protect my heart

24

c h r i s t i a n 

"When do you guys plan on coming back?" My mom asked me over FaceTime. I had told her we were planning on moving back to California, she was the first to know.

I shrug, "Honestly? I think she's going to want to wait until Jaxson's at least a month or two." I tell her, "I don't know. I haven't really discussed that with her yet, we have just talked about wanting to move back after the season is over." 

My mom nodded, "Understandable! I would do the same if I were her. Is she feeling okay? Still being able to move around alright?"

"Yeah, I mean, her stomach seems to grow like every day now; Jaxson is fucking growing like crazy now like her bump has gotten huge." I say, "I don't know how you guys do it. I would be miserable sitting around with that stomach." I chuckle. "She's getting around alright, I think I'm gonna have her do more bed rest because I've noticed she gets tired super easy." 

Just as I was talking about her, Nadia walked in, holding her stomach. "Am I interrupting something?" She smiled at me. 

I shake my head, "No! I'm talking to my mom, c'mere." I patted my leg and Nadia walked over and sat down on my lap, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. 

"If I get too heavy, just push me off," She giggled. 

"You're fine, babe." I smiled and looked at the computer, "Say hi, mom." 

"Hi, hon. How are you and the baby doing?" My mom asked her.

Nadia smiled, "We're doing good! He's getting super big and things are going alright. I'm ready for him to get out." She laughed, "How are you?"

My mom smiled, "I'm doing great, babe! I was asking Christian how you were doing getting around and whatnot when he mentioned your stomach getting bigger."

"Oh, yeah. Ever since he started to get bigger, it's definitely becoming more difficult to get around. I can find myself like struggling to get up at times, but I think that I can manage." Nadia laughed, "Christian definitely helps me out a lot and the kids are super helpful too."

"I bet. Are they excited? I bet Wy is happy to be getting a little brother." 

She nodded, "Oh, for sure! Willow has really been excited too. Helping me out and making sure I have things that I need. She's such a little trooper." 

I put my hand on her stomach, feeling Jaxson starting to kick. "He's super active now too." I smile, "I've noticed that as well, he's been becoming super active." I said. 

"Well, you bet I'm going to be flying out there when he's born! You just let me know when!" My mom said and Nadia nodded with a smile. "I miss you guys so much, I have to go do some errands. I'll give you a call later, C."

"Love you too, bye." I said before hanging up and looked at Nadia, "He's kicking like crazy." 

Nadia nodded, "He gets super excited when you're around. He like knows you're here and knows when you're touching my stomach..." She put her hand over mine and smiled at me, "But, I'm glad I'm sitting on your lap because it helps me get up easier." 

I chuckle and shake my head, "Your tummy is just getting too big. He needs to come right now!" I help her stand up and kissed her forehead, "Would you mind joining me in the shower?" 

"Any way to save water? I'm all for it." She giggled and walked to the bathroom with me and got the shower started. "Don't make fun of my stretch marks, though.." 

"Why would I do that, babe? Your body is beautiful; Stretch marks and all." I say as I stripped out of my clothes and got in the shower, holding my hand out for her. 

She stepped in and sighed, "I know. I just get self conscious. It always happens when I'm pregnant. It happened with Wyatt and Willow.." She said as she looked at me, "I just get them really bad on the side of my stomach. I don't ever really see them on the front of my stomach. And the side of my boobs have stretch marks, which is annoying." She showed me the side of her stomach and then the side of her breasts, I hadn't really noticed when seeing her naked, and I honestly didn't care.

I kissed her chest and then her stomach, "I think you are beautiful, babe. Your body changing during pregnancy is normal and it shows that the baby is growing and that you're healthy and the baby is healthy." I turned her around and started massaging shampoo through her hair, "You have nothing to worry about.."

She nodded, "I really appreciate you during all of this. You really help me." She rinsed out the shampoo and turned to look at me, "You really do keep me sane, if I'm being honest." She kissed my cheek then my lips. 

"I love you." I tell her before kissing her again. I washed my body and helped Nadia wash hers before getting out of the shower and dried off, handing Nadia her robe. 

"Are the kids in their rooms?" I ask her, walking out of the bathroom in a towel. 

"They should be." Nadia replied, "I'll go check on them.." She said before walking into Wyatt's bedroom. I went into the bedroom and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt before walking into Willow's room and smiled at her.

Willow looked up at me, "Hi, daddy! You take bath?" 

I nodded, "I did! Momma did too, so now we're nice and clean!" I sat next to her, "What are you up to? Are you coloring me a nice picture?"

"I color for baby!" She said, looking at me, "It okay?"

"I think he is going to love it, Willow bug." I kissed her head, "It's very beautiful. It'll definitely go on his wall above his bed." 

She giggled and nodded, "Mommy one too?" 

I nodded, "I think momma will love one too! I won't tell her, it'll be a secret." I watched her color for a little bit before I noticed she started getting tired. "You wanna get ready for bed?"

"Yeah, daddy.." She put her crayons and coloring book away before looking at me again, "You help?"

"Of course, princess." I tell her before helping her get her pajamas on and got her all tucked in for bed. I read her a story before walking out of her room, turning on her nightlight on the way out and then walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. 

Nadia walked in a few moments later, "You got Willow to bed?" She asked me, looking in the pantry for a snack. 

"I did." I tell her, pouring water. "She colored for a little bit and then got her pj's on and then read her a story." I said, "And she fell asleep pretty quickly, but she was getting tired while coloring, so I figured she was ready for bed." 

"You're a great dad." She smiled, "I can't wait for Jaxson to be here. You are just a natural." 

"You think so?" I ask her, kissing her forehead and wrapping my arms around her as much as I could since her belly would get in the way. "You want something to drink?"

"I know so," she giggled, "And just some water would be fine, thank you." She giggled again and moved out of the way so I could get her a glass of water. "I think Jax called it a night. He was kicking like crazy and it like slowly stopped and now it's just like easy and no kicking." 

I held both glasses of water, "That's good! I'm glad he's being more active." I walked behind her into the bedroom and shut the door behind us. I can't wait for him to get here.