Happily off in thought, working dough into round balls on autopilot, I’m brought back to reality by the squeals and loud pitter patter of tiny feet. Grinning even wider, I turn to see our five-year-old daughter, Anacaona, and our three-year-old son, Xochipilli, chasing each other through the kitchen and into the main room. As they make their way back in the room, I bend down while forming another dough ball in my hands. "Ana, Chip, may I have your attention please?" They both look over, faces lighting up as they rush to me having noticed the sweet treat in my hands. "Can you two please go wash up? Dinner is nearly ready and Daddy will be home any minute!" I break off a bit of dough and hand it to both of them to enjoy as I make this request. They both smile as they run off to do what was asked of them while eating their treat as I stand and finish with preparing the cookies to be baked. Just as I’m aligning them on the metal sheet, I hear the door open and the sound of your melodic voice eagerly announce, "I’m home!" My heart swells with love as you come around the corner, not having doffed your armor yet, and stand behind me, wrapping your arms around me and pulling me tight against you. I feel your nose and lips on the side of my neck as you breathe in my scent and kiss my skin having missed me. I sigh and fall into your touch as I always do when you come home, closing my eyes and lips slightly parting as I smile. I turn my head and your lips find mine, kissing me passionately and with a need from being separated all day. For a moment, we stand there making out, lips locked as our tongues dance, until I pull away suddenly remembering that I have to pull the food out. "My love, I missed you more than words can describe, but you need to go doff your armor while I pull out your favorite for dinner!" With that, I shoo you off and pull the pie out and place it at the table to set while we wait. I stick the cookies in and am about to summon the children when I hear the voices squeal, "DADDYYYYYY" quite loudly and excitedly. I watch them run up to you just as you finish setting your armor down and gaze lovingly as you scoop them both up effortlessly into a big hug. I place my hand on my stomach as I watch; I had developed sickness while you were out and, through a quick medicine check, realized that our third was on its way. I was excited to share the news with you as you’d read the signs of my body before me for both Ana and Chip before I could, leaving me the one surprised. Carrying the children, the three of you walk over and each give me a kiss, which I lovingly return and rub each of you on the cheek with my thumb.
As a family, we all sit down at the dinner table and enjoy dinner while you tell a very animated version of your encounter with a pack of four wolves. The children watch in excitement and awe, laughing and gasping with each dramatic detail you share. After we finish, I clear the plates and give the kids each a cookie as I send them outside to play in the child sized rowboat that Poca had designed for us as a gift when we brought Ana into this world. You stand to help me clean up, but before you can take a step, I stop you. "My love," I say as I take your hands and stare into your eyes with adoration, "I have realized something of great importance while you were out today." You look at me concerned and ask me if everything is alright, to which I squeeze your hands and reply, "Of course everything is alright, I have great news! I feel amazing being able to be the one to share this with you for once! My husband, my lover, my partner, you have blessed me with a life, love, and family that I couldn’t begin to say thank you enough for! I thank the god above gods everyday for blessing me with your creation. And even now, as that blessing expands to our two wonderful children, it seems that it will grow again to accommodate a third… my love, I’m pregnant again!" I watch you eagerly and your face lights up and you sweep me up into your arms, spinning me, hugging me, kissing me, and letting out your war cry as the excitement takes over both of us. For several moments, we embrace and celebrate the two of us, excited for the newest edition to come, and already both excited to put the children to bed tonight so we can celebrate in our preferred way.