Snips n' Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

Chapter 2

With the second trimester came lots of surprises: the baby's first kicks and feeling how it moved inside mommy's belly, which was one of Owen's favorite things.

Claire was giggling in bed while Owen moved his hand over her exposed bump. It was early in the morning and Mason was still in bed. The man, wearing only his briefs, was now bonding with his unborn child. It had been a couple of weeks since their sea monkey had allowed dad to feel him move — this being Claire's second pregnancy, she knew what to look for when it moved and had been able to feel their baby long before Owen did.

"Ready or not...here I come!" Owen set all his concentration on that belly, his hand scanning every inch of it tenderly, his other arm reaching out, feeling the way Claire brushed her own finger pads up and down the inside of it, smiling watching him play with their baby.

Claire was breathing slowly so her belly wouldn't move unless the baby did. Every morning, Owen would lie down between her legs and talk to their baby, he would tell it stories, sing to it, and after a few weeks of interacting with it, Owen had managed to teach the baby to play hide-and-seek.

Both parents knew they would have a very smart kid: both Mason and Lizzie were— if they could use that as an indication. But, the way the almost 6 month unborn child was able to interact with Owen through the womb was impressive.

"Where is that sea monkey?" Owen looked up unable to feel the baby at all. Claire smiled, and without saying a word, she pointed to the upper left side of her belly. Every day, their baby got better at this, even when it was getting bigger.

Owen nodded and slowly brought his hand there, able to feel its head. "Found ya!" He poked the belly tenderly and smiled big watching how the baby moved around in his enclosure.

The baby kicked a couple of times against its father's hand, and in seconds her belly stopped moving.

"Okay, one last time and then we have to get ready." Owen offered. It was during the day that their sea monkey had the more activity. Claire's morning sickness used to be stronger during that time, and ever since it started moving and kicking, that would happen during the day too. Claire was thankful for this though, since she was able to have peaceful nights.

"I have to make sure Mason is ready on time." Claire shook her head: they didn't have time for another game.

The couple had been asked about a month ago if they wanted to know the gender of their baby, and they both had agreed that they didn't. Karen had been feeding the couple the idea to throw a gender reveal party and all the suggestions she had given had Owen wanting to do that, so Claire had agreed.

They had set up the celebration in the suburbs, Owen letting Claire know a friend of his had let them use their house, since it was big enough to fit a dozen of people, plus it had a big backyard where traditional games could be played and where tables could be set.

"Okay." Owen agreed. That party was Claire's way to spoil the father of her unborn child, and so it had been everything Owen wanted it to be. He and his buddies from work were going to grill some steaks and some sausages. One of his workers was South American and he knew how to grill the perfect parrillada.

"You heard mommy, Champ." He kissed that belly a couple of times. "Time to get ready, but you totally destroyed me!" He said about the baby winning the game. "Let's see that high five!" Owen patted the round top of the baby bump, right over Claire's belly button before he gently helped her sit up.

"Did you feel that!?" Claire giggled.

"Sea monkey high fived me back!" Owen gasped, feeling the kick Claire was referring to that had happened just as he had patted.