โDaaaaaddddy!โ I hear Paisley whining as I descend the stairs into the living room. As I round the banister I see my husband with our two daughters. Paisley is sitting in the middle of the room, the coffee table pushed aside, while Penelope is standing next to her father and staring up at him expectantly.
โAre you tormenting the children, Gabriel James Harper?โ I scold playfully, trying to narrow my gaze at the handsome man across the room as he scoops Penelope up and holds her upside down. Giggles fill the room as he leans forward and blows air against her stomach. I canโt hold the expression as my mouth cracks into a wide smile. Before he can answer, our oldest jumps to her feet and runs to me. Her little arms wrap around my legs and she buries her face into the side of my leg. Itโs my turn to laugh, reaching down and stroking her silk, blonde tresses.
โHe is! Daddy keeps making us do the dance a hundred times and I just want to watch Bluey, Mommy, MAKE HIM STOP!โ Paisley whines, turning her face from my thigh to rest her cheek against it instead. I look down and her wide blue eyes are narrowed in the exact expression I was trying to make when I first entered the room. I laugh harder now, patting her head.
โDaddyโs just excited for the showcase. Itโs his first one, remember? Since Mommy canโt coach this year because of Parker.โ Paisleyโs expression softens as she looks up at me, a struggle now with how big Iโve already gotten. Her small hand comes to my swollen stomach and she pats it gently.
โIs he going to be here soon?โ She asks, just like she does every day.
โRight around Halloween, baby, thatโs why you and Pen are going to go trick or treating with Aunt Em, Uncle Car, and Harper this year.โ Gabe chimes in as he puts Penelope back on her feet. Paisley is done with me once her sister begins making her way towards us. They meet in the middle of the room and are immediately enthralled with one another. My husband doesnโt waste a second of the momentary reprieve from entertaining the children and is already across the room and next to me.
โWhen should we tell them about the babymoon?โ He whispers in my ear before pressing a lingering kiss to my temple. I wrap my arm around his waist and he places his palm on my stomach. Without fail, his son starts to kick.
โI was thinking the morning of, we just wake them up super early and we can tell them on the way to the airport that weโre going back to Hawaii?โ I whisper back, leaning my head back against his shoulder. Angling my head back further, Iโm able to press a series of kisses to his stubbled jawline. I know his silence is agreement, we donโt need to speak to communicate anymore. We have been through more than most couples do in a lifetime to get to this moment. The blissful few seconds of silence in our home with our growing family. For just a second, my eyes close and I breathe it all in, thenโฆ
โMOMMY! BLUEY!!!โ ย
