Thrive

Today’s the day of my baby shower and I couldn’t be more blessed to have Alex here for it. It was enough that Jack couldn’t be here for Miranda’s shower; we didn’t need that kind of absence for the both of us. My mom and Tyler arrived yesterday and are going to be there before us to help with the shower.

“How excited are you?” Alex asked as we got into his car to head to my shower.

"Extremely. Sure, Miranda's was fun, but this is different. I don't really have to do anything and still have fun."

He laughed and shook his head.

“How are you?”

“Happy and excited for you.”

We got there in maybe fifteen minutes and I couldn’t wait to get out of the car. I got out of the car and held onto his hand as we walked inside the building. There weren’t many people yet, but I was in eyesight of the person who put this all together.

“Abby!” Miranda asked rushing toward me.

Oh, how I miss moving fast.

“Hi hun.”

“Hey. How are you?”

“Really good, but I’m bound to be sitting on my ass a lot.”

She laughed.

“I remember feeling the same way.”

“Can I see my adorable nephew?”

“Of course you can. Let me go get him.” she said in a sing-song voice.

“Someone’s happy.” I said sitting down.

She came back with a smiling and clearly awake baby.

“Hi Luca. How are you, sweetie?”

I touched his cheek causing him to giggle and I smiled back at him. Alex knelt beside me and kissed my cheek.

“Can I hold him for a while?”

“Of course. I’ll be back in a bit.” she said smiling.

I nodded.

“You are gonna be such an amazing mother.” he whispered.

I teared up and smiled; I touched the hand that was on my shoulder and kissed him.

“I love you.” I said.

“I love you, too.”

I must’ve held him for five minutes when I saw him fall asleep.

“I’m gonna get something to drink. Want something?”

“Water, please. Thank you.”

A minute later, he came back with my drink and his and sat down beside me.

“He still sleeping?” he whispered.

“Yeah. Little guy is conked out.”

I then saw my mom walk toward us.

“Hi honey.”

“Hi Mom.”

“You look especially beautiful today.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled.

"Let me take a pic of you three."

We posed for a quick pic as I was just in the best mood.

"You guys are so adorable."

"So, I look good?" I asked.

My self-confidence hasn't been the best during this pregnancy. Sometimes, I'll feel like a goddess, mostly because of Alex, and other times, not so much like right now.

"Abby. Of course you do. Why would you ask something like that?" my mom asked.

I shrugged.

"You are the most beautiful woman in existence, let alone in this room. You remember me telling you something along those lines before. Right?" he said, kneeling in front of me.

I nodded.

"It's just one of those days, I guess."

"He's right. You know? You always have been beautiful.” my mom added.

“You guys are the best. You know that?”

“Can I have a smile?” Alex asked.

I smiled and he kissed me.

“I love you.” I said.

“I love you, too.”

“I love you, sweetie.” my mom said.

“Love you, too, Mom.”

She kissed my forehead and left.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked.

“Much. Thank you.”

Ten minutes later and many greetings later, Miranda came back to see how Luca was doing.

“How’s he been?”

“Perfect. He’s been sleeping the entire time you’ve been gone.”

“That’s wonderful. Come here baby boy. Mommy missed you.” she said reaching for him.

Oh, how, I couldn’t wait to hold my own child.

“Just a month to go.” Alex said wrapping his arms around me.

“Seems like everyone has arrived. Wanna eat?”

“Always.”

I was starving and therefore, so was Scarlett. I overloaded my plate which clearly amused him.

“I’m eating for two. Have you forgotten?”

“It still amuses me.”

“Can I tell you something? Don’t know why I haven’t yet.”

“Of course.”

“The day of Miranda’s baby shower, I had a flashback to when I was depressed and back home. It was actually one of my better memories. It was when I first started listening to you guys. I had gone to the record store and picked up Put Up or Shut Up and I was hooked.”

I continued on to tell him what brought that on.

“That is a great memory.”

“All it took was your voice.” I said blushing.

Why the hell am I blushing? I wouldn’t look at him.

“You’re adorable.” he said, putting his hand over mine.

If I had long enough hair, I would’ve brushed it out of my face.

“I try.” I said laughing.

What else could I do? He laughed.

“I plan on singing to her tonight before bedtime.”

He still gives me butterflies even four years after we met. I just tried to eat as I could not stop smiling.

“I’m looking forward to that.”

“How is everything?” Miranda asked, coming up from behind me.

“Delicious. Thank you, hun.”

She came around and hugged me.

Minutes later, we started played games like the ever so popular how much toilet paper would it take to wrap around my belly, also guessing my measurements in the meantime and the one with putting chocolate in fake diapers and seeing what kind is in each, among others. When it finally came to the unwrapping of gifts, I was truly excited, but I was also tired at the same time.

“Oh, wow. What do I open first?”

It was overwhelming but wonderful at the same time. All of these people care so much about me, Alex and our first child, who isn’t even here yet causing me to feel incredibly blessed. We got a multitude of diapers, clothes and other necessities of course, but when we got to the last two sets of gifts who were from Miranda and Jack and my mom and Tyler, I knew that there was going to be more than necessities in them. Perhaps the most heartwarming gift was something that was incredibly adorable.

“It’s a bunny.”

I love bunnies, absolutely love them and this is something my mom has always known, so this was definitely from her and the nearly the rest of the basket was bunny themed. I hugged her immediately.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Don’t mention it, Abby. You are gonna have the most adorable kid ever.”

I looked back at Alex who was smiling and holding the bunny; he himself was adorable. Since the color of Scarlett’s nursery is yellow, that was the basis of Miranda and Jack’s basket which had some of the cutest and useful items one could have.

“Thank you guys.” I said to the both of them.

They each hugged me.

“And there’s one more thing...” she said.

She walked over to a small basket which had a bunch of paper in it.

“These are wishes for Baby Scarlett that everybody wrote after they came in the door.” she handed me the basket.

“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.” I said tearing up again.

“Right back at ya, girl.”

I laughed.

Ten minutes later, people began to leave and I was ready to go home; I tried to not let it show.

“I want to sleep.” I said to Alex.

“I know you do. How does fifteen minutes sound?”

I nodded and he kissed my forehead.

“Thanks for the shower, Miranda. It was more than I could’ve dreamed of.”

“It was a pleasure to plan it, Abby.”

When I got into the car a handful of minutes later, my eyes shut out and I was off in dreamland. I didn’t even hear us pull up to our house until I heard my car door unlock.

“We’re home, baby.”

“No. Goodnight.”

He laughed at me.

“Shut up, Alex.”

It took me a second to wake up and move, but I knew that as soon as I would head to the bedroom, I’d conk out again; I was right.

“Hey sleepyhead.” he said walking out of the bathroom.

“Hey. Come kiss me.”

He smiled and walked over to kiss me.

“You have a great time today?”

I adjusted myself, so I was slightly sitting up beside him.

“Wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better shower.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I leaned my head onto his shoulder and smiled as his hand ran through my hair. When it was time for bed, I was looking so forward to going to sleep, but before that, I was over the moon about Alex singing to her.

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

As he sung one of my favorite Disney songs, I smiled and ran my hand through his hair as he sung directly to her. This moment was beyond perfect and one I knew I’d never forget.

Notes

I couldn't help but have Alex sing that to her. It's such a sweet song and I love it!