Part 11

"Nik, come on let me help you" John said grabbing my hand

"I think you've done enough". I said through gritted teeth.

"I know that just the contraction talking so i'm going to ignore that last comment." John said.

"Oh baby, i'm sorry." I started to cry

"I know honey,i know..step up." John said helping me get into the jeep.

As soon as i sat back down in the jeep, i immediately passed out.

"OH MY GOD! NIKKI!". I faintly heard John yell,"NIKKI, BABY COME SWEETHEART."

Then next thing i remember is waking up, lying on a hospital gurney strapped to a fetal monitor and John holding my hand, and he was crying.

"John." I whispered,"John"

"Nikki, your awake!" John jumped up from the chair and kissed me on the lips.

"The baby? is she all right?" I said noticing i was still pregnant

"She's all right, the doctor's came in and examined you while you were still out cold, they said if you didn't wake up soon, they would have to go in and get the baby." John said climbing onto the bed with me

"Oh my god, why did i pass out?". I said

"I don't know, the doctor's seems to think you were contracting so fast, your body couldn't handle the pain and you just passed out." John said holding my hand.

"What if i hurt the baby?"." I said starting to cry.

"There is no way you could hurt Olivia, Maggie or Bailey.It's not your fault, plain and simple. Moving on,  Can you believe we're about to have a third baby?" John said

"I know, it's incredible..". I said laughing

"Can you  believe that in less than three years, we managed to get married, have three kids, start a business, run a magazine and move to a great neighborhood." John pointed.out

"I know, i'm amazed everyday." I said putting my head on his shoulder

Just then the Nurse came in.

"Hello Mrs.Distefino, you gave us quite a scare, now i have some questions for you that your husband wasn't able to answer for us.". The Nurse whipped out a clipboard.

"What was your original due date?" The Nurse asked

"September 30th." I said

"Interesting,why weren't  you induced two weeks after your due date?" The Nurse asked.

"The Doctor felt that the baby would come on her own time." I was curious as to where she was going with this.

"Oh Ok." The nurse wrote down my answer then she snapped the clipboard shut,"Well Mrs.Destifino, we need to get you into the delivery room now."

"But my contractions have stopped, is there something wrong with my baby? ." I said  confused

"Your contractions have stopped because of the medication we've given you and if we don't get that baby out now, there's a chance when you finally do deliver, you'll both bleed out" The nurse left the room

"Oh John" I burst into tears,"I can't lose this baby"

"I know honey i know" John said

"Madame, please hop onto this gurney" An orderly said wheeling the hospital into my room.

"Ok" I said shakily getting off the bed i was lying on and climbed onto the other one.

"John?" I said looking up

"Right here" John leaned over and kissed my head,"I'm right here i'm not going anywhere"

"Ok" I said wiping my eyes.,"What are you thinking about right now?"

"I'm thinking, when you get out of here, we're going to take all the kids camping up in the Nevada desert." John said as we went through double doors.

"Really?" I said

"Yup" John said gripping my hand.

"Hello Nicole". Doctor West said

"Hello" I said

"Are we ready to have this baby" The doctor asked sitting down

"Oh yeah" I said biting my lip.

"Ok, i need you to give me a good push" The doctor said

"Ok " I leaned forward and pushed as hard as i could

"Good Nikki Good" The doctor," Ok  again..Nikki..Nikki?"

He wasn't getting a response from me because after that first push, i leaned back against the bed and passed out.  

I woke up about an hour later, incredibly sore more so than usual.

"Oh god" I looked around then looked down,"Oh my god!"

Where was my baby?!

"Hi Mama" John said holding something small covered in a blanket

"What happened?" I asked as he sat down on the bed next to me

"You passed out and they had to do a crash C-section, Missy here didn't want to come out willingly but she eventually came around." John said

I took a good look at our youngest daughter, she had dark black hair, a chubby nose and the chubbiest cheeks ever.

"Hello Olivia, we've been waiting for you" I said holding our daughter for the first time.

"I think out of all the kids, she's going to be the most difficult." John said playing with her little hand

"I think so too, she's so serious" I couldn't stop staring at her, her little face wasn't bright pink like Bailey and Maggie, she was olived skinned, very tanned

"She's so dark, are you sure she's mine?"John asked

"John!" I couldn't believe him

"I'm kidding" John laughed

"Well she's either yours or the guy who runs the Deli on 10 street" I said

"Funny..Hi Sweetie" John said watching Olivia yawn and flicker her eyes

Olivia Rose Destifino was born on October 31st,  at 11:58pm weighing 8lbs, 12oz and was 21 inches long

We spent the rest of night, just watching our daughter sleep,try to find her thumb and occasionally open her eyes to reveal a deep shade of brown. I also noticed that on her right hand just below her fingers, was a little brown dot which looked like the one i have on my foot.

"Hi Livvy". John said playing with her hands.

Olivia responsed by crying a little.

"It's ok  Livia, it's just Daddy being silly" I said

Olivia just kept crying.

"Maybe she's hungry" John said

"I don't think so, i think she's just trying out her voice." I said

"If you say so."  John making faces at the baby.

We had decided that when Olivia Rose came home, we wouldn't have the big party that we usually have because we figured it would be easier to get Maggie and Bailey to get used to Olivia Rose without everyone around us oohing and ahhing. I also didn't want Maggie and Bailey coming to the hospital to vist us because hospitals are scary and Maggie and Bailey wouldn't sit still long enough to see they're new baby sister.

Because of my emergency C-section and the fact Olivia was nearly a month overdue, we couldn't come home for two whole weeks, so John had to call our Moms to come get Bailey and Maggie and arrange for Newman to covers his shifts at the Shop.

We took our youngest daughter home on a late Wednesday afternoon.

"Hello little Girl" John said picking up Olivia from the bassinett

"Say Hi Daddy" I said packing up our gear.

"Should you be lifting all that  heavy stuff?" John asked sitting down in the rocking chair beside the bed

"No but once we're out of here, i'm going to take the Munchkin and you can take all our stuff." I said folding my pajamas

"Your not a munchkin, are you Olivia? no your Daddy's little Fussbucket." John said

"John!" I stopped folding for a second

"What?, Maggie is my little Princess, Bailey is my Bailey-boy and now Olivia is my little Fussbucket." John explained.

"I think I can live with that" I said resuming my folding

"Are we ready to go home?" John asked getting up from the chair

"Yes, i think so." I said looking around making sure we didn't forget anything

"Are you nervous?" John asked opening the door

"Uh huh" I said taking a deep breath

"Relax it's going to be fine" John said closing the door behind us.

"I know but aren't you nervous?" I asked sitting down on a couch outside of the nurses station

"Nah, after the the third kid, you lose all nervousness" John said filling out forms

"Oh" I nodded adjusting the blanket on Olivia's head.

"Are you ready for your first jeep ride. Olivia?" John asked opening the hospital door.

"You brought the Jeep?" I asked

"Yeah, why?" John asked opening the Jeep door

" a Jeep isn't exactly kid-friendly" I said sighing

"well, you're car is in the shop". John said helping us into the jeep

"Wait, why is my car in the shop?" I stopping buckling Olivia Rose in her car seat

"Well,i went to put gas in it, noticed the radio was a little staticy and well i fiddled with it and somehow ripped out of out the dashboard." John said starting up the car

"Oh John." I said checking on Olivia, who'd fallen asleep

"Well I'm sorry but Veira said it would be fixed by Monday." John said pulling into our street,"there's one other thing"

"You blew up the house?" I said checking on the baby, who was still asleep

"Haha,no but after i called and told them about Livvy,they told me they were going to call up everyone so that when we brought her home.." John didn't finish his sentence  since i already knew what he was going to say

"John!" I whined."I've still got my stitches, i can't be playing hostess."

"I know, but it's just for a few hours, besides don't you want to show off Olivia?." John said  stopping the car in front of our house.

"Yeah, i guess" I said stepping out of the jeep

"Come on Livvy," John said taking her carrier from the backseat

"Hold on" I said stopping to pick her up,"ready"

"Ok" John pushed open the door

immediately, everyone crowded around us.

"whoa, everyone will get to see her, just give me some space". i said immediately feeling overwhelmed

they backed  off and i was able to sit down on the couch.

"Where's Maggie and Bailey?". I asked   

"Right here". Vinnie said, holding Maggie in his left arms and Bailey upside with his right

"Hi Guys" I said as Vinnie put them down

"Mama" Maggie said trying to climb in my lap

"Mamama". Bailey clapped his hands and wrapped himself around John's leg

"Mags, Bailey-boy, this is you're new baby sister Olivia, can you say Olivia?" John asked

"Livia" Maggie said clearly

"Lala". Bailey said laughing

"No honey, not Lala, Olivia". My mother corrected him

"Give it up Ma, he's only one". I said kissing Bailey on his head

"Ok guys, let's eat, because Daddy's starving." John announced scooping up Bailey,"You want anything Baby?".

"Me or her?". I asked rocking a little bit

"well since she doesn't have any teeth, i was talking to you". John said kissing me on the head

"Haha, smartass..can you bring me a plate,with a little of everything?" I said playing with little Olivia's hand

"Sure thing..Mama". John said

                                        SIX WEEKS LATER

Before Olivia was born, John and i had talked about what we would do when i had to go back to work, i had a magazine to run and as Senior Editor, i needed to be there plus we needed the money, especially with three kids still in diapers.

But the hardest part of going back to work, was leaving the baby at home with Annie, don't get me wrong  i love Annie, but this was my last baby.

Out of all the kids, Olivia was the easiest because that first night she slept for sixteen hours, and when she was awake, she smiled and giggled all the time , Bailey and Maggie instantly fell in love with her, we all did.

On my first day at work,  Maggie was going to be in Pr-Kindergarden which lasted all day, John was taking Bailey to the shop and Annie was staying home with Olivia .

The night before i went to work, i was running around doing errands, packing the diaper bag, writing out lists making lunch for Maggie for the next day .

"Nikki,your going to wear yourself out." John said grabbing me by the wrist as i ran past him to go get my laptop

"I'm fine". I said stopping short

"Come on, Nik,you've been running around since the doctor cleared you, you need to slow down." John said lifting up my face,"you know what we haven't done in awhile?"

"As i recall, that's how we got Olivia". I said laughing

"True.."John kissed me,"i love you so much"

"I love you too". I said kissing him back

"NO NO NO!". Bailey yelled

"Uh oh,time to be parents." John said breaking our kiss

We walked into Bailey's room, to find Maggie trying to pull him over the bars

"MAGGIE!" i yelled, startling her

She dropped Bailey, who landed face first into the mattress, he started to cry then Maggie started to cry and Of course, Olivia took that moment to scream and start to cry

"I somehow don't think you should have screamed."John said picking up Maggie while i picked up Bailey.

"I'm sorry,Baby but you know your not supposed to get Bailey out of his crib," I said kissing Maggie on her head.

I put Bailey back in his crib, turned on his little radio to his favorite cd, kids bop2 and ran to get the baby

"It's ok, it's ok Baby ". I said picking up the baby, kissing  her head and rocking her a little

"We need help."John said still hanging on to Maggie

"Well, what do you suggest? Annie's already taking Olivia during the day and Maggie's in preschool, don't forget, Bailey's going to the shop with you ." I said rubbing Olivia's head

"Maybe we should hire a nanny?" John said swinging Maggie around

"How? between car payments,diapers and payments on the shop, we can't afford hire anyone." I said putting Olivia, who'd fallen asleep back in her crib

"We need help, we've got three babies and two educated people who are struggling ,"John said putting Maggie on the floor and letting her play.

"I think we're doing fine." I insisted handing Maggie a block

"Come on, Nik, be realistic in the last month and half, we've gotten maybe four hours sleep a week total and we're constantly on edge." John said playing with the blocks

"What do you suggest? put them up for a adoption? eventually.they'll start sleeping through the night, i mean what you like them maybe sedated? " I said sitting in the rocking chair watch Maggie and John play

"I'm not saying that,. i'm just saying maybe we should just get away for a bit just to get some sleep and just be alone..". John said tickling Maggie

"That sounds great but i can't leave Olivia.". I said leaning back and watching my baby sleep

"She's not going anywhere,besides it'll be fun." John said chasing Maggie around the room

"If you think so, Ok i'll get Gina And Annie to take the kids." I said standing up and walking into the kitchen

I looked at the calendar to check a good date for us to leave when i noticed a red cicle around a date..i leaned closer and realized it was nearly two days before thanksgiving!

"Oh shit!" I said,"JOHN!"

"WHAT?" John called from The Baby's room

"Come here please" I said freaking out

"What's wrong?" John said coming into the kitchen

"I completely forgot thanksgiving is in Two days!" I said pacing

"Oh damn..it is, what are we going to do?" John asked opening the fridge

"I'll call Stace," I said reaching for the phone

"Why? she treated you horribly when you were a kid, why would you want to spend thanksgiving there?" John pointed out

"Well, as i recall your mother and father are headed to a remote island in Hawaii, and my parents are going to be at Stace's, it'll give them a chance to see the baby". I said dialing Stacey

"Hello?" Stace said picking up the phone on the first ring

"Hey cousin, how's it going?!" I said sitting on the counter

"Oh hey Nik, not much, just getting ready for thanksgiving" Stace replied

"Right, so are we having it at Auntie's or your house?". I said picking up one of Bailey's footballs

"Mine" She must have been chewing on something

"Ok we'll be up in the next day or so, we'll problably leave tonight because it'll take us ten hours just to get them ready?" I said as John started to  kiss me,"John stop!"

"What?" Stace said

"Nothing, um we'll see you tomorrow!" I said laughing and hung up the phone,"JOHN!"

"What? i can't help myself sometimes" He said kissing me even more

part 10

The day of Bailey's birthday party, We decorated the walls with Blues Clues posters because  it was a blues clues theme party, we had so much blues clues stuff on the walls,. it looked like a paint factory exploded.

"You know, i hate to say it but this house is starting to look a little sissy" John remarked

"John!" I couldn't believe it

"What? it's true" John said

"It's your son's first birthday, deal with it" I said going into the kitchen

"Couldn't we have had like i don't know,  a G.I joe theme or something?" John asked following me

"I think it's cute, besides Bailey loves blues clues" I said opening a bag of salad

"Yeah, if you say so" John said biting into a carrot

"Why don't you go take Maggie over to the grocery store and pick up the cake" I suggested cutting into tomato

"Ok you want anything else?" John asked

"Yeah, get some matches, a bottle of salad dressing and some cookies, oh and a big box of Coffee for Auntie Diane. " I said

"Anything else?" John replied

"That should do it..i'll call you if i need anything" I said kissing him goodbye

"Yeah..Maggie, Come on Princess.." John said walking out to the living room

"Okey dokey Daddy" Maggie ran out of her room

"We're going out for a bit, go kiss Mommy goodbye" John said scooping her up and bringing her into the kitchen

"Bye Bye Mommy" Maggie said kissing me on nose

"Bye Baby" I said kissing her back

I walked around making sure the house didn't look like a tornado had thrown up, then just as i was just taking the brownies out of the oven when Bailey started to cry.

"Mama" A little voice called

"Coming Baby, Oh Damn" I said dropping the pan.

I threw out the entire pan and went to go get Bailey.

"Hey Hey there big boy" I said reaching into the crib and picked him,"Who's mommy's big boy?"

He crinkled his nose and smiled

"That's my big guy, oh boy, we have to get dressed because it's your birthday!" I said bringing him over to the changing table

"Mammam" Bailey said

"Yes, that's right  Mama," I said then changed him into a pair of little overalls and a tiny blue t-shirt

"HELLO?" a voice called ..Annie

"Hey, We're upstairs in Bailey's room" I called downstairs to where Annie was.

"Alright" Annie called back

I put little white sneakers on Bailey and we went downstairs.

"Hey Hey there's my favorite little guy" Annie said

Bailey crinkled his nose and snuggled into my neck

"Oh come here big boy" Annie said taking Bailey and putting him on the floor.

"Watch him while i go finish the food, will you?" I asked going into the kitchen

"Sure" Annie said rolling a ball to Bailey

I remade the brownie, made onion dip and cut up some fruit, by the time i was done Almost everyone had shown up, Maggie and John came in a few minutes after my mother and father had come.

"Nana!" Maggie yelled

"Maggie, my love" My mother practically ran across the room and begin to hug and kiss Maggie

I was walking over to bring Trista some coffee when my aunt grabbed me by the wrist

"Cole, Do me a favor?" My Aunt Pat  asked

"Sure Auntie Anything?" I said handing Trista her coffee and looking at my aunt

"Can you just lift up your shirt a little?" Auntie Asked

"What? Why?" I was stunned

"Because I just wanna see my great grand-niece" Auntie  explained

"Oh all right but you do have a real life great grand niece, who is right now being snuggled to death by Ma." I said lifting up my shirt, i was only five months pregnant but i was still carrying the weight from Bailey's birth so it looked like i was carry twins.

"Ooo there she is!, So have you and Jonathan picked out a name yet?" My aunt asked putting her hand on my belly

"Yes Olivia Rose" I said shivering because her hand was cold

"Olivia Rose! How sweet, where did you ever come up with that name?" Auntie asked with her hand still  on my belly

"I loved the name Olivia from SVU and John decided Rose because that's what kind of flower we had on our wedding day." I said then excused myself and walked over to my husband

"Hi Baby" He said kissing me

"Hi Honey" I said then picked up a carrot and bit into it

"Are you alright?" John asked concerned

"Just a little tired" I said

"Go sit down for a bit" John said

"I can't, we have to do cake and presents after everyone eats" I said

"Well until then, Come on Nik,it isn't healthy for you or the baby or the rest of us  if your overtired" John said shoving me towards the couch

"Yah Alright" I said sitting  down

"COLE, WHERE'S THE BIG SERVING BOWL?" Stacey yelled from the kitchen

"ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE" I said

"I DON'T SEE IT!" She replied

"HOLD ON, I'M COMING" I slid off the couch and walked into the kitchen

"I don't want you to climb on the chair" Stace warned me

"I'm fine" I grabbed the kitchen chair and stood on it," I got it!" I found the bowl  and started to jump down  but lost my balance.

 My mind instantly flashed to, if i fall on my stomach, i could hurt my baby so i twisted my body enough so that if i did fall, i could land on my back

"OH MY GOD!" Stacey and Trista, who'd just walked to get another cup of coffee yelled watching me hit the floor.

I knocked myself out for a good 10 minutes  then when i woke up, i was still on the kitchen but i was soaking wet.

"Why am I  soaking wet?" I asked starting to sit up

"Oh thank god, your wake!" Stacey said holding a glass

"Did you throw water on me?" I asked wiping the water off my glasses

"She had to, otherwise you might still be out cold" Trista explained 

"You do that for hysterical people, not to a pregnant woman  who fell two feet off the ground" I said then got up

"YOU'LL THANK ME ONE DAY" Stacey yelled

"THAT'LL BE DAY HELL FREEZES OVER" I yelled back from the bedroom, i had to change my shirt because i was completely soaked through.

"Hey there you are" John said coming into the bedroom,"where have you been"

"I was in the kitchen but i'll explain it to you later" I said digging through the bureau  

"OoOo feeling a little frisky are we?" John said putting his arms around me

" John not now..maybe later " I pulled my shirt over my head and walked back to the party

"OooO heyy what were you guys doing huh huh?" Vince asked noticing John was following me out of the bedroom,"Damn John, you already knocked her up three times, Why don't you leave the poor girl alone?"

"Vince!" I said blushing

"What?" Vin asked

I wanted to turn and run back into the bedroom

"Shut up Vin" John said standing in front of me

"Oh come on it was a joke?" Vince tried to explain

"At the expense of my wife..i don't think so " John said getting ready for a fight

"Alright guys, that's enough, i already have three children, i don't need anymore" I said walking over to my mother

"Hi Baby" I said kissing Maggie

"Hi Mama" Maggie said holding out her arms for me to take her

"Honey Bunny why don't you go play with Ali" I said taking her then putting her on the ground,she ran off towards the porch

"I swear Nikki, you spoil her" Ma said

"How? She's two years old, i haven't even begun to spoil her" I said picking up potato chip

"Believe me, she's spoiled..don't eat that!" My mother said ripping the chip out of my hand,"it's not good for the baby"

"But i love onion dip" i whined,

i don't believe this, i'm nearly 25, pregnant, married with two kids plus i'm whining which is something  i haven't done since i was seven  and my mother still treats me like a six year old,"I'm going to find John"

I looked around the house and finally found John outside playing frisbee with the kids

"JOHN!" I yelled standing in the doorway

"YEAH?" John called back

"Bring in the kids. i think we should cut the cake now?" I said putting a hand on my belly

"Guys, come on..let's go get cake!" John said picking up Bailey and running into the house, stopping when he reached the doorway,"Maggie, take your little brother and go find Grandma..i think she has some cookies for you guys"

Maggie took Bailey's hand and run over to John's Mom..

"Are you Ok?" John asked

"I'm doing ok" I said leaning against the door

"How's my little girl?" John said bending down to kiss my belly

"Kicking like crazy, C'mon let's go cut Bailey's first birthday cake" I said taking John's hand and leading him over to the dining room table

We got to the table just as Annie and Stevanne brought in the cake, I picked up Bailey and John picked up Maggie

"Ok Bailey Boy, now we're gonna blow out the candles..ready one two three." We leaned forward and blew out the candles

"YAHHH!" everyone yelled

Just as i was leaning over to grab the candles, with Bailey still in my arms, Maggie pushed his little face into the cake!

"Oh my god!" I said stunned

"That's my girl" John said laughing as he licked some of the icing from Bailey's face.

I thought Bailey would cry but he just giggled

We cut up the cake and then opened other presents, just as we were opening my mother's gift, Bailey started to fuss.

"Ok Big Boy" I said standing up ,"time for bed, Say bye Bailey"

"Bye Bailey" Everyone said

I took Bailey into his bedroom and changed him, the party was so overstimulating and he was so overindulged, that he immediately fell asleep in my arms. I slowly got up and put him in his crib.

"Happy Birthday, my favorite little guy" I said then went back out to the party

"Is he asleep?" John asked kissing my head

"Yup, out cold" I said sitting beside him on the couch

"So are you both ready for a new baby?" Natalie asked

"I think so, i mean we've managed to wrangle two little ones under the age of three, how are could another one be?" I asked putting my hand on my belly.

"Ooh just you wait and see" My mother said mysteriously

                                              FIVE MONTHS LATER

In the months since Bailey's birthday party, time had just flown by and before we knew it, it was summer again, we took the kids up to Maine for a week and despite my best efforts to keep sunscreen on both Maggie and Bailey, plus John and I, Maggie and i still got horribly burnt and had to stay in door for three days while Bailey and John got to go swimming.

Olivia Rose was due at the end of September but September came and went and no baby, October came and went, but still no baby, the doctor assured us that Olivia was fine, she was just being stubborn and would come out soon, hopefully before her high school graduation.

On Halloween Day, it was a another typical  day at the Distefino house, up at 5am to feed Bailey, put him back to bed at 5:45, then  Maggie woke us up  at 7 yelling,"I wanta PANatakes, I wanta Panatakes". then John took Maggie and Bailey to the park so i finish their customes, Bailey was going as a Pumpkin and Maggie was going as a Kitten. I finished their customes just as John came in with Maggie screaming, she'd fallen off the slide and bumped her nose, i think her Daddy was more upset about her falling than Maggie was because as soon as I kissed her boo-boo and handed her a cookie, she immediately quieted down while John kicked himself for not paying close enough attention to her.

All this before Lunchtime

  After lunch i managed to get the three of them, and  by three I mean John Maggie and Bailey down for a nap so i could at least run to the grocery store to buy candy because with all the baby hoopla, i completely forgot about getting candy for the neighborhood kids. i got back just as Bailey woke up and in his typical Bailey way, demanded to be let out of his crib and onto the floor where he could get into everything.

When John and Maggie woke, We ate a quick dinner then took Maggie and Bailey trick or treat, because they are only two and one, we didn't go too far, just around the block, enough to get a little bit of chocolate for Mommy to eat later when Maggie goes to Preschool. then we put the kids in their beds and fell asleep ourselves on the couch watch Sleepy Hollow.

"Nikki, Nikki" John called my name

"Wha?" I said cracking open one eye.

"Let's go to bed, huh?" John suggested taking my hand

"Sure" I sleepily followed him,"Honey"

"Yes Sweetie?" John said stopping in the hallway outside of our bedroom

"Do you think Olivia will ever be born?" I said becoming more and more alert

"Sure, she's just being stubborn besides you heard the doctor, if you haven't gone into labor by November fifth, he'll have to go in and get her" John said opening our bedroom door.

"Oh right" I said going into the bathroom and changing into my p.js

I climbed into bed and john put his arm around me, we'd both only been asleep for about an hour when it happened.

My water broke.

"Oh my god! " I said jumping up

"Wha?" John said cracking open one eye

"It's time" I said sliding off the bed

"time for what? breakfast, it's only 9:30pm" John said looking at the clock

"Not time for Breakfast, time to have a baby" I said practically ripping off my wet Pajamas and trying to find my overalls.

"Oh my god! this is it?!" John sprung up and nearly broke the lamp on the bedside table.

"Yeah. Oh god, She's a big hurry" I breathing as the contractions started

"Ok we gotta drop Maggie and Bailey off at Annie's right" John said throwning his jeans and t-shirt which were on the floor back on.

"Yes Oh god! Call her from the car, we got no time" I said the contractions were coming faster and faster.

John ran out of our room and grabbed Bailey, while i went to go get Maggie

"Maggie honey, you gotta wake up" I said picking her up

"No No " Maggie struggled to open her eyes

"Yes Yes, your going tobe a big sister again sweetie" I said bringing her out to the car where John was already buckling Bailey into his safety seat.

"Are you all right?" John asked taking Maggie from my arms and putting her in the car.

"Yeah but Olivia Rose is in a big rush". I said climbing into the jeep.

John ran around the front of the jeep and climbed in.

"All right let's go!" John started up the car.

"Did you open the garage door?" I asked putting my hand on my head.

"Oh shit" John said climbed out of the jeep and went to open the door.

"Mama, Daddy said a bad word". Maggie woke up

"I know baby, i know" I said turning around to look through the back windshield to see John struggle to open the garage door.

He finally got the door open and jumped back into the Jeep.  We raced down the block to Annie's.

"How are you doing, Baby?" John asked turning onto Annie's street.

"I'm fine" I said trying to breath through another contractions.

"We're here." John screeched to a stop in front of Annie's house.

I helped him take Bailey and Maggie out of the car but just as i was crossing the lawn to  knock on Annie's door, a contraction hit me so hard, i fell on my knees holding Bailey, somehow i managed not to drop him though.

"OH MY GOD! JOHN". I yelled, Somehow Bailey slept right through this whole thing.

"What?" John turned around and saw us on the ground,"Oh shit" He put Maggie on the stoop and ran over to us.

"GET.ANNIE." I said through gritted teeth.

"Right." John grabbed Bailey and ran up to the porch.,"ANNIE"

No answer, he pounded harder,"ANNIE"

Finally Annie came to the door, "What's going on?"  She asked rubbing her eyes.

"Nikki's in labor" John said shoving Bailey toward Annie

"Oh my god!" Annie said as Maggie toddled in between her legs into the house.

"Yeah, We'll call later." John jumped off the porch and ran back over to me.

"Are you all right?" John asked leaning over

"Quit asking me that, if we don't hurry up and get to a hospital, I'm going to have this baby on Annie's front lawn." I said waving my arms.

"Oh shit" John said running to the jeep and opening the door.

He came back and tried to help me but i didn't want his help and slowly got up.

"Part nine

He looked at me like i lost my mind

"What?" I asked

"What the  hell are you doing?" John said

"I'm kidnapping you" I said then opening the car door and practically shoved him into the car, I ran around to the other side and jumped into the car and we took off.

few hours later, we were still driving through connecticut

"Can we stop? please?" John whined squirming

"We're almost there" I said making a turn

"I gotta go!" John said hopping around

"I knew you shouldn't have drunk that massive soda" I said going into Mom-mode

"Are you gonna stop or am i gonna have to pee the seat?" John said

"Alright Alright" I said pulling into the gas station

he ran in blinfold and all, i watched him and realized i should have taken the blindfold off because he ran SMACK! into a plate glass window

"Oh god" I said turning away

"FREAKING MIRROR!" John yelled as he yanked off the blindfold and opened the doors

It was so funny because he was holding his face and trying to get the door open.finally he got the door open and i was trying not cry laughing, he came out about five minutes later and i was still laughing

"It's not funny" He pouted getting into the jeep

"You wanna bet" I said wiping my eyes

"Do i have to put this thing back on?" He asked holding out the blindfold

"Funny..you said that on our wedding night?" I said smiling

"That was a totally different scenerio and you know it  !" He said

"Oh hush" I said putting the blindfold over his eyes

We drove for another two hours, well i talked, he nodded and then would screw around the radio althought since he couldn't see the buttons and would constantly hit the volume button and deafen me.

We  finally reached the cabin, I ran around the side of the jeep and opened the door

"Can I take off the blindfold ..please?" John asked

"No..I've got to get the house set up" I said helping out of the car

"So what am I supposed to do while your doing that?"John asked grabbing onto my neck

"You're gonna sit on the porch and listen to the waves of the ocean" I said leading him to a chair on the porch

"Your crazy you know that right?" John said sitting in the chair

"Yes but that's why you love me" I said opening the front porch door

I ran around putting roses petals  all around the tile floor and lit candles then set the table with our wedding china, then ran upstairs to quickly shower and get dressed in my new Prada dress that finally fit after three months of starving myself and not having the time or energy to eat.

I slipped the dress over my head and quickly brushed my hair which had grown considerably since Bailey was born and ran back downstairs.

I opened the front to get John, there he was sitting like Ray Charles waiting for a tennis game to start.

"Nik?" John asked

"No Gina Lollabridgda" I said taking his  hand  and bringing him in the house.

I left him leaning against the doorway and quickly got into position, Hands on my hips looking seductive.

"Can I take off the mask now?"? John asked tugging at the blindfold

"Yup" I said watching him take it off.

"WOW!" John whistled

"You like?" I twirled around showing off my dress

"I love it" John said walking over to the table and kissing me on the head,"I can't believe you did this!"

"I just figure we could use some time together" I said sitting down at the table but for some reason,John wasn't sitting" It's ok..you can sit"

"Oh my god, your pregnant aren't you?" John said his eyes flashing

"What?! No!" I said jumping up

"Yes that's why your doing this, isn't it?" John said

"No! I just thought it would be nice to be alone, so we could talk about something besides the kids but i guess that was a stupid idea" I said blowing out the candles and running upstairs to the bathroom and slamming the door.

"NIC..WAIT?!" John called chasing after me.

"No why would you assume i'm pregnant just because i thought of doing something nice for you that doesn't involve diapers and childbirth but i guess that was a dumb idea." I shouting through the bathroom door.

I sat down on the toilet seat but made sure i put the lid down..

great 300 dollar dress and i get to show it off to the shower curtains.

I also forgot to lock the bathroom door behind me, Because John opened the door and kneeled down in front of me.

"Look I'm sorry, It just came out and I didn't mean it, I'm thrilled you decided to surprise me now let's get downstairs and eat that dinner before it gets cold" John said taking my hand and leading me back downstairs.

We ate the spaghetti and i had just handed him the rolls when a question popped into my mind that i had to have answered.

"John, Can  i ask you a question?" I said looking down.

"Sure..anything honey?" John asked

"Would it be so be so bad if i did get pregnant again?" I asked biting into a roll

"No, i just thought that with  Maggie and Bailey being less than a year apart, we'd wait awhile before trying to have another baby" John said stopping to sip his wine.

"Really?" I looked up

"Yes.I'll make you a deal if we can get both Bailey and Maggie out of diapers without killing each other, we can try for another baby deal" John said leaning forward to kiss me.

"Deal" I stood up and kissed him

ONE YEAR LATER

It had been an interesting year, with Bailey being born, we had even more to celebrate when I got promoted to Senior editor at Cosmo and John and Vin's Skate store had grown so much, they expanded to a warehouse downtown,where business was flying again..

Did i mention i was pregnant again?

Yup, I know we said we'd wait until both the kids were out of diapers but well too much champagne and a weekend vacation to vegas i think that's enough said

We found out We were having another girl, John had come with me to all the doctor's appointment,"because one more surprise could potentally kill me" i quote.

We had settled on a name soon after we found out, I had loved the name Olivia after the main character on Law and Order:SVU and John had picked Rose after the flowers we had our wedding.

Maggie had turned two in December and We'd had another one of our famous parties, combining christmas and her birthday.

This time it was though Bailey's turn to have a first birthday party

Maggie was very good with Bailey, she didn't hit or try to hurt him..well there was the one time..

Bailey was about eight months old, John and I were in the kitchen trying to figure out how We could possibly take care of three kids without hiring a nanny when i went back to work.

"Are you sure you want to go back to work?" John asked

"I have to unless you know of some rich relative about to die" I said getting up and getting a soda nearly stepping on Maggie, who was playing on the floor.

"Maggie, Sweetie, why don't you go play in the living room with Bailey?" I said kneeling down

"Bawylie in Plawy Pen" Maggie said with her tiny lisp banging on some pans

"I'm sure Daddy can take Bailey out of the playpen so he can play with you?" I said standing up

"Sure thing..Come on Princess" John led Maggie out of the Kitchen and came back a few minutes later.

"They're watching TV on the Couch" John informed me then sat back down,"Are you positive you have to go back to work?"

"Yes, now come on we have to figure out what to do with Maggie, Bailey and Olivia Rose?" I said sitting back

"Well Maggie's going to be in pre-school for a few hours a day, Bailey can come with me to the shop and since Olivia Rose won't be born for another six months, I think we'll worry about that when the time comes" John pointed out

"True" I said getting up and going to the fridge getting Bailey his bottle

"Now the ultimate question is...how are we going to schedule date night around a toddler and two infants?" John said coming up behind me

"Well, i guess we'll have to figure something, won't we?" I said turning around kissing my husband

Suddenly there was a loud wail! Bailey!

"Oh my god!" I said running into the living room

"What happened Buddy?" John said coming behind me

Bailey was lying on the floor on his back screaming

"It's Ok baby, it's ok" I said picking him up off the floor

"Maggie,Sweetie..what happened to the baby?" John asked sitting on the couch next to Maggie

"He fell" Maggie said sliding off the couch

"Come back here please" I said pacing back and forth with the baby, who was now working his way down to whimper

"Maggie, we understand that Bailey fell, but how did he fall?" John said getting on the floor with Maggie.

"Bawliey went BOOM!" Maggie said guesturing with her hands

"Yes but how did Bailey go boom?" I asked shaking a rattle, Bailey temporaily  forgot he fell and watched the rattle with wide eyes

"I pushed him" Maggie said

"What?"  We said in unison

"Yup" Maggie said picking up a doll and playing with it.

"Maggie Elizabeth!" I said sitting in the chair ,"We do not push or hit each other in this house, do you understand?"

"Yes Mama" Maggie said shaking the doll

"Are you mad at Bailey, Princess?" John asked taking the doll from her

"Nope" Maggie said taking back the doll

"Then why did you push him?" John said picking up Maggie and put her in his lap

"Cause I wanted" Maggie said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world

"Somehow, i don't think that would hold up in a court room" I said standing up with Bailey,"John, put her in time-out"

"What? me?" John said

"Yes" I walked out of the room

"But why?" John whined  following me

"Look at it this way, the next time she decides throw someone off the couch, it could be Olivia Rose." I said sitting in the rocking chair

"Yah Alright" John grumbled and walked out to where Maggie was.

"Maggie, Sweetie, Baby, you need to go in the corner"I heard John said

"NO NO NO!" Maggie yelled

"Maggie! GET IN THE CORNER NOW!" John tried to be firm with her

"NO NO NO!" Maggie yelled even louder

"Please Honey..five minutes that's all" John begged her

"NO!" Maggie screamed one final time

"NIIKKKI!" John called

"Yes?" I called rocking Bailey, who was almost asleep

"I need help!" John said from outside the door

"Just Pick her up and bring her to the corner." I called back

"But why?!" John whined

"Just do it please" I said,"I swear Bailey, i don't know who's a bigger baby you or your Daddy"

"I heard that!" John said

" I said it loud enough..is she in the corner?" I asked

"Yes but she keeps throwning me deadly looks"  John said

"She'll get over it..just give her three more minutes and then let her go" I said standing up and putting Bailey in his crib.

"This Sucks" John said

"Well the both of you, suck it up.. it was bound to happen sooner or later." I said going into the living room where Maggie was sitting," Maggie, honey do you know why Daddy put you in the corner?"

"Yup" Maggie said playing with the silver cross on my necklace.

"Why?" I asked,"Look at Mommy"

"Cause i pushed Bawiley off da couch" Maggie said

"Yes, you could have really hurt him, promise Mommy you won't do that again" I asked her.

"I promise" Maggie said

a new life part eight

 "I don't believe this..we're getting robbed and your looking for a stroller..will you just haul your pretty little behind" John whispered

I decided to instead put Bailey in the carrier and just carry Maggie., We managed to get out, thank god John had left the Ladder against the house when he was painting the roof, I scooted down the ladder and walked fast to the corner.I dug around my pockets for some change but realized i left my wallet on my dresser

"Oh No..Mommy Screwed up" I said to Maggie who was asleep on my shoulder, i noticed something in her little hand ..i unclenched her little fist and found she must have grabbed a dollar out of john's pocket when he put her to bed..that little sneak

"Oh you little runt..Mommy is thrilled you pickpocket Daddy but you can't be doing that' I reprimed her but it was useless..I dialed Annie

"Eck (cough) what?" a sleepy voice answered

"Annie?" I asked

"Nikk?" She replied

"Yeah..look we're being robbed..can me and the babies come over and sleep?" I begged

"Sure..come on over..i'll leave the porch light on" Annie said then hung up

We walked the six blocks to Annie's .. After the 3rd block..Maggie started to get heavy, I knew we should have sprung for  the double stroller.

"Oh god..i don't know what Daddy feeds you but i'm putting you both on a diet" I said shifting her from one hip to the other

We finally got to Annie's front door, she was standing in the doorway

"Are you alright?"Annie asked taking Maggie from me

"I'm alright..I can't believe we got robbed!" I said maneurving the carrier  into  the house

"I know! you hear about it on the news but you never imagine it could happen in your own neighborhood" Annie said carrying Maggie into the living room

"yeah..i know" I said taking Bailey out of the stroller

"Are you hungry?" Annie asked putting Maggie on the couch

"No i think I'm just gonna put the kids to bed and crash myself" I said flopping on the couch

Just then the doorbell rang

"Who in the hell is that?" Annie muttered going to the door,"Hey"

"Hey..is she here?" A voice asked..John

"Yeah..in the living room" She directed to us

"Well What happened?What did they get?" I jumped up and started pacing

"Relax,we weren't being robbed.." John said

"Then what was all that banging?" I asked

"It was Noah.." John said sitting down

"Noah?! what the hell did he want?"I asked

"He was looking for his wallet, which he said he handed to you at the christening" John laughed a little

"Why didn't he use the FRONT DOOR??! " I become angry

"Honestly i don't know, i got to the bottom of the stairs, saw he was standing in the kitchen, i hit him over the head with the bat and when he fell, i realized it was him and then had to put him on the couch, and wait until he woke up" John said picking up Bailey, who was asleep ..

"So Ok..here's a really dumb question..how did he get in?" I asked

"He climbed through the downstairs window" John replied

"Oh good" I rolled my eyes

"Come on, We'd better get the kids home to bed" John said picking up Bailey, I followed him by picking up Maggie

"Thanks Hon" I said kissing Annie goodbye

"No problem..See ya later" Annie said shutting the door behind us

We brought the kids home and put them in the nursery then I went to bed while John stayed with Noah, who was asleep in the living room..i knew if i went near him..i'd do bodily harm.

By now it was a few days before my birthday, on the 21st of June ..i was so wrapped up with the kids i nearly forgot until the door rang

"Hello?" I asked looking through the peephole ..a man was standing on the stoop holding flowers

"Flowers for Mrs.Destifino" the guy answered handing me long stemmed red roses

"Oh thank you" I said handing the guy a five out of my pocket

I walked back to where Maggie was playing on the floor

"Look Maggie, Daddy bought me!" I said clapping my hands

"Dada Dada DADA DADA!" Maggie yelled clapping her hands

"That's right Dada.." I said opening the card

To the Birthday girl

Be outside on the 21st at exactly 9:46pm, Don't ask questions..Just put the kids to bed and put on a mini-skirt and high heels

Love John

I smiled..I wonder what he had planned..I put the flowers in a vase and walked back to play with Maggie, Bailey was asleep

on the 21st, it was around 9ish and i was gettting dressed

"Hello?!"  Gina called

"Gina?!" I said tying my shirt at the ends

"Yes..your babysitter has arrived!" Gina asked

"I'll be right there" I said looking for my other Manolo heel,"Hey G..is my black Manolo heel in the living?"

"NO!..It's in the Fridge" Gina called...She must have gone in there to get something to drink

"Why would I put it in there?" I said walking into the living room, where she was holding up my heel

"It was in between the baby bottles and Diet Coke" Gina said handing my shoe to me

"Augh..do you know where John is taking me?" I asked

"No he just said  to come here at 9 and to make sure your and i quote "J-lo like ass outside before i have to come in there and Flintstone you"

"My husband  Fred .." I rolled my eyes  

"Yeah..Well it ain't easy being married to Barney either" Gina said..she had a met a guy in college named Jimmy..they didn't have kids yet but were working on it..

"Ok, So Bailey will problably sleep right through the night unless he gets hungry, which he should get half a bottle, Maggie will more than likely wake up in an hour needing a new diaper and a story read.." I said digging through my purse, looking for my keys  

"Looking for these?" Gina said picking up my keys off the coffee

" I swear i don't know where my head is sometimes" I said throwning my keys into my purse,"Now what was i saying"

"You were saying Maggie likes Gin and Bailey likes rum in his bottle" Gina said mocking me

"Smart-ass" I said closing the door behind me

I sat on the porch and waited for John to show up, which he did after i sat there for 20 minutes

"Hey Baby" John said kissing me

"Hi Honey" I kissed him,"What's up? where are we going?"

"You'll see" John said mysteriously,"Were the kids asleep when you left?"

"Yeah but i'm worried, lately Bailey's lips have been turning blue" I said flipping the channel on the radio

"Are you sure they're turning blue?" John said turning onto FDR drive and heading into the city

"Yeah, his lips are the color of ice" I said looking out the window

"Call the doctor" John said making a left turn

"I have and i've gotten no answer, I'm really worried" I said as John stopped in front of a Movie theatre,"You brought me to the movies? at 10 o'clock on a Wednesday?"

"Just wait.." John opened the my door, he took my hand and lead me into the movie theatre

We walked through the the theatre and stopped in front of double doors

"Shouldn't we have bought movie tickets?" I asked

"Always the reporter..quit asking so many questions.." John said pushing open the doors

He grabbed me by the hand and lead me down to the first few rows

"Can't we move back a little" I asked

He relented and we moved back, As soon as i planted my ass in the chair, the lights went down, the movie started right up

"Did we miss the previews?" I asked..i hate when i miss the previews

"This kind of movie, there are no previews" John said putting his arm around my shoulder, I still didn't know what was going on

a picture of myself as an infant popped up on the screen

"THIS WOMAN," a voice boomed" WAS BORN ON JUNE 21ST,1985, 24 YEARS LATER, SHE WOULD NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT SHE MADE ON SO MANY LIVES" The screen faded to black and then suddenly John,Maggie and Bailey popped up on the screen each wearing a shirt that said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY"

"Vin..is the camera on?" John asked on the screen

"Yeah.." Vin's voice was muffled

"Ok..here goes, Nikki..you always wanted some sort of E! True Hollywood story of your life and well granted none of us are famous or scandelous, we're gonna do a sort of True Hollywood story..so here goes" John said then the screen faded to black and suddenly Stevie Wonders,"You are so beautiful" began to play and the images began to roll, beginning with images of me as a little kid growing up and somehow John got the home videos from my mother, the christmas where i got dress up and went around as a little bride while my little cousin, who was dressed as a ghostbuster went around zapping people

"Nicole!, say hi to Daddy" Stacey's voice said from behind the camera, i was coming up the stairs in the basement

"Do i have to ?" I cringed at my five year old voice

Suddenly Stace started chasing my mother around the kitchen,trying to get her to say something

"Stacey Marie..get that thing out of my face" My mother said putting her hand on the screen

"Aw Come on,Auntie Leslie" Stacey said

then the camera faded to black again, it was graduation and i was giving my speech, oh my god..i couldn't believe how fat i was..i know the camera adds 10 pounds ..but DAMN

"Oh my god..was i really that fat" I said whispering

"Shh!" John hushed me

You couldn't really hear my voice because the camera angle was so bad but you could hear the tail end, where i said my quote from Gilda Radner. The camera scanned the crowd and i saw john and my family cheering. the screen faded to black andthen suddenly it was our wedding day, there was no sound so all you see is us at the alter and, suddenly Billy Idol's "White Wedding" starts playing, I was so big with Maggie but throughout the ceremony,which i didn't realize up until this point, John had his hand on my belly. then the tape cut away to our reception

"Annie.Do you have a special message for the newlyweds and soon to be parents?" Catie asked holding her hand like a microphone

"Yeah..get all the sleep you can get in now BEFORE the baby comes" Annie said then ran out to the dance floor

"Mrs.L..do you have any messages for Nikki and John?" Catie asked my mom

"Yah..payback's gonna be a bitch" My mother said

"Oh Alright,"Catie laughed, "Nat, we're gonna get some more quotes"

"I'm so happy"-John's mom..while crying

"My Baby is all grown up" My Auntie Pat

"I always knew she'd get pregnant before she was married"- My cousin David..he was always such a bastard

"Eh..kinda like i'm gonna be a grandfather.." My Father

"Well I think their both in for a lot of surprises"- John's Dad said  

They interviewed a few more people and then the camera faded to black

the subtitle underneath the screen read "two weeks before baby"

I was sitting in the kitchen, reading a book when John came up to me with the camera

"Hiii Mommy" John said

"Hi Daddy" I said reading

"It's two weeks before the big day..do you have any messages for the baby?" John asked

"Yes..When you come out, i want my body back intact please" I said laughing

"Oh Careful Mommy, the baby can hear you" John said zooming in on my belly,"Can you lift up your shirt so we can see the baby before she comes?"

"I'm not see-through.." I said getting up and lifting up my shirt to reveal my HUGE stomach

"There's my girl!" John said ..then fade to black 

 The songram of Maggie came on the screen read underneath : "Maggie Elizabeth born December 23rd weighing 6lbs, 9 oz 23 inches long"

 Suddenly, We're in the delivery room and i'm screaming my head off

"OH MY GOD!! I NEED MORPHINE!" my face was all red and sweaty

"Come on Nik..you can do it!" John was so encouraging

"Oh SHUT UP!" I yelled..suddenly John moved down to the end of the delivery table and the doctor held up Maggie, who was naked, purple and screaming

"She's here!" The Doctor announced

"Oh my .." John said suddenly turning pale,"She's so beautiful" and then John must have dropped the camera because CRASH! it hit the floor and all you could see was the tile on the hospital floor

the screen faded again and this time I was sitting in the rocking chair with Maggie, giving her a bottle

"Hi Moma" John said zooming in on Maggie's little face

"Hi Daddy" I waved her little hands

"How do you think she likes living here?" John asked

I started to burp the baby and she let out a big one," I think she likes us"

Suddenly the tape fast forward to Maggie's first birthday party, John and I were helping her blow out the candles

"I can't believe she's already one!" John's Aunt said

"I know! and they're having another baby!" My aunt said then kissed Maggie on the head

"So what are you guys hoping for?" Newman asked getting Cake

"A boy" John answered,"Not that i don't love my little princess "

"Oy, i hope this one's a boy" Dina said as the screen faded to black.

 Bailey's songram appeared reading " Bailey Jacob  April 5th at 7:50 pm  weighing 8lbs and was 22inches long"

"Oo wow! another contraction!" I said breathing

"Baby, you are doing so good!" John said cheering me on again..

I saw myself pull john forward and tell him we were having a boy and i saw his eyes light up when the doctor handed him Bailey

Suddenly it was two weeks ago when we were bathing the kids in the big bathtub

"Hi Guys" John called

"Dada! DADA!" Maggie yelled hanging on the side of the tub

"Hi Daddy" I said drying off Bailey

"Say Hi Destifino Family" John said putting the camera on the sink and, coming over to us and started  waving to the camera

"We love you" We blew kisses to the camera and with that..it was over ..and i was in tears

"That was incredible," I said kissing my wonderful husband \

"There's more" He said rubbing his eyes and taking my hand and leading me back to the car

We drove for a few minutes until we reached the empire state building

"Why are we here?" I asked

"Just hold on" John said leading me to the elevator and pushing the top floor button

We got to the observation deck and set up was a romantic dinner, flowers, candles ..everything

"Oh John this is the best birthday ever" I said kissing him

He pulled out my chair and i sat down

"May I serve you My Dear?" John asked opening two silver serving plates

"Of course" I said then laughed because he put tiny corn dogs onto my plate with fries,"You are too much"

"So Did you like your birthday surprise" John asked eating his corn dog

"I loved it ..how did you ever think of it?" I asked biting into a fry

"it just came to me one night and i thought it would be kinda cute" John said drinking his milkshake

"How did you get those old family videos?" I said crinkling my nose

"Well before your mom sold the big house, remember how we went through it and took stuff to put into storage, well i found the tapes in your Dad's collection and your mom said to take them" John finished his corn dog

"OoOo " i Nodded

"There's one more surprise" John said standing,"May I have this dance"

I smiled and stood up,"Yes, you may but no freaky dancing" I said laughing a little

"I promise" John held up his hand,"Hold on" he walked over to a boom box and turned it on,

the radio started playing,"I could fall in love" which is one of my favorite songs

"Are you happy with our life?" I said ..surprising myself with the question

"Yes ..i 'm so happy that we're married and we have two beautiful children" John said spinning me around

"Me too..but i get worried sometimes" I said

"About what?" He asked dipping me

"about what they'll be like when their adults, wheither they'll be good people or wheither they'll be kind" I said

"I think that's a bit a premature considering they're both under two years old" John pointed out

"Yeah true" I said as the song ended

"I have one tiny little surprise left" John said grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me

"I thought the surprises were over" I said huffing and puffing down the stairs, praying i wouldn't trip over my own shoelaces

"Almost..i think your gonna love this " He started up the jeep

"John..it's nearly 3am..shouldn't we be heading back home?" I said looking at my watch

"Would you relax?..the kids are fine!" John reassured

"Alright..."I said noticing we were headed to Jersey,"Oh my god..your gonna kill me and bury me in Jersey?!!"

"WHAT?!" John took his eyes off the road long enough to look at me like i was nuts,"you watch too many T.V shows"

"Well, why else would you take me to Jersey?" I asked

"I swear, i think you were deprived of oxygen when you gave birth to Bailey" John said making a right turn

" Haha ..real funny" I made a face as we stopped in front of a beach

"Come " John said getting out of the car

I got out of the jeep and walked down to the edge of the beach, where the ocean meets the sand

"Why don't you sit here?" John said

I turned around and realized he'd set up a blanket

"Oh wow.." I said impressed

I sat down in between John's legs and he put his arms around me

"Tell me about the night Maggie was born?" I said looking out at the ocean

"Alright," He whispered, "It was a warm December, way too unusual for December, It was the day before she was actually due, i also remember how nervous and scared we both were because we were still kids ourselves, but When you called and told Vin you were in Labor, all of my fears went out the window, i remember running up Madision Avenue trying to catch a cab with Vin and when we finally got one, i got butterflys in my stomach, We practically flew to Roosevelt hospital, i ran out of the cab before it even stopped" John paused

"You didn't!" I couldn't believe

"Oh I did,i ran up seven flights of stairs to maternity and found Natalie pacing the floor and Annie muttering something about finding my ass, i ran up and they told me where you were..althought i heard you scream all the way down the hall, so i ran into the delivery room and the head nurse was peeling you off the ceiling, and i also remember that once the epidural kicked in, it was like turning the wicked witch into the good witch, you were singing and laughing,when it came time for the baby to come, the nurse said that she wanted lower the epidural and you nearly ripped off her face!" John said laughing

"I didn't!" I said laughing

"You did!, then when the doctor came and checked you, he said it was time and we went to the went into the delivery room, all i think was , damn, i'm gonna have to bang the hell out of  her insides for her to ever feel me!" John was practically in tears,he was laughing so hard

"uh no..c'mon be serious!" I shaking my head

"Alright Alright, after what seemed like forever, the baby was finally coming,the doctor asked if i wanted to see her little head, i looked and i nearly passed out but it was like 1,2, 3 and it was like POP!..she was out and they handed her all wrapped  up, i just started to cry, i couldn't believe we'd actually created something so beautiful." John said

"Oh John" I said starting to cry

"Wait..i'll be right back" John said getting up and running to the car

"What is he doing?" I said talking to myself

He came running down the beach carrying a large object..

"What did you do?" I  asked

"Just wait" He said looking at his watch

I was curious..but waited ..

"John, what is?" I  stopped talking because he put his hand over my mouth

"Just wait" He said

So we waited and waited and waited and did i mention we WAITED..finally the  sun was coming up, i must have fallen asleep because the next thing i knew was john shaking me

"Nikki you gotta wake up" John said

"Wha?" I said cracking open my eyes

"It's dawn..c'mon wake up so i can give you once last surprise"John said

"You are too much" I said smiling

"Remember the silver bracelet you lost when we moved to new york?" He asked

"Yeah..it was my favorite.why?" I asked

"Well remember how hard you cried?" He asked

"Yes,i cried for a week..why?" this was getting irrating

"Here ya go" he handed me a box with a pink ribbon, i tore into that thing like a kid on christmas morning and found my bracelet!

"Oh my god..you found it?!" I said hugging him

"Yah, i found it in a box in the basement, i had the clasp fix and added three more heart charms it, One for each of us.." He said then reached over and opened a big bottle of root beer

"Root beer?" I said laughing

"Champagne is too expensive" He said pouring us each a class

"mm good" I said drinkng

"Hold on" he practically ripped the cup out of my mouth

I started choking and he had to whack me on the back

"A toast" he said when i finally stopped coughing,"To my beautiful wife on her 24th birthay..happy birthday baby"

"Oh thank you..this has been the most amazing birthday ever .." I said crying and kissing John, We sat on the beach a little bit longer then we got home into to feed our kids breakfeast

I had gotten to think about it while sitting on the beach, John was always doing such wonderful things for me, I needed to do something for him ..that didn't involve childbirth..but what? ..i needed help so i called on the people i knew could fix it..

"Alright I've called you here because i need your help" I said running into the restaurant

"Oh lord.." Blake rolled his eyes

"Your not pregnant  again  are you?" Annie asked

"No I'm not pregnant .."

"Then why are we meeting in the Village when you live in Brooklyn" Stevanne asked

" Ideas to surprise John" I said with a mouth ful of bread,"oh so good"

"Ah ..i gotcha" Gina said nodding

"Why don't you get tickets to Marilyn Manson?"Catie suggested

"Because i would be up for at least two weeks with nightmares after looking at that GUY!" I said rolling my eyes

"She's got a point..why don't you guys go on vacation?" Brennan suggested

"But what do i do with the babies?" I said sipping my water

"Let Stacey take care of them, how many times has she dumped Ali on you?" Annie pointed out

"True ..but where do we go?" I asked stealing a chip off Catie's plate

"Hey!..i got it, why don't you use the cabin?" Catie said slapping my hand

"Your cabin in Maine? are you sure?" I asked

"Sure...I trust ya" Catie said

the next day i made all the arrangements for our trip, it was so hard because i was trying to keep it a surprise but i was bursting to tell him, i packed up our suitcases and waited for him to come home.

Stacey came and got Bailey and Maggie early so i was alone in the house trying not to burst wondering when the hell he was coming home..

I was reading when he finally came home

"Hello?!" He called

"Hi Honey..where the hell have you been?"I said going to the door

"I was stuck in traffic..what's with the suitcases in the hallway" John said going into the living room,

"I'm leaving" I said with a straight face

"What?" He turned white

"Haha..i'm kidding i'm taking you to maine"I said laughing

"That's not funny..you scared the hell out me"John said sitting on the steps

"I'm sorry..i thought it was funny" I said

"it wasn't..so why are we going to maine?" John asked

"It's a surprise!" I said dragging him to the car

"Whoa..?"John said

I started to put a blindfold on him

a new life part 7

"Gee thanks Sophia" I said..calling him the old woman from The Golden Girls,"How was the game?" I picked up a cookie and bit into it

"It was amazing, you should have been there oh my god!" John said

"And Maggie was good the entire time?" I said

"Sure, she stayed put and didn't even cry through the whole thing" John said going back into the living room

Maggie was awake and clutching something in her little hands

"Hi Honey..what's that you've got in your hand?" I asked Maggie picking her up and putting her in my lap

"It's a baseball" John said

"Daddy bought you a baseball?" I asked

"BabeBall hitt Dada" Maggie said putting her fingers in her mouth

"Baseball hit Daddy?" I said looking and realizing that John had a hellvua black eye,"Oh my god! Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm alright ..:" John said turning on the TV

"Do you want some ice?" I asked

"Nah..I'm ok" John flipped the channel

"Oh don't be ridiculous" I got up and got an ice pack out of the freezer,"Here..put this on your face" I said handing him the ice pack

"Ow! damn it's cold" John said

"Well duh..it's an ice pack" I said laughing

"Haha..where's Bailey?" John asked looking around for the baby

"Oh shoot ..i knew i forgot something " I said snapping my fingers

"What ?" John said

"Relax..he's asleep in the nursery" I said putting a blanket over Maggie who'd fallen asleep on the couch again

"I'm gonna go check on him" John started to get up but i pulled him back down

"Oh no you don't..if you wake him up..he'll never sleep and we'll be each taking turns rocking him ..so sit down and let's just watch some tv "I said

"Yes Dear" John kissed me

I fell asleep with my head on John's lap with Maggie ontop of my stomach, after awhile i felt him get up but didn't open my eyes

"John" I whispered

"Yeah?" He asked

"check on the baby will you, make sure he doesn't need to be changed or doesn't need a bottle" I said slightly opening my eyes but it was a struggle

"Sure..do you want me to take Maggie?" He asked leaning over us

"No..she's comfortable let her stay" I said then fell asleep

We slept like that for a few hours until i woke up and saw it was nearly 11, i slowly got up, picked up Maggie and brought her into her bedroom and put her in the crib

She started to cry a little

"Oh Maggie..it's ok baby go to sleep" I said rubbing her back. she sighed and then went back to sleep

I went into the bathroom, changed into my pajamas and went to check on Bailey, I walked across the hall and opened the door and saw the cutest thing in the world

John was sitting in the rocking chair, holding Bailey, who was asleep  and a stuffed bunny, his head was back against the head of the chair and he was holding a book, plus he was sound asleep. they both looked so peaceful.

I just stood there and watched, marveling at how much grateful i was to have such a great husband and two beautiful children.

A month later, it was the day of the christening for Maggie and Bailey

John got Bailey dressed in a traditional christening gown complete with a bonnet while i put Maggie in a white dress with a sash and tiny Mary Jane's..i was trying to dress myself when John started screaming for me to hurry up

"NIK..WE GOTTA GO!" John yelled from the living room

"WOULD YOU RELAX?" I said slipping my black spaghetti dress over my head

"FATHER O'REILLY TOLD US TO BE THERE 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE CEREMONY" John yelled back

"IF YOU WOULD RELAX FOR A SECOND..WE STILL HAVE SOME TIME ..GEESH .." I said slipping on my black heels and trying to put my earrings in

"WE GOTTA .--" He stopped shrieking because i walked into the living room,"Excuse me..are we planning on rocking Father O'Reilly's Mind?"

"Well ..possibly"I laughed,"the kids are ready..i'm ready..so let's go"

We got to the church, where Father O'Reilly was standing by the door of the church

"Oh here come the young Distefinos" The Father greeted us with his thick irish accent

"Hello Father" John and I both greeted the Father and walked into the church, when We got to the end of the Alter, the Father explained what was going to happen and what was to be expected. After He finished, He walked back and sat in one of the big Chairs

"You think the Father's been  hitting the holy water a little too hard?" John whispered

"John!" I laughed

"It's just a question.." John shrugged

Everyone we'd invited started to come to the church

"There's my little Munchkin!" Annie called holding out her arms

"Which one?" I asked holding Maggie

"Mags" Annie took Maggie out of my Arms and started to swing her around

"Annie ..i would stop because she just ate a full breakfeast " I warned her

Too Late..Maggie got sick all over Annie's red tank top

"EWWWW!" Annie screeched holding out Maggie like she was a little bomb

"I tried to warn you.." I wanted to turn away and laugh but i couldn't because she would have killed me,"Come on we'll go to the Rectory bathroom and clean you both up" I said taking Maggie and grabbing Annie by the sleeve of her shirt

I must have used about a thousand paper towels until i got all of the baby vomit out of Annie's shirt and out of Maggie's dress

"Eeewww..I still smell like Baby throw up" Annie said sniffing her shirt

"Hold on" I ran upstairs to where our whole families were sitting, waiting for the ceremony to start

"Stace" I stopped to catch my breath,"Do you still carry that big bottle of Chanel number 5?"

"Yeah, why?" She opened her purse and took out the bottle

"I'll explain it later" I said ripping the bottle out of her hand and running back down stairs

"Ok,stand still, hold your nose " I said and sprayed it all over her

"Oh jeez, what'd you spray all over me?" Annie said sniffling

"Chanel number 5" I said picking up Maggie from the floor

"I smell like a 5 dollar hooker" Annie crinkled her nose

"Well it's better than smelling like baby vomit" I said then went back upstairs to the church

"Where have you been?" John asked when i got to the top of the stairs,"the Father is starting"

"Sorry I had to fix something?" I said as the Mass started

The Mass went on for about 20 minutes until we were asked to bring Maggie and Bailey forward,

"Whoa..Ok..who's godparent to whom?" The Father asked looking stunned

"Myself and Annie are Maggie's godmothers  and My Husband and Vince are her godfathers" Stacey spoke up

"And Me and Gina are Bailey's Godmothers and Brennan and Noah are the godfathers" Catie said finshing for Stacey

"Ook." The priest looked confused,"Let's proceed, Uh Mrs.Blakeslee, Miss Hanlon, take Maggie Elizabeth, and Also if you could stand by them, Mr.Blakeslee and Mr.Ferrino."

"Alright" Stacey took Maggie from me and they all stood around the giant basin of holy water

"I bless thee Maggie Elizabeth Katherine in the Name of the father,of the son and of the holy spirit" The Father put a little holy water on her head, she cried a little but not much.(We'd given Maggie the Catholic name of Katherine because it was after St.Catherine and My great Aunt)

"Alright, Mrs Depp,Mrs Bloom,(Catie and Gina) Mr.Coursey and Mr.Jewell, please come forward with young Bailey" The Father asked

"Yes Father" Brennan took Bailey and they brought him next to where Stacey,Annie Vin and Andy were standing

"I bless thee Bailey Jacob Jonathan, In the name of the father, the son and of the holy spirit"The Priest started to put the holy water on Bailey's head but because he was so content on wiggling and moving around, The Priest accidentally  lost control for a second  of the Holy water and ended up soaking Bailey.

"Oh my hell" Catie muttered watching Bailey sputter and cough up holy water

"Do you ..all..promise to provide these children with guidance and to always look after them as they grow and mature" The Priest asked

"Yes" They replied in unision

"Good..Go with God my children" The Priest dimissed them from the alter

"Everyone,Attention" I clapped my hands,"Since This is such an special occasion, You are Invited to a party at our house"

"Yeah so let's rock the joint" John shouted

"Thank you Honey" I said rolling my eyes

Stacey carried Maggie and Noah carried Bailey back to the house, I had spent most of the previous cooking and baking..i was smart..i learned from Maggie's birthday party

"Alright everyone..let's eat!" John yelled as he walked through the house

"Would you chill..we have all day" I said rolling my eyes and heading into the kitchen

"I'm hungry" John whined following me into

"Here, have a cookie" I said handing him a chocolate cookie

"Baby, your the greatest" He grabbed me by the wrist and dipped me and kissed me with such a passion.i nearly melted

"OH MY GOD..MY EYES!" Annie walked in on us

"Shut up..jealous" I said getting up

"and You wonder how you guys how wound up with two kids?" Annie turned around

John helped me bring out the food and everyone ate and chatted, we watched the kids play frisbee out in the yard and then John tried to teach the girls baseball,Ali nearly put the ball through the upstairs window

"Hey Auntie" Ali called

I was sitting on the porch holding Bailey in my lap

"Yes Honey" I looked up

"Watch this" Ali said then took the luckiest shot in the world a seven  year old could make

I watched as the ball went over the rain gutters and just barely missed the window

"ALI MARIE!" I called

"Whoops" Her blue eyes widened and she put the bat down, and RAN down the street

"I GOT HER!" John yelled chasing after her

"Where's Ali?" Stacey asked coming out to the porch

"She's talking a walk with Jonathan" Auntie Diane said holding Maggie in her lap

"Oh Ok" Stacey said sitting down  

We sat around the table and talked about everything, politics celebrities, sex everything until Bailey started to cry

"Oh Bailey Boy, are you hungry ?" I said getting up and starting to go into the house, Stace followed me

"Do you want some company?" She asked

"Sure" I said handing her the baby while i went to the fridge and took out a bottle

"So how are things?" Stace asked playing with the baby

"Eh alright" I said sitting down down at the table

"Cole.."She narrowed her eyes

"Alright,we're at each other's throats all the time and i'm terrified we're going to break up over something stupid" I started to cry

"Cole, you guys are so strong, you'll get passed this, Don't worry besides i've never seen two people more in love,aside from me and Andy" Stacey smiled

I smiled back at her and handed her the bottle

"Here you go, Big boy" Stace put the bottle in Bailey's mouth

"Ooh that's a good boy" I said playing with his little fists

"What a big eater" Stace commented as Bailey drank the bottle

He finished and let out a big burp

"Oh good boy" I said taking him from Stace and rubbing his back,"Oh what a good boy you are"

"I can't believe your a mom" Stace said randomly

"Stace, I've been a Mom for almost a year now.." I said smiling

"I know but i still think of you as that little girl who played with barbies and who knew what killed what celebrity..it's so weird" Stacey started to cry

"Oh Stace..i said the same thing when Ali was born, I had to grow up eventually..a little faster than some but i'm nearly 24" I said hugging her

"Oh you" She cried into my shoulder

"Oh god..are we starting up with the tear factory?" Auntie Diane's voice was heard

"Oh Shut up" We said in unision

"Did John come back with Ali?" Stacey asked blowing her nose

"Yeah, now their playing frisbee..if i were Nicole, I'd kiss your attic windows goodbye" Auntie said taking Bailey from me

Just then John came running in

"Hey where'd we put the guitar when we moved in?" John asked just outside the kitchen door

"In the Attic, Why?" I asked

"Just curious" John ran out and upstairs

"Oh lord..what's he up to?" Stacey asked

"No clue..but here he comes" I said as he come stomping into the kitchen and grabbed me by the wrist..,"What are you doing?"

"I'm settling a bet with Vin and Andy.." John said letting me go long enough for me to sit down

"What sort of bet?" I asked as he was tuning up the guitar

"Wheither or not you can sing?" John said suddenly becoming shy

"You bet on wheither or not i could sing?!..how high are the stakes?" I asked curious myself

"100 bucks and two weekends of free babysitting"  John said then sat down next to me \

"Alright I'm in.." I said

"Groovy..what song?" John replied

"Umm..how about "That's All? from the Dorothy Dandridge soundtrack" I love that movie

"Alright...Sing  a few chords so i can find the right key" John asked

"I can only give you love that last forever, and a promise to be true" I stopped singing for a second when he put his hand up to stop me."What?"

"Nothing I'm all tuned up ..start over " John said

"I can only give you love that lasts forever And a promise to be near each time you call And the only heart I own, for you and you alone That's all That's all I can only  give you country walks in spring time And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall And a love whose burning light warm the winter night That's all That's all There are those, I am sure, who have told you They would give you the world for a toy All I have are these arms to enfold you And a love even time can't destroy If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, Dear  You'll be glad to know that my demands are small Say it's me that you adore, for now and evermore  That's all That's all  Nothing more, nothing less  Just a lifetime's happiness  That's all  That's all" I finished singing

"Pay up suckers" John said as soon as i was done

"Yeah Yeah Yea" Vin said reaching into his pocket

"Well with the 100 dollars and two free babysitters , we can afford any reasonably priced restaurant.whatta say. my dear?" John asked

"Sounds Wonderful.." I smiled

"HEY NIKKI!" Vinnie yelled

"Yeah?" I turned around and saw he had a water balloon,"Don't even think about it..AHHH" He soaked me

"Gotcha!" Vinnie yelled running around the porch

"My Gucci Dress" I whimpered

"I got him Nik..Don't worry" John dropped the guitar

"Where'd he get the water balloons?" Ma asked walking from  inside the house to the porch

"John bought them for the kids" I said still whimpering

"LOOK OUT BELOW!" John yelled from the upstairs bedroom window

"JOHN..DON'T!" Stacey,Auntie Diane, Gina Annie, Catie, myself, My mother and John's mom screamed ..too late..he drenched us

"Oh my god!" Annie yelled

"Nicole ..Do you still have the super soakers in the front closet?!" Gina said pushing back her curly hair which was matted to her forehead

"Yeah Why?" I said fully knowing the answers

"Ladies.. Let's get them"  Gina marched into the house and to the closet,"Alright Diane,  take the pink gun, Catie, take the Green gun  Stevanne..take this machine gun looking one Annie and Nikki take the little ones..Mrs.Luongo Here's a yellow gun.." Gina said Handing out the guns

"Kathy..you and me are gonna grab buckets" Stacey said going into the kitchen and going through the cabinets

"Alright.." John's mom said uncertainly

Newman came in from the bathroom

"What the hell?" He said looking around seeing all of us armed

"GET HIM!" Annie screamed

"NO he doesn't know what going on" I said stopping her

"Freaking Chicks..crazy as hell" Newman muttered then walked outside

"STACE..YOU READY?" Auntie Diane called

"YEAH!" Stacey and Kathy came back in..with two giant buckets of water

"You guys..we look like we're putting out the great fire of Chicago" I said laughing

"What fire?" Annie asked

"Forget it Kid" Ma answered

"Wait so are we gonna get them in the house or outside?" Stevanne asked

"Good Question .." I said.."I don't know"

"Let's do it outside ..at least we won't ruin the carpet" Ma said

"Yah Alright.." I agreed,"Stace..you, Stevanne and Annie go around front..Ma, Auntie Diane and Catie go around front ..Gina..you, me and Kathy are gonna upstairs to Bailey's room"

"Why Bay's room?" Gina asked

"Because he has the best view of the backyard" I said going upstairs

"Good Point" Gina and Kathy followed me

We got up to the baby's room and noticed Ma and Annie hiding in the bushes..just as John and Vin ran by looking for all of us ..My mother jumped out and squirted John in the face while Annie got Vin

"OH BOYS" I yelled and the three of us drenched them from above

"Oh what the hell?" Vin swore and John pushed back his hair

"They got us!" John called

"Well Newman and Andy are still around front..they haven't been soaked" Vinnie said

"Wrong guys.." Andy and Newman came around to the back ..they were also drenched

Kathy, Gina and I ran downstairs and to the backyard

"Well I guess you boys will think twice about soaking us ..huh?!" Diane said

"Yeah Yeah Yeah" Vin muttered

The boys dried off and I changed into my jeans and t-shirt

We sat  around some more and talked and laughed about everything then one by one everyone got up to leave and soon it was just the four of us ..again.

We were putting the kids to bed, both of them were whiny and extremely fussy

"Come on guys.." I said pacing back and forth with Maggie

"Why are they so fussy?" John asked pacing around Bailey

"Because it's been a long day and they're overstimulated " I said sitting in the rocking chair patting Maggie's back

"Well unless you want to stay up all night..what do you suggest?" John said making funny faces at Bailey to make him stop crying, wasn't working thought.

"How about a song?" I suggested

"If you think it'll work" John said..

"Yah.I think it will..go get the guitar Honey" I said trying to stop Maggie from hitting the high notes

John walked outside with Bailey to get the guitar

"Maggie, Daddy's gonna play his guitar and sing a song for you..won't that be fun?" I asked Maggie who was still shrieking

I heard John walked through the kitchen, through the living room and into the hall..I knew where he was because of Bailey's shrieks

"AH HA" I heard John yelled ..he must have startled Bailey because he started screaming,"Oh god"

"Say goodbye to sleep baby" I said as John walked back into the nursery

"Augh..I'm tired,," John whined

"I'm tired too but we have to get the kids to sleep " I said,"So sing them a song"

"Alright but take Big Guy here" John said handing me the baby

"Baby mine, don't you cry baby mine, dry your eyes Rest your head close to my heart never to part, baby of mine little one when you play Don't you mind what you say Letthose eyes sparkle and shine Never a tear, baby of mine If they knew sweet little you They'd end up loving you too All those same people who scold you What they'd give just for The right to hold you  From your head to your toes You're not much, goodness knows But you're so precious to me Cute as can be, baby of mine"John finished the song..it worked! the kids were asleep

"John..look ..they're asleep.." I whispered

"Yeah.. great" John sniffled

"Are you crying?" I asked

"No ..i got something in my eye" He turned away from and i saw he was rubbing his eyes

"It's ok to cry..i always cry at that song " I smiled then put Maggie in her crib,"Your such a good Daddy"

"Aww shucks" He smiled then put his arms around me,"We are so lucky..I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.."

"I feel like the luckiest woman in the world " I said

"Come, Lucky Lady..let's go to sleep" John grabbed my hand and lead me to the bed

We changed into our pajamas and crawled into bed, exhausted from the days events, i curled up to John and fell asleep with my head on his chest.

I was sound asleep when i heard banging downstairs..i grabbed the clock and realized it was nearly 2am ..i heard some more banging

"John!" I shook him ...nothing...i shook him harder.."JOHN!"

"What?!" John shot up like he was being pushed through a cannon

"I heard banging downstairs" I said

"What kind of banging?" John put his head down on the pillow

Just then the banging started up again

"Oh Shit ..Alright..I'm gonna go down there and get the son of a bitch" John said putting on a white tank top and grabbing a bat out of the closet,"Take the Kids and go across the street and call Annie and stay over  there until i come get you"

"I'm not leaving you here alone" I gripping the pillow

"Nicole I'm not telling you..I'm ordering you..Now go!" John said

"You're ordering me?!" I couldn't believe

"Your gonna pick a fight with me while we're being robbed?" John asked

"Good Point.." I said getting up and starting to put my clothes on

"What are you doing?" John asked

"Getting dressed" I said putting on my jeans

"Why?" John looked at me like i was nuts

"Because if i'm gonna be running..i don't want to the neighborhood to see my ass" I said putting on a tank top

"Just go get the kids" John said creeping outside the bedroom door

In Our House/apartment, there's a connecting door that leads from Our Bathroom to Maggie's and through Maggie's connecting Door is Bailey's door, i picked up Bailey and was attempting to carry both of them but it wasn't going to happen..

"Maggie, Honey, you gotta walk up" I shook her (not in the way that would hurt her )

"No No Mama" Maggie said struggling to open her eyes

"Maggie Sweetie, You have to open your eyes" I said ..not believing i'm trying to be firm with a one year old

"NIK..YOU GONE?" John called

"Not yet..Where's the stroller?" I asked

 

a new life part six

"Hey Big Boy..Hi.. " I looked deep into his big blue eyes,"When we get home, everyone is going to be so happy, your big sister and all your aunts and uncle, and especially Daddy and Mommy  have been waiting so long to see you.."  

The corners of his little lips were moving like he was trying to smile, i have never honestly fell in love with a boy so quickly in my life..but that's just between me and Bailey.

The Next Morning,John came early to pick us up

"Are you ready, Bailey?" John asked him while i was getting dressed

"Did you get everything finished?" I asked tucking in my tank top

"I got the crib set up and he can share Maggie's room until it's painted" John said picking up the baby carrier

"Where is Maggie?" I said noticing she wasn't with him

"She's at home with Vin and Our Moms" John said

"Oh good lord.." I said knowing what was going to happen when we got home

"Yeah and P.S.your mom has already called Dibs on the Baby" John rolled his eyes

"Oh well.." I said,"Let's go"

After filling out a flurry of release forms, John brought the Jeep around and put Bailey in the back

"Do you need help getting in the car?" John asked

"Yeah, I just need you to hold my hand while i step up" I was still incredibly sore from the delivery

Just before we pulled up to the house, I got incredibly nervous for some reason

"Are you ready?" John asked taking the baby out of the car

"I think so " I said then walked up to the door

"Hey Hey" Annie's voice rang out and she came running toward me

"Hi!" I said hugging her,"Who else is here?"

"Gina, Stevanne, Newman Noah..the whole gang plus both of your families" Annie said pulling away

"Oh boy, before the everyone crowds around us..Where's Maggie?" I asked looking around

"She's out back" Annie said taking the diaper bag off my shoulder

"I'm gonna go show off the baby" John said going into the living room

I walked around and saw Maggie playing on the swing set and Vin pushing her

"Hey!" I called

"Hi Nik..look who's here Maggie! it's Mommy!" Vin said stopping the swing and taking her out

"Hi Baby girl" I said rushing forward and hugging her

"Mammm" She said her eyes lighting up

"Where's John" Vin asked handing Maggie to me

"Inside" I said then walked with him inside,"Thank you so much for Babysitting Vin"

"Ah it's no problem..she's a good kid" He said pushing up his glasses

We walked into the living room and  I sat down in the old leather beat up couch with Maggie on my lap

"Maggie..there's someone here who wants to meet you" John said bringing the baby over to us

"This is Bailey,your baby brother..can you say  Bailey?" I asked

"Baywe" It came out so clear like she had a little lisp

"Very good" John kissed her on the head

Maggie was very content just playing with Bailey's little hand and he didn't seem to mind because he slept right through everything

"So now that you've got a boy and a girl, Are you guys planning on anymore?" Natalie asked

"Nat!" I couldn't believe she would even ask

"I'm just being curious" Natalie said

"Well to answer your question, what with our son being less than 48 hours old, the baby factory is closed for now" I said

"My baby has a baby" My mom came crying in the room

"Uh Ma..Did you forget about Maggie?" I asked

"Of course not but i meant you have two kids now..i can't believe it" My mother said holding out her arms

"Nona." Maggie said holding out her arms

It was too cute watching them both, I couldn't help but laugh

Just then Bailey let out a scream

"Uh oh..i think someone's hungry" I said getting up and getting his bottle from the diaper bag," John, do you want to give him his first bottle at home?"

"Ok" John said taking the baby from the carrier and giving him a bottle, Bailey must have been hungry because he sucked it right down

"I think we're going to have a big eater on our hands" I commented

"Like Father, Like Son" John's mom said

Everyone was so amazed at how much Maggie looked like me and How much of John was in Bailey ..to which we both answered "Of course they are our children!"

  

We didn't sleep at all that first night because between Bailey and Maggie, they each took turns screaming every 15 minutes

"Is this going to happen every night?" John asked pacing back and forth with Maggie while i changed Bailey

"I hope not" I said then got out of the way while he changed Maggie

"Well know how everyone commented on how much the kids looked like us?" John asked

"Yeah..?" I said curiously taking Maggie from him and putting her in the crib

"I think they inherited your vocal cords and my laugh!" John said

"Shut up and feed your son" I said handing him Bailey

Over the next few weeks, we alternated between painting the nursery and taking care of the kids and John was trying to teach Maggie how to drive the toy converitable

"Come on Mags" I heard him say.. I was in the kitchen giving Bailey a bath in the sink because bending over the tub would have killed my back

"John, I don't think her legs are long enough to reach the pedals " I called through the window washing Bailey's face

"It's cool, i fixed it so her feet don't have to reach the pedals" John said standing over Maggie

"I betcha he tied bricks to the pedals?"I said talking to Bailey, finishing bathing him

"I tied bricks to the pedals" John said pushing Maggie around the driveway

"Did Mommy call that one, Bailey Boy or what " I said drying him off

"Hey come out and watch" John called

"Alright ..Just let me dress the baby and I'll be right out" I said walking into Maggie's room where we were keeping all of Bailey's stuff until the nursery was done 

Because it was so warm out,i put him in a t-shirt and just his diaper because i didn't want him to overheat

"Ok Bay, Let's go see what Daddy's up to" I said kissing his chubby little cheeks and went outside

"Maggie..Let's show Mommy how the convertible works" John said picking up something that resembled a large calculator

"What the heck is that?" I asked sitting on the porch step with Bailey in my arms

"It's the remote control,so i can control the car in case something happens" John said

Poor choice of words to say to the  mother of a one year old and a three week old

"Like?" I said panicking

"Calm down.." John said seeing the expresss on my face

At  age one, Maggie is very smart, she must have observed John putting the bricks on the brakes because when he went to pick up the remote, she put her little feet against the pedals and took off

"Oh my god!" I yelled watching my baby speed off down the street but i couldn't run because i would have dropped Bailey

"What?" John said  not realizing she was gone

"She took off" I said jumping up and down until i realized i was still holding the baby

"Oh shit!" John took off after her ..but she was going wicked fast

"USE THE REMOTE!" I yelled putting my hands over Bailey's ears

"I CAN'T! IT DOESN'T HAVE BATTERIES" He yelled back

"I think Daddy must have suffered an even bigger concussion when he fell on the sidewalk" I said to Bailey going into the kitchen, I debated wheither or not to Call 911

I waited a half and hour, I was going out of my mind, where the hell are they?..Just as i picked up the phone, it rang

"Hello?!" I said breathlessly

"Hi Honey" It was John..

"Where are you?" I asked checking on Bailey who'd fallen alseep in the bouncy chair

"Greenwich Ave" He said

"That's ten blocks from here, she rode 10 blocks in that stupid thing?" I said getting angry

"Yeah..We'll be home soon" John hung up

"Oh my god" I said pacing

i was trying to read a magazine when they came home

"Oh my god..my baby!" I said yanking Maggie out of John's arms

"She's alright, no damage done..she stayed on the sidewalk the entire time" John said, "I lost her on Sigamore Lane but then when i cut across Wildwood road, i found her"

"What made her stop?" I asked gripping Maggie

"You might want to let go soon because she's going to lose consciencious, the battery on in the convertible died" John said going into the kitchen

I put Maggie on the floor and handed her the blocks

"I knew this would happen in that stupid toy..i knew she wasn't old enough for it.." I said following him

"Alright, So when she gets older, we'll try again" John said opening a bottle of water

"Why couldn't you buy her a barbie like a normal person would" I said grabbing a grape

"Excuse me, at least i'm letting her grow up..not yelling "MY BABY" everytime she moves or makes a sound" John said

"You know what.. your in such a rush to have her grow up.why don't you just start her in college next fall instead of preschool  then possible med school" I said starting to make  a sandwich for Maggie 

"You're outta your freaking mind" John said sipping the water

"Well  have me commited  then and then you can raise the kids by yourself " I said going into the living room and handing Maggie the sandwich.

We didn't talk much over the next few days because we are majorly pigheaded and the only way we know how to freeze each other out is not speaking to each other but eventually the fight was forgotten and we moved on with our lives

John came home all excited one night, one of his regular customers had given him two Yankee tickets

"Nik, come on, it can be a date" John said following me around the house,"You remember what dating was like BEFORE kids"

"Yes i remember what dating is and i still don't want to go.why don't you ask Vin or Newman?" I said folding some of Bailey's clothes

"I did and Vin's going  to Maine and Newman's taking Christina camping" John said plopping himself  on the couch

"Somehow I can't picture her camping," I said

"Wait ..i know I'll take Maggie" John said

"No way."I said firmly

"Why?" John asked

"Because you lost her on Sigamore Ave..you want to risk losing her in Yankee Stadium? " I said sitting on the couch beside him

"I'm not gonna lose her, she'll stay right with me the entire time and i won't let her out of my sight" John said

"Alright" I agreed against my better judgement   

On the Day of the Game, I woke up Maggie early so she wouldn't be too cranky and got her dressed in her little overalls and put what little hair she has into two pigtails

"Are you almost done?" John said putting on his coat

"Almost, Now i've packed the diaper bag  with toys, diapers extra clothes, cookies and two bottles" I said puting Maggie's sweatshirt over her head

"Relax..it's a baseball game..not crossing the Nevada Desert" John said picking her up

"Alright, i also put in sunscreen and an extra cell phone" I said walking them to the door

"Ok..say bye to Mommy" John kissed me on the lips then i kissed Maggie on her head

"Bye Honey" I said closing the door

I went back into the house and played with Bailey

"Well..it's just you and me today, what should we do?" I asked him," I know, we'll call your aunties and see what's going on with them" I picked up the phone

"Hello?" Annie's voice rang out

"Hey it's me." I said cradling the phone

"Hey Babygirl ..What's up?" Annie answer

"Well Bailey and I are on our own today, we were wondering wheither or not you and some of his other aunts want do something?" I said playing with the baby on the couch

"Let's go to the mall!" Annie said..i knew she'd say that ..

"Ok..We'll meet you there in about..an hour?" I said looking at my watch

"Ok see ya then" We hung up

I got the baby dressed then got myself dressed..i had so much stuff to lug, my purse,the diaper bag, the carriage and the car seat

Somehow, we managed to get out within the hour which was a major miracle, We even made it through mid-town traffic with a problem..this was going to be a good day after all

We beat Annie there, i sat in the food court and read a Magazine while Bailey slept

"AHHHH!" A hand grabbed me and screamed

"OH MY GOD!" I screamed throwning my magazine in the air..it was Annie

"Haha..I got YOU!" Annie laughed

"I'm gonna kick your ass" I said then chased her around until i realized i left my baby alone in the carriage, I ran over and saw he was still sleeping, Annie finally stopped running and sat down with us

"So What's going on?" Annie asked

"Well, in between modeling,sailing around the world  and raising two kids, not much" I said rolling my eyes

"Smart ass" Annie got up and got sodas for both of us

"So who are we waiting for?" I asked sipping my soda

"Gina and Brennan" Annie said

Just then Bailey started to cry loudly

"Oh Big Boy what's wrong?" I said picking him up

"Maybe he's hungry" Annie suggested picking up his bottle

"No He ate before we left..i think it's because we stopped moving " I said standing up and walking around..that seemed to calm Bay down quickly

I walked around the food court and when i came back, Brennan and Gina were there

"Hey GI Joe" I said kissing him on the head

"Hey Daisy" He always called me Daisy because when i used to wear shorts, they would ride up and i'd look like Daisy Duke

"Hey. there's my favorite guy in the world" Gina said holding out her arms for the baby

"Alright, Before the munchkin wakes up, let's go shopping" Annie said standing up

I pushed the carriage while Gina carried Bailey, We walked around for a few minutes until we were in front of Cache, a ritzy store where only skinny girls can shop

"OoOo I wanna go in here!" Annie squealed, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me and the carriage into the store

"Let me go!" I called and looked over to see Brennan and Gina cracking up,"Are you coming?"

"Yah, we'll be right there" Brennan said

" Nik, i need you to work your magic and create an outfit for me" Annie said rifling through the jean rack

"Ok Ok" I sighed, I started to walk around and found a beautiful pair of black jeans with sequins on the bottom and a tank top with Johnny Depps picture on it then i grabbed a white sweater and walked over to where Annie was standing

"Here, put this on" I said handing the clothes to Annie, she immediately ran to the dressing room

"Hey ..you find anything?" Brennan asked swinging his car keys

"Yah, i put her in black jeans, a tank and a sweatshirt" I said looking at some clothes

"Oh well that's good..but did YOU find anything?" Brennan asked

"I can't fit in anything here" I said looking at a pair of jeans

"Nikki, what do you think of this shirt?" Gina asked holding up a blue halter top and putting Bailey in the carriage

"Sexy..I like it " I said

"Here, try this on?" Brennan said holding up a  jean  skirt and a tube top

 "Oh I don't know..I still haven't lost all the baby weight" I said

"Go" Brennan pushed me toward the dressing room

"Watch Bailey, will you?" I said through the dressing room door  

"Sure" Brennan called

"Nikki..come take a look at this?" Annie said leaving the dressing room

"Alright but you've gotta look at mine too" I said squeezing into the skirt and squeezing my boobs into the shirt

"Me too"Gina said opening her dressing room door

"Ready..1..2..3" I said opening the door

I joined Annie and Gina in front of the mirror and was amazed at what i saw, we looked HOT!

"BRENNAN!" We yelled in unision

Brennan came in with Bailey and dropped his jaw

"Excuse Me,I was looking for my girls, Annie, Gina and Nikki, Not Shania, Britney and Carmen " Brennan said complimenting us, then he picked up Bailey, who was awake and looking around,"What do you think of your Mommy and Aunties?"

Bailey smiled and laughed

"That's my boy" I said fiddling with the top of the tube top

"Quit fiddling with it otherwise you'll be flashing us" Gina said laughing

"Well it wouldn't be the first time" Annie said

"Excuse me..not in front of my child... thank you!" I said 

After buying the clothes at Cache, We stopped in a few more stores and took a break in Jay's Burger Hut, I ordered a cheeseburger, Gina had a Deluxe Cheesburger, Annie had a Bacon Burger and Brennan had a caesar salad

We'd just gotten our food and i had barely take a bite when Bailey started to cry

"Oh big guy, what's wrong?' I said picking him and realizing he needed his diaper changed,"Oh shoot, i need to change him"

"I'll do it" Brennan offered

"Are you sure?" I asked handing him the baby

"Sure..besides, i don't your food to get cold" He said taking the baby and the diaper bag into the men's room

"He's such a sweetheart" I said sipping my lemonade

" I know and he still looks so hot in those army clothes " Annie said biting into her sandwich

"Oh lord..here we go..quick! change the subject!" Gina said laughing

"I talked to Stevanne last night" I changing the subject

"Really? What'd she say?" Annie asked

"Wanted to know when we were having Maggie and Bailey baptized and who was going to be their God-mother" I said eating a fry

"Oh lord" Gina said rolling her eyes

"So when are you gonna do it?" Annie asked

"in a couple months, we were gonna do it when Maggie was a few months old but then time got away and then i got pregnant so now we're gonna do Bailey and Maggie together " I said finishing my burger

"Wow..so on the godmother thing who's gonna be it" Annie asked .i knew she'd go there

"Well, I was think you and Stacey could be Maggie's godmother and Gina and Catie could be Bailey's,then Vin and Andy could Be Maggie's Godfather and Brennan and Noah could be Bailey's" I said pushing the plate away

"You want us to be your kids godmothers" Annie started to cry

"Oh man here we go!" Gina said

"No tears, just be happy" I said

Just then Brennan came back with Bailey, right away i noticed a huge wet spot on his shirt

"Hey Baby" I said taking Bailey from Brennan

"What's up with the wet spot?" Gina said

"Your Demon spawn peed   all over me!" Brennan said fake angry

"That's my boy" I said kissing his little head

"Shouldn't you have know to look out?" Annie asked

"It's happened so fast before i could stop it"Brennan said dramatically

"Do you want me to get you a new shirt?" I asked trying not to laugh

"Could ya please?" Brennan said slightly panicked

"Take Waterboy for a second while i go" I said handing Bailey to Annie

I grabbed my purse and ran over to Sears, I must have looked at  dozen Men shirts before i finally found an Army camflouge t-shirt

"Is this everything?" The Cashier asked

"Yup" I said pulling out my wallet

"That'll be 79.99" the cashier said

"Excuse me..i don't think i heard you..80 bucks for a t-shirt?!" I said

"Yes" the cashier said, i just sighed and handed over my credit card

I walked back over to the restaurant  and dropped the the bag in Brennan's lap

While he went changed, i told the girls the cost of the shirt

"that was the most expensive damn t-shirt, I've ever bought" I said sitting down

"Why didn't you  just go buy a package of t-shirts for 10 bucks?" Gina asked

"Cuz i didn't think about it .." I said

"Duh" Annie said as Brennan came back

"Gee thanks Nikki.. I can't believe you found an Army shirt" Brennan said

Annie Gina and I just laughed ..but we couldn't explain it to poor Brennan.

We left the burger place and walked around some more, stopping in a few stores, i bought Maggie some jeans and t-shirts in Baby Gap and Annie bought a rubber ducky for Bailey in Toys-R-us, After shopping in a few more stores, We said our goodbyes and Bailey and I went home

I lugged the stroller into the house and half dragged the car seat, ( i took the baby out first and put him in the playpen..don't worry)

"HELLO?!" I called

No answer.. must still be out..

I put away the stroller and got Bailey ready for bed

"Ok Bailey Boy let's get you all settled in your PJ's" I said picking him up and walking into the nursery, which had just been finished that week, we decorated the walls in a pale blue and John put all sorts of posters on the walls of football players, baseball players, and Hockey players..it looked like a typical boy's rooms but i added a rocking chair that had been my grandmother's and the crib was Ali's from when she was a baby

"Oh your such a big boy!" I tickled him,"who's mommy's favorite boy?"

he laughed and grabbed my face because i was leaning over him, he had such a good grip he almost took off my cheeks

"Oo you gotta let go of Mommy's face.." I said prying his little hands off my cheeks, and put a blue onesie on him, I finished dressing him and brought the baby over to the rocking I grabbed a book and started to read him a story but he didn't want to hear a story

"You want Mommy to sing a song?..your big sister loves it when Daddy sings to her..maybe Mommy's singing will have the same effect on you" I said kissing his bald little head

"You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me When the road looks rough ahead And you're miles and miles From your nice warm bed You just remember what your old pal said Boy, you've got a friend in me Yeah, you've got a friend in meYou've got a friend in me You've got a friend in meIf you've got troubles, I've got 'em too There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you We stick together and can see it through Cause you've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me Some other folks might be A little bit smarter than I am Bigger and stronger too Maybe But none of them will ever love you The way I do, it's me and you Boy, and as the years go by Our friendship will never die You're gonna see it's our destiny You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me"

I finished the song and looked down..he was asleep..i was scared to move because one inch and he'd be up for hours. I picked up Dr.Seuss's cat in the hat and read to myself until i heard his little baby snores. I picked him up and put him in the crib

he didn't make a peep, i turned on the mobile above his head and left the room

I went over to the living room couch and put on the television .. I picked up newest  People magazine, but i must have fallen asleep because i woke up, i heard the doorknob being jingled in the door, unsure if it was my husband or Charles Manson, i grabbed an old hockey stick from the closet, I stood behind the door and waited for the creep to come in

the door popped open slowly

"AAHHH!" I screamed swinging the hockey stick

"OH JESUS CHRIST..What the HELL ARE YOU DOING??" Oops..well it wasn't Chuck Manson but my husband carrying Maggie who was somehow sleeping through my tantrum

"You scared the HELL out me!" I said putting my hand on my face

"Who were you expecting? Gomez Addams..The only people who have keys are you me, our parents and Stacey" John said putting down Maggie on the couch

"I'm sorry " I said hugging John

"I managed to live 20-21 years, I survived injury, high school, tragedy..I'm gonna go blow my nose one day and stable mable here is going to hack my head off with a hockey stick" John said going into the kitchen