Settling in Seattle

Chapter 34- Baby Envy

"Rachel where's my tie?" Mike fastened the last button on his shirt and tucked it into his tailored trousers.

"I don't know? Haven't you got loads?" She shouted from Rosalie's nursery, sat on the floor choosing an outfit for her daughter, who was sat contently, for the moment, in her crib.

"Yeah, but I chose one especially for this!" He walked down the landing to the baby's room, quizzically, desperately looking for the answer.

"Well then it's where you left it. I haven't even got dressed yet, so you've got a while to find it." She gestured to her dressing gown and wet hair.

"Your dress is still there waiting for you, once you've picked out her cardigan I'll dress her and you can get ready, just let me find this tie." Mike turned back and resumed the search.

"You found it yet? I'm done in here!" Rachel called to Mike, who came out clasping his cufflinks together. His favourite blue speckled tie was proudly sat in the middle of his chest.

"Here, she's getting a bit grouchy and you know how much she loves tights, so good luck! She also smells, you've got that to look forward to as well!" Rachel reached over the wooden bars and lifted Rosalie from the mountain of stuffed animals, her legs kicking around. She passed her along to Mike who held out his arms, proceeding to leave the room to sort herself out.

"Right, come on baby, let's make you look adorable!" Mike reached for the changing mat and threw it down to the floor, before kneeling down and placing Rosalie onto the mat. He eyed the outfit perfectly presented next to him, a small pink dress, equipped with tights, a bow and little ballet shoes. Mike changed her rapidly and then dressed her as best he could.

"Shall I put her shoes on?"

"No, just bring them downstairs, I've packed her bag, so can you just take it down and then give her some apple?"

"Sure." Mike scuttled everything away before taking his daughter downstairs and placing her into the high chair, assuming a familiar position, laying out some chopped apple in front of her. Rosalie's little fists grabbed hold of the pieces as she started to gnaw.

Rachel ran down the stairs and placed her heels near the front door, walking into the kitchen. She was wearing a white dress that has a black stripe down the side. It was sleeveless and stopped at her calf.

"You look beautiful." Mike admired the fully-dressed, perfectly assembled woman, her hair was up in a braided bun, and her make-up was flawlessly natural. Rachel shook her head, rolling her eyes and bringing them back to meet her husbands.

"I see you dressed her primly," She smiled at Rosalie, who grinned back, "She looks beautiful."

"She does, how did we make something like that?" Mike joked, sliding his hand around Rachel's waist.

"You tell me smart ass. Now, is there anything else we need?"

"I don't think so, unless you've forgotten anything. What time have we got to be there?"

"Ten, and it's nine now. I want to get there at least ten minutes early, and she's almost worn down those apples, so we can leave in about ten minutes, when she's all cleaned up."

"Okay." Mike brushed a wisp of hair from her skin and gently placed his lips on her neck for a moment.

They both cleared away, and got Rosalie in her shoes, then picking up their bags and putting their own shoes on. They were out the door within minutes.

Mike took hold of Rachel's hand with his free one, the other grasping Rosalie against his torso. They wandered into the reception room, both looking around for Hayley.

"There you are! Thanks for coming." Hayley placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder, they swivelled to greet her and the baby nestled in her arms, letting go of each other as doing so.

"You're welcome, it was a beautiful christening!" Rachel beamed and looked down to the sleeping infant. He was wearing a little blue sleeper now, something more comfortable for a three-week old child.

"We tried to make it as traditional as possible."

"You achieved that, although I did see the tension on your face when Will started to scream." Mike reached out and tickled William's cheek.

"I really thought he was going to go." They all laughed before Hayley babbled to Rosalie and then left to greet her other guests.

The gathering was casual, lunch was served as a little buffet on the dining room table, and spent opening all the different gifts for the new baby. The time went by pretty fast, and before any of them knew it, it was almost four in the afternoon.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just a beautiful picture."

"What is?"

"You and Rosalie sat like that." She was burrowed in Rachel's chest, her thumb prying her lips open, and the other hand reached onto Rachel's collarbone.

"She's drifting off, worn out." Rachel looked down and rubbed her curls gently kissing the top of her head.

"She's been awake for a long time! Plus, she was so good in the church, maybe that tired her out."

"Maybe, she won't cuddle me like this for much longer. Now she's learnt to stand up, walking is on the table, and then she can do her own thing, little explorer!"

"She's only nine months old!" Rosalie was falling asleep, and Rachel was watching it happen.

"Oh god, if she falls asleep she won't go through the night, but she's not going back now."

"Let her, if she doesn't she doesn't. You haven't got anywhere to be tomorrow."

"I miss when she slept most of the day, and then the other bit of it I just fed her."

"You mean when she was that age." Mike pointed to William in the arms of Harrison, Hayley's fiancée.

"Yes." Rachel smiled and watched the interactions whilst listening to the sound of her own baby's heavy breathing.

"Well, there's perks to her being this age too!"

"I know! I love it! But there's just something about having a little new born. It's something unexplainable."

"Come on, people are leaving now, we'll leave these guys to enjoy themselves with family, let's get off." Mike held out his hand as he stood up, and Rachel took it to stand up, still cuddling Rosalie with her other arm.

They said their goodbye's and attempted to load Rosalie into her car seat without waking her. Mike failed, but she seemed to settle quickly after.

"Will was such a precious baby."

"Are you jealous?"

"I've got baby envy!"

"Rosalie is nine months old!"

"I know! Doesn't stop me from wanting another little baby!"

"You know how much they tire you!"

"I know!"

"You're crazy."

"Not as crazy as you, now shut up because you'll wake her up again."

"Whatever you say Rach." She shook her head again and closed her eyes for a second. She knew Mike was ogling her as they stopped at a red light, so opened her eyes and his cheeks flushed.

"You're an idiot."

"You're stunning."

"Shut up!"