I tilt my head at Thea and she looks back at me, nodding.
I grab a knife from the drawer and hand it to her. “Would you like to do the honors?”
She shakes her head. “No, you do it.”
“All right, all right. Can everybody see?” I ask, grabbing the balloon string and pulling it to me.
“Yeah, we’re all good,” my dad calls out, grabbing my mom’s hand. My sister stands to my mom’s right and everyone else is spread out around them.
It makes me happy that despite how busy everybody is, they dropped everything to be here for this moment. Our daughter is already so loved and she doesn’t even know it.
“Three, two, one,” Thea and I count down.
I puncture the balloon and nothing happens.
I poke it again.
“What is this thing made of? Steel?” I mutter.
I poke it again and it pops with a loud explosion, showering us in pink confetti.
Everyone lets out hoots of joys and my mom bursts into tears, Thea’s mom too, so no surprises there.
“Oh, my God, a little girl.” My mom holds her arms out to me for a hug.
I squeeze her tight, and when we pull away, I tug a piece of confetti from her hair.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a little girl running around. She’s going to be so beautiful.” She touches her hand to my cheek. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Congrats, son.” My dad claps me on the back.
“I get first dibs on babysitting,” Alexis tells me.
I laugh and nod, hugging her. “Sure thing.”
Once hugs and congratulations are passed around, everyone leaves since it’s getting late. I’m happy to finally be left alone with my girls, all three of them.
“I’ll clean this up,” I tell Thea, motioning to the mess of food and confetti. I can tell from looking at her that she’s tired. “Why don’t you go take a bath or something?”
She grins. “Are you telling me that I stink?”
“No, I’m saying it’s been a long day and you need to relax.”
She laughs and brushes some confetti from the counter onto the floor. “You’re too good to me.”
“Go,” I urge her to the stairs. “Seriously, I can handle this.”
“Thank you.” She stands on her tiptoes and wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper back, brushing my nose against hers. I drop to my knees and kiss her stomach too. “And I love this little girl too.”
I smile up at Thea, amazed at how much our lives have changed, but how at the same time I wouldn’t change a minute of it.
Chaotic madness, that’s us.
We can’t do anything simple, and that’s okay.