Personal Narrative: My Baby Girl

“There’s the head, and there’s the legs,” continued the ultrasound technician, “Do you want to know the gender?”
“Definitely!” I said.
She began moving her mouse around the computer type screen. Closing my eyes I listen to my child’s heartbeat. There is no other noise like it. It is just so beautiful.
“Okay I have it, are you ready?”
Anxiously Aiden answered, “Yes, yes we are ready.”
“It’s a girl, congratulations!”
“A girl? A little girl?” Aiden said looking at me, “Were having a little girl Laura!”
I was so happy. After “raising” three boys with Jen and David I can now experience raising a little girl.
“I’ll give you guys a few minutes,” she said as she left the room.
Aiden, very emotional, began to tear up.
“What’s wrong Aiden?”
“We

are having a beautiful baby girl.”
“I know,” I said, “Don’t cry though it’s okay.”
“I’m crying tears of joy,” he stopped, “I don’t think I have ever been this happy.”
“That’s what you said when you proposed to me,” I laughed.
“I love you so much Laura the words I write can never really describe what you mean to me.”
“I love you too Aiden.”

We went home that night with dreams of the future. Dreams that will hopefully become reality.
“Where do you want to live?” Aiden asked.
“What do you mean? In my home?”
“I mean I will gladly move in if that is really what you want but you only have one bedroom.”
“We can put the crib in my room, there problem solved.”
“What about when she gets older?”
“Well she’s barely 4 months old so we don’t really have to worry about that right now do we?”
“Trust me, good parents plan ahead.”
“Well I like my house and really want to keep it.”
Changing the subject Aiden starts, “What about college? How are we going to pay for college?”
“Are you freaking serious Aiden? College?”
“It’s never to early to plan for her future.”
“Yes it is! She’s a fetus, literally!”
“She is going to be going to college in only 18 years! That time is going to fly!”
“Again, she’s a fetus! Not even born yet so relax please your getting on my nerves.”
“Okay I’m sorry, just worry is all.”
“I see that.”
“But we really do have to discuss housing arrangements. As much as you love your house there isn’t enough room to raise a baby in it.”
“Please give me some time.”
“Okay, time is fine.”

I went to bed with more nightmares than dreams.

The nightmare was of my baby girl crying and screaming and Aiden telling me to move out. My second nightmare was of her leaving home at 18. For the record, she was beautiful in my nightmare. More beautiful than I could ever thought with beautiful long brown hair and my blue eyes. Her voice was like that of angels. She was just gorgeous.

I wake up to the sound of thunder cracking. The wind is howling and it’s pouring outside. Aiden is still here; he must have passed out when he was writing. I began to feel queasy once again and ran to the bathroom and threw up. They call this morning sickness but yet I get sick at crazy hours of the night and in the middle of a school day. When will THIS nightmare end?
I clean myself up and go into the kitchen for some water. My light is flickering due to the thunderstorm. I began to get really scared receiving flashbacks of that horrid night and ran back to bed like I was 2. I literally jump on the bed and throw the covers over me.
“Laura? Are you okay?” Aiden whispers faintly.
“I’m fine, just had a nightmare.”
He then got close to me and put his arms over me and began to spoon cuddle. He brought me really close and kissed my

head.
“You will always be safe when you’re with me.”
With that one kiss I felt safer. With that one kiss I fell asleep with hopeful dreams.

Another day with another alarm bantering me to wake up for my students education. I rise and look off to my side to see Aiden still here sleeping like a baby.
“Aiden.”
Moaning, “Yeah?”
“Wake up with me, I have to go to school.”
“Okay, okay,” he said as he got up.
I went into the kitchen and like every morning started the coffee machine. But, something was on my counter that I didn’t notice late last night. On my counter was a sunflower, just one sunflower with half of its long stem cut off.
Horrified I yell, “Aiden!”
“Yeah,” he faintly responds.
“Did you leave me a sunflower yesterday?”
“What? No?”
I answer trembling, “Okay.”
I pick up the flower shaking. I then walk over to my back door to see it unlocked. I opened the door and threw the sunflower outside then quickly locked the door behind me while I stared outside. Someone broke in? That was the only logical reason behind this. The same person, who gave me the sunflowers at school, broke into my home and left another flower as to say, “Why didn’t you take my bouquet home?”
I was terrified shaking to my bones.
Aiden walked inside the kitchen and stopped in fright.
“Laura?”
I didn’t answer, not because I didn’t want to more like I couldn’t.
He walked over to me hurriedly.
“Laura are you okay?”
“I - ”
“Come here and sit down you look like you saw a ghost.”
I sat on my couch and continued to stare at the back door lock. It didn’t appear to be busted like it was force entry yet it was.
“Laura please talk to me, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, just got a little sick is all.”
“Okay,” he said, seeming to buy more poor excuse.
“I have to get ready for school.”
I got up and walked into my room, almost disregarding Aiden’s existence getting ready for another day. For the first time since I had gotten pregnant I realize I cannot hide it any longer, I was finally showing a small bump. It obviously didn’t just pop up over night, but it was finally catching my attention. Time to play the question game at school.

When I got to the school I didn’t get annoyed with questions or comments about my weight. So, before rumors flew around I decided to be the one to announce it.
“Okay guys I have an announcement to make!”
With the students watching me I announce,
“I am pregnant, so I am only going to be here a few months longer and in the spring you will receive a new teacher for the remaining school year.”
The majority of the class was saying their congratulations and funny comments.
“Didn’t school like just start this week?” a boy named Jarod asked.
I laughed, “Yeah it did, I’m 4 months along so I’ve known for a while.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” a girl named Anne asked.
“It is a girl.”
“Do you have a name yet?” asked Anne.
“No we didn’t pick a name out yet.”
Suddenly every one began to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Who’s the daddy?” a boy named Eric asked.
The class laughed at Eric’s comment.
“My fiancée, if that’s any of your business.”
The class laughed at my comment directed to Eric.
Just telling my first period of this big news the whole school now knows. At least I know that if I want my school to know something just to announce it to my first period class.

I went home that night with a sigh of relief. I have completed my first week of school.
“Aiden,” I ask.
“What is it?”
“I think I picked out the perfect name for the baby.”
“What is it?”
“Catherine Lee Fitzpatrick.”
“That’s beautiful, what made you pick Catherine Lee?”
“Well, Catherine is the of my favorite character from my favorite book, Wuthering Heights,” I paused, “And Lee was the name of a former teacher of mine who inspired me to be an English teacher,” I paused again, “If it wasn’t for her I don’t think I would be who I am today and I think it is appropriate to acknowledge her in my child.”
“It’s beautiful Laura, I think if she knew you were giving her such a thoughtful middle name she would love it.”
“She probably would, I think Catherine Lee sounds absolutely stunning.”
“Together her name means Pure Poet which I think is also reflecting you in a way.”
“A Pure Poet?”
“A writer who writes from his heart in the most pure innocent way.”
He looked me deep into my eyes and smiled, saying I love you with his eyes.

The room went silent for a few minutes when Aiden began talking about work.
“My final copy is due this Sunday, so I only have two more days to work on it.”
“Okay, will you be around tomorrow?”
“Probably not, need to look everything over and add some things to it.”
“That’s fine, just call and say goodnight and I’ll be

satisfied.”
“Okay sweetie.”
We continued with our nightly routine. He watched TV with his journal in arms reach, just in case he had some inspiration to write anything; and I sat by his side nestled up as close as I could reading a book with my glasses on without a care in the world. Though I normally read classics before I go to sleep like Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck I broke routine a bit. Tonight for the first time I embraced being pregnant and read What to Expect When You’re Expecting.