I’m not going to lie, it’s been incredibly hard and I don’t know how I would have done it without Rivers, but something tells me that it’s only going to get worse from here. I mean, mom keeps telling me these horror stories about teething and poo explosions that go right up their backs, and honestly, I’m a little freaked out.
So far, we’ve suffered through the sleepless nights, the torturous days where she wouldn’t feed properly, and of course, the dreaded sore tummy.
Rivers has been great with everything and has been there every step of the way, making sure I have everything I need. He had told me that he feels a little useless at the moment as it’s always me having to get up in the night to do the feeds with her, but he couldn’t be more wrong. He’s always the first to get up to change her diapers and always the one rushing in and taking her away when it’s time for her sleep.
He loves being a daddy just as much as I love being her mommy.
If I’m completely honest with myself. I feel like a hot mess. My hair hasn’t been brushed in two months, I’m still wearing my maternity pants, and I accidentally poured breast milk into my cereal instead of the full cream milk I’d only gotten out of the fridge two seconds before.
But I feel myself slowly coming back. The more confident we become with this little girl, the easier it is for me to make it through each day, and really, I shouldn’t be complaining; she’s an excellent sleeper. In fact, she downright loves her sleep. She must get that from me.
I get my boob situation sorted and make sure I’m not about to start leaking everywhere like I did while I was out at dinner two nights ago and completely embarrass myself. Once everything is where it needs to be, I look up at mom to find her propping Lily up over her shoulder and helping her to burp to avoid those damn tummy aches, and just like her father, she does it loud and proud.
I’ve been trying to focus on myself a little more over the past two days and finally convinced myself to start walking in the hopes of finding my previous sexy body, so that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
I got the stroller set up, got Lily dressed and ready for an outing, and pulled on my runners before packing every tiny item in my house that lily could possibly need in the hour or so that we’ll be out. I kissed Rivers and he spanked my ass before helping me out the door with the stroller.
It started great. I walked for about fifteen minutes, humming to a little ‘5 Seconds of Summer’ when I turned down Noah and Henley’s road. I had all intentions of walking straight past, but when I saw mom’s car parked out front, I found myself taking a little detour.
And that’s exactly where I’ve been for the past three hours.
Poor Rivers, he’s probably worried sick about me, either that or he has fallen asleep on the couch and completely lost track of time.
I stand up from Noah’s back deck and hold my hands out for Lily when mom scoffs at me and adjusts her in her arms to put her off to sleep. “Get your own baby,” she tells me in a baby voice as she looks down at my little angel. “This one is mine.”
I roll my eyes. I guess I won’t be seeing Lily for a few hours. She’ll end up sleeping in mom’s arms and that’s exactly where she’ll stay until I physically have to steal her back.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity to have this rare time to myself, I slip in through the backdoor and find my way to Noah and Henley’s kitchen, knowing they have all sorts of goodies hiding in here.
I mean, screw the diet. I was careful during my pregnancy, I deserve to treat myself. After all, I did push a watermelon out of my lady bits and it wasn’t pretty. I can cry about my weight tomorrow while Rivers holds me and reminds me that I’m still the most beautiful woman he knows.
God, my man is such a suck-up, but it works every damn time.
As I rummage through the freezer and find the emergency tub of ice cream that Henley always keeps in here for me, I hear the familiar sounds of Noah and Rivers’ hushed conversation coming from just outside the open front door.
I grin to myself. I should have known he’d come looking for me.
I grab myself a spoon and flop down onto the couch which Rivers and I are yet to christen and dig in as I try to find a little peace and quiet. Only the boys’ stupid conversation is a little too hard to tune out. Do they realize just how far their voices carry? They’re not discreet at all.