Sing For Me

Christmas kisses

"Look Mummy, Look Daddy he's been" shouts Riley carrying his stocking, Ellie comes toddling behind with hers able to get up when she wants now she's in a toddler bed. 

"Wow aren't you lucky things" Ben says to them, they jump onto the bed and start to open the little presents we'd.sorry Santa had put in there. Sweets, chocolate, books everything.

"Here you go Mummy it looks like Father Christmas has left you a stocking too" Ben says he hands me a stocking crammed with little gifts, the sneaky devil. I start opening and he hasn't put a foot wrong, chocolates, silly socks, bubble bath all my favourite little things. I felt guilty I hadn't done him one I'd bought him silly little presents but hadn't put them in a stocking. "You've already given me my present sweetheart" he says running his hand across my tummy.

 "You old softy" I call him 

"Your old softy" he says back.

"Well" Ben shouts "Do you think Father Christmas has left us any presents under the tree" sending the children into hysterics "Go, go and see" he tells them, "Coming Mummy?" he says holding his arm out for me 

"Yes Daddy" I answer taking it. 

"Wow" I hear Riley scream 

"A Pony" shouts Ellie they've found the treasure.

Father Christmas has done well, Riley has a new train set all Thomas the Tank Engine with every figure going and Ellie has a big Pink Pony that she can sit on with a purple curly mane that she can plait and brush. They both seem very pleased, they frantically open all the other goodies laid out for them almost lost under a mountain of wrapping paper.

Ben grabs a handful of presents and hands them to me he picks a red gift bag first inside is a rectangular parcel, it feels like a book, I open it "My pregnancy journal" it says down the spine "Its to keep a record of everything while you're pregnant" Ben tells me "How you're feeling, how you're changing, everything there's pages in it for me to write in too so we can do it together" its a lovely thought something so simple and yet has so much meaning in it. "I got it while I was out getting your tea yesterday" he says 

"it's lovely sweetie thank you" he hands me some other presents, a white gold bangle that he's had engraved with "All my love Ben" I look at it "Ben its gorgeous thank you" I say to him as I open more boxes finding clothes from Next I love clothes from Next and I smile at him. I open a big box and just gasp "Oh my god the coat" I say to him 

"That is the one you wanted isn't it sweetheart" he asks me 

"Yes, yes it is oh Ben its lovely I love it" I say getting all excited and he laughs. He hands me another gift box wrapped in silk ribbon its again from Next I open it to find the most gorgeous underwear in there but the sight of it makes me blush Ben sees this and grabs my hand 

"Darling I just thought you'd look so pretty in them" he tells me my red glow rapidly increasing 

"Thank you Sweetie" I whisper to him. Then there's the new pair of UGG boots I'd been eyeing up in a store up west for ages that he said he would get me and another present a bottle of perfume making me gasp again "Daisy, but how did you........" I start 

"Do you like it darling" he asks and I nod 

"Then that's all that matters" he says oh my goodness how does he do it you name it he'd bought it.

I gave him my gifts thinking they weren't as well thought out as his, but they were things he wanted, his favourite aftershave, A new coat, an iTunes card so he could buy songs for his iPod, a voucher to buy books for his kindle he loved them all he said but his favourite was a mug I'd bought him for work with "Dead handsome" written on it and I'd filled it with mini chocolate father Christmas' not that they would last till he went back to work.

Ben had booked us into a local pub for Christmas lunch it was quaint and old fashioned with a log fire, music and a lovely atmosphere, the children enjoyed it which surprised me really as I thought we'd have a fight on our hands to get them from their toys although they did have a couple of small presents each to bring with them. The food was amazing although I was still feeling groggy I did manage a bit of everything. Ben kept checking to see I was OK it was sweet he genuinely cared I could get quite used to the fuss. The bother of last night seemed to drift slowly away, nothing could touch us not even him.

"Mummy" Riley says 

"Yes Darling" I answer 

"I love all my presents" he says 

"I'm so pleased darling" I say 

"This is the best Christmas I've ever had" he says melting my heart. Ben looks at me 

"Shall we tell him" he whispers and I just smile "Riley have you had all the presents that you wanted" Ben asks him 

"I wanted Mummy to have a baby in her tummy is there one there Daddy?" He hadn't forgotten the little monkey. 

"What would you like Riley a brother or a sister" Ben asks, Riley's face beams "Because Mummy is going to have a little baby" he tells her 

"Really" he says and we both smile at him 

"Yay I think I'd like another sister" he said "I like sisters" as he tickles Ellie under her chin making her laugh "because I'm a good big brother aren't I Mummy" oh bless my boy 

"You certainly are darling, you certainly are" I tell him

"Ellie, Ellie, Mummy has got a baby in her tummy" he says trying to tell Ellie 

"Mmmm num" Ellie says finishing her pudding making us all laugh 

"Silly Ellie" Riley says to her. 

The children were in no state to fight going to bed that night as they were shattered they had had a lovely day. I lay in bed in Ben's arms cuddled as close to him as I could be. "So would you like a little girl or a little boy?" I ask him "I don't mind sweetheart" he says "As long as you and the baby are both safe and well that's all I want" I turn to him so we are facing each other "It's not too soon is it, everything between us has happened so quickly" I say my voice quick and shaky

"Sweetheart I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, I didn't think that happened, only in soppy films" his finger touches the outline of my face "The thought of being without you scares me, we are going to be fine I promise" I take his hand and kiss his palm "I love you Ben, so very much" he puts his forehead to mine "I love you Lissy" and he kisses me to seal it.