Turns out Kim was right, there was nothing to worry about. Work went fine (we even both got promoted!) and the babysitter didn’t kidnap Delia or anything else terrible. I felt like an idiot and decided to make a special dinner for Kim to apologize. I didn’t burn the mac and cheese! I did make a horrible mess out of the kitchen though. Kim just laughed at me and started doing the dishes while I scrubbed away at the stove and counter. Everything is back to normal and I couldn’t be happier!
I finally get to go back to work. I’m excited, all this maternity leave has driven me crazy, but at the same time I’m a little worried. This will be the first time Kim and I work at the same time and we’re going to have to trust Delia with a babysitter. I’ve been stressed about it all week and I’m afraid I’ve been taking it out on poor Kim. We had the most awful fight before work. I feel sick.
Life with a toddler around has been really restricting. One of us always has to make sure to be home for Delia. It’s not really a hardship, she’s such an easygoing baby, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just go out for drinks or a movie like a normal person. I’m so lucky Kim is around to help out so much, I don’t know what I would do without her.
Whenever Sir-Dancelot wasn’t busy spending time with Delia he was being trained by Jo. He learned to sit and even learned to hunt!
The time to go back to work was upon her before Jo had really prepared herself. Still, it was good to be out of the house and contributing again, and she knew Lia was a happy girl who got along well with people. Jo was sure she’d be fine with the babysitter, but it was normal of a mother to worry, right?
The ladies wasted no time teaching Lia all her life skills. Soon, Jo knew, she’d have to return to work and leave Lia in the care of a babysitter.
Sir-Dancelot had also had a birthday. He was such a good dog, and had become a well-loved member of the family.
Once Jo and Kim were able to figure out a routine, the months went by pretty smoothly, and soon it was time for Delia to age up.
Jo: “Well, there’s no doubt she came from your side of the family.”
Kim: *laughs* “That may be so, but she has your eyes.”
The women smiled at each other as they admired the pretty little toddler.
Having a baby in the house was definitely…noisier than both Kim and Jo had suspected. It’s a good thing little Delia was adorable!
Jo: “Ssshhh, Lia, it’s barely dawn. Mommy’s so tired.”
Things got a lot better the day Kim brought home a gift for Lia. A swing!
Kim: “She loves it!”
Lia was always happy when she was in her swing, especially when Aunty Kim would play music for her.
Things had been so quiet for so long that it came as a complete shock when I went into labor. Kim was really freaking out. (I was too if I’m being honest.) We finally managed to get over our panic attacks and headed to the hospital. I was blessed with a short and rather painless (yay drugs!) delivery and that evening I got to take my new daughter, Delia, home.
