Tatiana’s eyes widened and she flopped back on her bed, snapping her eyes shut so that her whole face was scrunched. She peeked one eye open to say, “You can go.”
Tyler and I exchange an amused look. “Are you sure?” he asked, “I can lay in here with you like usual.”
“No.” She shoved him before laying back down. “I need to go to seep, so I get my Barbie.”
“Okay, bunny.” He brushed back her curly hair and kissed her forehead. The tender way he treated our daughter made my heart squeeze with love.
I kissed her forehead, too, before leaving the room.
“Wait,” Tatiana said once we were in the doorway. “I didn't get to say goodnight to my baby brudder.”
I smiled, walking back over to her bed. She got on her knees and crawled over the blankets to me. Taking my belly in both hands, she kissed my bump, leaving a small wet mark on my pajamas. “Good night, baby,” she said.
We haven't settled on a name yet, but she was already so in love, just like Tyler and me.
“Goodnight.” I said again, and we walked out of the room, leaving the door shut.
We stalled in the hallway a moment, but when Tatiana didn’t call us back in, Tyler and I went to sit on the couch in our living room.
He leaned in close and whispered, “I know you're excited to get started.”
I chuckled. I really was. I had been excited for this moment since before I gave birth to her, and now she was finally old enough to truly enjoy and start understanding Christmas morning.
“Let's wait a few minutes so we can make sure she's asleep,” I said.
He nodded, reaching out and holding my hand. “So, I've thought of a name for the baby.”
I looked over at him, “Really?”
He splayed a large hand over my stomach, and I swore I could feel our baby lean into his touch. “What if we name him after your grandpa?” Tyler asked.
My heart melted as I studied his expression. “That would mean so much to my grandma.”
He smiled. “And to you, I know how much you loved him.”
I reached out, cupping his face, and kissed him slowly. He always took his time with me, savoring the moment, even though we'd kissed thousands of times before. When we pulled back, he smiled at me and bit his bottom lip. “How did I get so lucky with you?”
“I think we both are lucky.” I replied with a soft smile.
He squeezed my hand then got up and walked to our daughter's bedroom to check on her. I watched him peek his head through the door, and when he came back to theliving room and said, “Not a creature is stirring, not even our daughter.”
I laughed. “She really is excited for Santa to come bring the presents.”
“Well, let's get started,” Tyler said, “I'll make cocoa while you put the presents under the tree?”
I nodded, feeling as giddy as Tatiana would be tomorrow morning. I could just imagine her stepping out of her bedroom, rubbing sleepy eyes, and seeing the tree alight and surrounded by new presents. It really would feel like magic.
While Tyler went to our kitchen, I traveled back to the bedroom. My feet and ankles were swollen more than in my first pregnancy, but at least this time, I knew what to expect with my changing body. I walked to the closet and pulled out two boxes with presents, stocking stuffers, and the stocking that Tyler's mom had embroidered with Tatiana’s name. Balancing the boxes between my arms and hips, I carried them out to the living room.
The overhead lights were dim, but the strand of bulbs around the Christmas tree cast a magical glow over the room. The hues caught Tyler’s form as he stood over the stove, making homemade hot cocoa with one of his mom's recipes.
Smiling to myself, I carefully arranged the presents so that they were spread around the bottom of the tree. Then I tucked any number of objects that we would probably regret tomorrow into her stocking, including slime, plenty of candy, and a few noise makers, plus an orange. My grandma always insisted we had an orange in our stockings, and I wanted to continue that tradition with Tatiana.
Once it was all set up, I went to the kitchen. A metal spoon scraped softly over the pan as Tyler stirred our drinks. I bumped his hip with mine before reaching up for the container of flour. The cabinet was barely open before Tyler came behind me,crowding my back with his warmth. He grabbed the flour and set it on the counter.
“Here you go,” he said, and dropped a light kiss on my shoulder.
I nudged my backside against him, about ready to abandon this whole operation in lieu of taking him to the bedroom. These pregnancy hormones were no joke. I swear we could do it all day, every day, and it wouldn't be enough. Not that he was complaining. I guess I had to make up for all those years I spent as a virgin.
