Chapter 10
In the next few days, Sydney’s mood brightened regarding her pregnancy. She realized that Michael had been right; the most important and wonderful thing was that they were going to have another baby. While she still desperately wanted a daughter, any baby would be a blessing.
On Monday morning, she called the doctor’s office and made an appointment for early the next week. She made sure to collaborate the appointment with both hers and Michael’s schedules, knowing he would want to come along. Though Michael had a slight fear of the OB/GYN’s office, which Sydney found endlessly amusing, he insisted upon going to every pregnancy-related appointment with her. The first time around, this only made her love him more, knowing what a devoted father he was going to be, even if he did have his moments of panic regarding his skills in that area. The second time around, though, was going to be a breeze, at least in Michael’s words; they knew exactly what to expect. While Sydney knew she would not be nearly as nervous as she was the first time around, she still possessed a mild level of uncertainty which would never go away.
“God I hate this place,” Michael shifted nervously in his seat in the doctor’s waiting room. He had already leafed through three magazines at top speed and changed positions in his chair a dozen times, and they had only been there ten minutes.
“You hate it?!” Sydney asked indignantly.
“Well yeah. I mean, obviously it’s not your favorite place either, but it’s so awkward for guys…,” he grumbled as his eyes darted around the small seating area, in which he was the only male.
“Yes it’s never awkward for us women folk,” Sydney said casually, obviously being sarcastic. “Forgive me if I don’t sympathize with you. After all, you will be keeping your clothes on.”
“Sorry,” Michael mumbled quietly, realizing how his complaining about feeling mildly uncomfortable with women staring at him was nothing compared to the discomfort his wife was about to face. Sydney gave him a slight smile before squeezing his hand lightly.
After just a few more minutes of waiting, Sydney was called back to one of the exam rooms, while she changed onto one of the oh-so-fashionable paper gowns, grumbling all the way. “You should get one of those to wear around the house,” Michael joked as she slid up onto the exam table. This comment was met with a glare that was so lethal it caused Michael to take two steps back until his back was against the wall. “Or not…,” he added in an invisible voice.
“This is humiliating,” she grumbled. “I can’t believe I’m gonna have to come here, like, every month now.”
“I’m sorry,” Michael said sincerely. “If I could; I’d go for you.”
“Thanks,” she laughed softly.
Another few minutes with them commenting on the pictures of the exam room wall passed before the doctor arrived. Dr. Smiley, who quite literally lived up to her name with her chipper personality, delivered Henry and was all too excited to see the next Vaughn child through to the same stage. Both Sydney and Michael joked endlessly about her always happy demeanor and how it borderline annoyed them at times, but they still knew she was one of the best doctors they had ever come in contact with.
“Well Sydney it looks like you’re about six weeks along, which will make your little bundle of joy due,” Dr. Smiley paused to count in her head, “around the last week in June – how exciting! He or she might have the same birthday as their big brother!”
“Yeah…,” Sydney said, mocking excitement in her voice. Michael stifled a laugh at the expression on her face, which indicated that she thought Dr. Smiley was insane.
“How about morning sickness? Suffering at all?” Dr. Smiley asked her.
Sydney shook her head. “I was a little nauseous for a few mornings, but mostly I’m fine,” she said. Her first pregnancy had been a breeze, as most first pregnancies go anyway. She had absolutely no morning sickness or any other symptoms that were too terrible and she was only too happy (and relieved) to continue that tradition with her second pregnancy.
“Wonderful,” Dr. Smiley grinned.
The remainder of the appointment was brief, since Sydney was aware of most of the things Dr. Smiley would have told a first time mother. The doctor merely did a brief summary reminder of a few key facts before leaving the room so that Sydney could change back into her clothing.
“So this is great, right? I mean, or little baby is all healthy and perfect,” Michael grinned as he patted Sydney’s lower belly.
“Yeah,” she smiled at him. She finished getting dressed as quickly as possible, eager to be clothed once more in the rather chilly office. Then, she and Michael left the doctor’s office and headed out towards their respective cars in the parking lot, since they had each come from work and met there. “So, um, if you don’t mind, I don’t think I want to tell people about this right away.”
“You don’t?” Michael questioned with surprise. When they found out Sydney was pregnant with Henry, the two of them could barely scramble their way out of the bathroom fast enough to get to the nearest phone to call both of their parents.
“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t want to wait too long, I just want to get used to it and have things calm down a bit first. That’s okay, right?”
Michael shrugged indifferently. “It’s your body, but you know our parents are going to be offended in some why when they found out we waited. I mean I certainly don’t care what they say; it’s our choice, but I’m just warning you.”
“I know, my mother will have a fit,” Sydney laughed. “But, it is our choice, besides we told them last time.”
“A good point,” Michael nodded. Then he snaked an arm around her back, pulled her closer, and gave her a sweet kiss. “I’m really excited about this.”
“Yeah, I am too,” she said softly.
“Are you really?” he asked, curious as to how much her opinion on the subject changed since the previous weekend.
“Yeah I really am,” she said confidently. “After all, it’s going to be a baby, right? It’ll be cute and perfect no matter what.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, laughing softly. Then, with another kiss, they parted, promising to see each other at home later that day.