henry-b:

“It sounds like a great idea, honey.” As much as I’d like to think we can handle everything ourselves, reality looks a little different with two newborns and a big puppy. There’s going to be a lot of getting used to new things and new routines, and a little help wouldn’t be uncalled for. Besides, it would delight her parents to take part in their lives from such an early stage. 

“We’ll have to figure something out with their accommodation, though. You think they’d rent a house maybe?” With the guest room now turned into a nursery, we really don’t have space for guests to sleep over. I’d love to accommodate her parents, but I wouldn’t offer them any of the solutions for them to stay in the house that I can come up with. It’ll be fine, plus it’ll be nice for us to have a little bit of alone time with each other and the twins. 

When I think about how fast the first six months went by, I’m a little intimidated by the fact that there are only three left. We are as prepared as we could possibly be, though. We’re ready. 

“I doubt they would want a whole house to themselves when they will most likely only be sleeping there. I have a feeling if we ask them to come help that they will be here until we kick them out for the night,” I chuckle. Now that he thinks the idea to have them help us with the babies the first week is great, I can relax a little. I was a bit worried about how we were going to manage two newborns and an attention seeking dog all at the same time.

“There is that quaint bed and breakfast around the corner from our house. Either that or put them up in a nice hotel.” I would want my parents to feel comfortable, to feel that they have their own space to retreat. Plus, it would be nice have some moments alone with Henry and the babies. We’re going to need some time without someone holding our hands, right? “We’ll figure it out,” I smile. 

The fact that we are even talking about the first week of the twins’ lives is both exhilarating and terrifying. I am so excited for them to be born. I honestly don’t think I have ever been this excited for something in my entire life. At the same time, I’m scared that something is going to go wrong or that we are going to mess up. Those are the feelings of every new parent though, right? I know, we both know, that once they are born nothing else will matter. We’ll just take each step at a time and learn how to be parents together. 

dontlettherollerskatesfoolyou:

theodora-altman:

dontlettherollerskatesfoolyou:

Sounds sexy. But seriously, I hope you’re feeling better. 

Awww, I’m okay. Better than earlier today. Thanks for the vote of.confidence, friend. :) haha.

No problem, it was my pleasure. You know I’m always here to make cracks at your sick man voice. ;) 
I am glad that you’re feeling better though. 

dontlettherollerskatesfoolyou:

Sounds sexy. But seriously, I hope you’re feeling better. 

henry-b:

“Me neither,” it’s extremely exciting and I have no idea what to expect. On one hand it’s the most frightening thing I can imagine, on the other it’s such an amazing miracle. It’s going to be life changing on so many levels. 

I smirk at the picture she’s painted, and I’m touched by her words. “I wouldn’t do it with anybody else.” I wouldn’t. I don’t know that I would have ever gotten the chance to it, it’s highly unlikely, but I know I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it with anyone other than her. It’s scary doing it with her, it would be too terrifying with anybody else. 

My fingers drum gently on her stomach trying to keep the contact going. “I think they’re excited too.”

“They have got to be cramped for space in there. I would be excited to get out, too.” I smirk at the motion he is making with his fingers, laughing as one of the babies pushes back against his fingers. The feeling is too odd to describe, but it’s an incredible feeling. Well, it’s incredible when it’s not two o’clock in the morning. 

The current conversation regarding when these two kickers decide to come into the world reminds me of something that I have been meaning to discuss with Henry. We had never really discussed the whole bringing them home part. We are both first time parents with little experience with newborns. Throwing two newborns into the mix? I have a feeling we’re going to be extra exhausted and extra clueless. “Speaking of when they break free, I was thinking about maybe asking my parents to come help out the first week. Knowing my mother, they will be on a plane the second I start going into labor. I know that they’re already planning on coming after the babies are born, but I thought maybe we could use the extra help. If not to change diapers while we catch a few extra winks of sleep, then to maybe cook or clean. What do you think?” I ask while twining our fingers together. 

henry-b:

“Thank you, honey.” I always think she praises me a little too much, just because she’s my wife, but I appreciate her words more than anybody else’s. And I love being able to make her something that will pleasure her taste buds. Cooking is my only hobby right now, but I do enjoy it a lot, I just can’t keep cooking every time I’m bored. It’s a waste of resources and it gives us an overload of food we’re not going to eat. It’ll be great when I can experiment with things for the twins. 

“At least until we feel safe having them in the water here. I know it’s pretty calm, but for starters,” I wink. “And it’s going to be so much fun. I can’t wait.” Their little surprised faces the first time we take them into the water, introduce them to something completely foreign and unknown. Well, apart from baths. I guess they will know water. But still, it’ll be different when they’re floating around. 

“Really?” I smirk and she grasps my hand letting me feel just how much they seem to be enjoying the beach. “No kidding. They do, don’t they?” They’re certainly calling for attention, and they have it as they will for next many years. I think Lola finds it strange every time we are overjoyed with our hands all over her stomach. She steps closer and sniffs around Teddy, looking puzzled up at her as if asking what’s going on. We laugh and Teddy pulls her close to kiss the top of her head. She’ll always be our first baby. 

“You must think we’re crazy, huh? You’ll figure it out soon enough,” I murmur against the plush fur beside her ear. She pushes her nose against the side of my head, nudging me away far enough to lick my nose. I grab her snout gently and place a firm kiss on top of his, ruffling her hair as she pulls away. “Here you go, Lo. You deserve a special treat.” I toss her a piece of chicken from my sandwich and laugh as she catches it mid-air. 

I glace over at Henry, smile creeping plastered across my face as I realize that his hand is still cradling my ever-growing stomach. I cover his hand with mine and lean in for a tender kiss, lips brushing against his ever-so softly. 

This is one of those moments when I feel like a love-struck teenager, caught in this world of love and lust and pure happiness. We have our ups and downs like any other married couple, but he makes me feel more beautiful and loved than anyone else has ever. 

I pull back and rest my head against his shoulder, fingers caressing the back of his hand as I sigh. “I can’t wait to meet them. I just…I can’t wait to hold them in my arms and look into their little eyes. I can’t wait to take them home and for them to meet Lola,” I confess, although, it isn’t much of a confession. I know that neither one of us can wait to meet our two incredible babies. “I just keep thinking about the two of us laying in bed together, Miles on my chest and Lillian on yours. I can’t wait to do this with you.”

henry-b:

“Course I did,” I smirk, “Glad you like it. I was experimenting a bit.” I stare out at the ocean unable to grasp its dimensions, it’s like how I feel about Teddy. What can I say, I’m a sentimental man. Luckily, she digs that as long as I keep it down a bit. I just have a lot to be thankful for, her being the thing I’m most grateful for. Then comes great food, no just kidding, though this is pretty great, sitting here with our food with a look of the ocean and the sun shining down on us. It doesn’t get much better.

“We’ll take the kids here,” I decide. “They’ll love it, I’m sure. We can take them to the pool first and teach them how to feel comfortable under water and how to swim, and they can wear those adorable little floaties.”   

“Well, then you should experiment more often because this is amazing,” I wink. He’s been experimenting a lot, both inside and outside the kitchen. In all seriousness though, he is an amazing chef. Our children are going to be in for a treat because I have a feeling he’s going to end up making all of their baby food. 

I nod and rest my head against his shoulder, the movement of the sound catching my attention. “We could build sandcastles and collect shells and rocks,” I close my eyes for a moment and imagine the four of us on the beach, little feet running around in the sand. “As beautiful as the water is here, you’re right, the pool would be best. At least the pool would be warmer and safer. I can’t wait to take them swimming. How fun is that going to be?” 

I place a gentle hand on the underside of my stomach and chuckle. “I think they like the beach.”

henry-b:

“What else would take me by surprise?” I smirk. “I always knew you’d succumb to my charms and my good looks.” Like her personality won me over in no time, and her looks… Well I would lie if I didn’t say I was attracted to her immediately, who wouldn’t be? I think that’s the forces of Nature. She’s too damn hot for her own good, even six months pregnant she’s sexy as ever. “I love you, too.” 

“I know, that’s actually amazing.” We’re so lucky. I feel so lucky. Here I am with my gorgeous wife, our unborn children who will of course be amazing, our wonderful dog and lots of great food. 

“Thanks, babe. The beach was a great idea. Oh, you’ve got to try this,” I say practically forcing the piece of bread into her mouth. “Good, yeah?” 

I move to get comfortable, which is quite the feat these days. Sitting crisscross-applesauce seems to be the most comfortable position, so I go for it.  He pushes a piece of bread in front of me, almost hitting me in the face with it. I laugh and lean back, holding the rest of it while chewing the piece in my mouth. “This is great, Henry. Don’t tell me you baked this yourself,” I mumbling with a mouth full of bread. 

henry-b:

I sit down next to her and pull her close for a minute, interrupting her unwrapping thing. “I mean here we are on the beach, like all these other ordinary couples. Who’d have thought?” I smirk. It’s just a couple of days past the anniversary of our first kiss, of her saying that maybe we were more than just a good story and that she wanted to find out. I let her resume her actions with a tender kiss and pick up a box of treats for Lola, tossing her one that she beautifully catches. 

“You’re surprised that we’re just one of these ordinary couples on the beach? That’s what you’re surprised about?” I tease knowing that we’re both surprised about everything surrounding our relationship: falling in love, getting married, getting pregnant. I don’t think either of us ever expected to get this far. He was just a man in love and I was just a woman who was afraid to admit it. 

I smile against his mouth and pull back with a quiet moan. Content. I think that would be the best way to describe how I’m feeling in this very moment. I’m just happy that we got this far. “I love you,” I grin over my shoulder as I finish up unwrapping the sandwiches and salads he made this morning. 

“Wow,” I shake my head and look up to the sun, “we got lucky. It’s absolutely beautiful and rain free on a day that I’m actually off. This is pure luck.” I hand him a plate and place the food in front of him. “This all looks amazing, honey. Good job,” I wink. 

henry-b:

I offer her a crooked smile and lean in for a quick kiss before we head off in the direction of the patch of sand she’s pointed out, “Thanks, hon. Think you can handle that little monster?” I grin as Lola tries her best to get Teddy to break into a run as soon as Teddy’s body set in motion. She tugs at the leash and Lola gives in, probably realizing that it’s not going to get her there any faster. 

We stroll down to the beach and I put down the cooler and the basket and relieve her of Lola enabling her to spread out the blanket. Lola pounces at something in the sand and start digging, spreading the sand all over my legs. “Lola,” I chuckle. She should be given some liberties, I guess, it’s not often we go to the beach, this being our first time together which sounds crazy. 

“Look at us, here we are!” I smirk. 

I unfold the colorful blanket and spread it out over the beige colored sand. The rainbow of colors scattered across the blanket are a stark contrast to most of the plaid and flannel blankets used by most of the other beach-goers. Thing is, this blanket is not from Seattle. No, this blanket is from Florida, where bright colors on the beach is a must. I smile at the memories that this blanket holds, all the drunken nights on the beach and the lazy days off during fellowship. 

Lola waddles off in the sand and finds something interesting, her paws throwing sand in every direction as she aims to find that interesting thing. I laugh as she chucks sand at Henry and I know that I better keep my mouth shut because I’ll probably be next. I stifle my laughter and grab the basket, laying it out on the blanket and getting out the plates, utensils, and covered food. Taking off my sandals, I knee down onto the blanket and begin to unwrap things. 

“What do you mean?” I quirk an eyebrow at his comment, thoroughly confused.