwell.
-Alright, darling. I'm trying to be calm. I really am.. trying..
-Try harder. Look, there she comes!
-Ready?
-Yes, doc.
-Okay. Let's see who we got here.. Just a moment. Oh yes, there.. See?
-Just tell us! Please..
-Sorry, doc. We're quite nervous.
-I see. My bad. Well.. It's a girl.
-A girl?! See, honey, I told you.
-I knew it. I never doubted my instincts.
-Only this morning..
-Deep down I knew it.
-Yeah..I'll let you have this.
-Our girl..look!.. she's waving at us.
-Aww.. Hello, darling!
-She's perfect!..
-Of course she is, darling. She's your girl.
-I'm not..
-Yes, you are.
-Alright.. I won't protest this time..
-Thank you, doc.
-All good. See you again in a month, alright?
-Sure, we'll be here. Goodbye!
***
-She's so cute..
-She's a blessing. I can't wait the moment I'll hold her in my arms.
-She knew we were watching her. Those tiny, perfect hands..
-She's perfect altogether.

He gave me a light kiss and put his arm around my waist and the other hand on my belly..

-She's kicking..
-Yeah..I can feel that. I'd say she kicks like a football player but I don't want her to become that.
-As long as it makes her happy..
-Said a football fan..
-Not that much of a fan..
-But you like watching sometimes.. You can't be serious you'd let your daughter to become a football player.
-No, I was kidding.. Cathy will become a famous pianist and Em.. We'll see.
-Maybe an actress.
-You should become a designer. You're wasting your talent with the job at the embassy.
-I chose to do cultural studies..I can't start over with something new..another university, years lost for nothing.. Plus, I love my job.
-Just..consider that. You can change your job and maybe won't have to start university over.
-Oh, no. I know what you mean..I don't want you to help me with anything. My job at the embassy means something. And I really like it.
-You always liked the British.. History, I mean.
-And culture.. And men.. I mean, tea.
-Men doesn't even sound like tea. You kinda screwed this joke..
-Can't think straight when you're looking at me like that.
-Like what?
-I don't know..like I'm the only woman on this planet..
-You are the only one who matters to me.
-And you to me. I love you, hubby.
-I love you too.
***

Months later, in the sunny July, the miracle was about to happen. It was about a week late and that got us worried, but one evening as we were sitting on the couch, watching a movie, Em decided to break the silence and bring a lot of anxiety before bringing the biggest joy of all. I would rather skip the details about the painful and looong labour.. The important thing was that Colin stood beside me the entire time, holding my hand and trying to calm me..

-You can do this, darling. Just a bit more and we'll hold our lovely daughter in our arms.
-Can you give me some water, please.
-Sure. Here it comes!
-Thank you..
-You okay?
-It hurts like hell..but yeah, I'm good. I can't wait to hold her.
-Me neither. She's going to be perfect, just like you. And I'll love her as much as I love you and Cathy. You are my three lovely girls. You are my world.
-I love you.
-Can I.. Do you want me to stay after the doc comes?
-If you want to..
-I do. I'll be right here and hold your hand through it all. You can squeeze it as hard as you wish. Just don't bite, please.
-I'll try not to.

After everything passed the doc came toward us holding Em, passing her to me. I took her in my arms and felt an incredible happiness and an indescribable love for that pure smile and those tiny hands that took one of my fingers and wouldn't let go of it. Colin was smiling brightly, glancing from me to Em and back to me. He gave us both a kiss on the forehead..

-She's perfect.. Absolutely perfect.
-Hello, darling! Welcome into family!
-Can I hold her?
-Of course. Go to daddy, sweetheart.

He took Em in his arms carefully and kissed her little hands. I was watching them and became overwhelmed with emotions.. I started sobbing quietly, but Colin saw me right away and came to sit next to me, passing Em back in my arms and holding my hand..
Just as we were sitting mom and Viv came into the room. Both of them were so happy to see us all, mom coming straight to me to hold her granddaughter into her arms. They both agreed they never seen a sweeter little girl in their lives.. Mom said not even I was that sweet as a newborn.. and beside the slight embarassement I was happy and proud of having such a perfect little girl..a little angel. After that Jack and Jen came too and we though that was it but we had the great surprise to see Colin's boys coming as well. They sincerely congratulated us and were both willing to see their little sister and hold her a bit. A better welcome she couldn't have had and we couldn't have imagined..
***
The weeks and months that followed were a complete madness. But a sweet madness, as I like to call it. Being a mom is no easy thing..and no sane person ever claimed it is easy. As for the maternal instincts..that's more or less just a story, the fairytale type. Raising a child is a responsibility that gets easier when you have the support of your man, and the help of your mother and friends. Without them I couldn't have managed..or I could have but it wouldn't have been half as fun, as beautiful as it was with so many people around. And my girl having so many people who love her so much. Cathy was perhaps the most attached to Em.. She always took her bigger sister role very seriously. And we were happy to watch Cathy trying to put Em to sleep in her crib, singing her all kind of lullabies she knew. Once Cathy fell asleep on the floor in Em's room while singing. We used to laugh about that a great deal, making fun of how instead putting Em to sleep she put herself to sleep. What else can I say..Em was a miracle that bought us even more together, that made us become even closer and brightened our lives with even more happiness. Colin and I were joking about having another child as we just got used to parenting together..babies, I mean. Because we already have been parenting Cathy. But a baby is much more work. And we did it all just fine together. He said he wouldn't mind having another son now that he finally got to have a daughter.
Of course, that was just a joke..never been a real idea. Thinking back, I couldn't say I regret not having another child. I have the most beautiful and accomplished daughters and I can't possibly ask for more..