All Chapters of The Unexpected Roomate: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Grace and Max were seated in Dr. Martinez's office three weeks after the positive pregnancy test, looking at an ultrasound image that not only verified the pregnancy and the due date, but also gave the whole thing a startling sense of realism.Dr. Martinez went on, "Everything looks absolutely normal," showing a number of features on the ultrasound screen that Grace was still becoming used to reading. "Based on the tests, I'd say you're about seven weeks along, with a due date around the beginning of March.""March," Grace replied again, trying to sort out the implications of giving birth in the early spring. "That's about seven months from now."Max continued, "Seven months to prepare for parenthood," and Grace could hear him starting to mentally arrange schedules and logistics."Do you have any questions to ask about what to get over the next few months?" Grace became aware that she had about a dozen questions about anything from work schedules to nutrition to how pregnancy would im

Grace discovered that the third trimester provided an unexpected surge of energy focused on preparing their flat for the baby's arrival. She was standing in what would become the nursery, measuring walls and planning furniture placements, when Max arrived home from work with paint swatches and what appeared to be crib assembly instructions."I see we've entered the nesting phase," he observed, gazing around the room, where Grace had started organizing baby things and going over numerous preparation lists."Is that what this is? Given the fact that we still have three months before the baby arrives, I've had an intense urge to prepare everything."According to my research, nesting behaviour is entirely natural throughout the third trimester. Something about preparing the space for the baby's birth."Grace admired Max's unique approach of examining behavioural patterns rather than simply accepting unexplained urges, even if they seemed entirely sensible to her."And you've been researchi

After twelve hours, Grace was holding their baby for the first time and gazing into the dark, watchful eyes of the person they had spent the previous nine months getting ready to meet. They were now a family of three instead of two after a lengthy but simple labour that followed the natural timeframe Dr. Martinez had anticipated."She's perfect," Max remarked softly as he sat beside Grace on the hospital bed, examining their daughter's face with the focused focus he applied to everything that was important to him."She's perfect," Grace concurred, astonished by the instantaneous and total love she experienced for this new acquaintance. "Look at her hands."In fact, their daughter, whom they had chosen to name Phoebe in the last weeks of her pregnancy, was assessing her new surroundings with what seemed to be careful thought of her situation.Max said, "Phoebe Walker," as though to see how their daughter's name would sound when they really met her. "She looks like Phoebe.""She appears

Six months after Phoebe's birth, Grace learned that being a parent meant commemorating developmental milestones that appeared both amazing and entirely normal at the time they happened. When Max returned home with what looked like baby-proofing goods and a stack of child development literature, she was working at her laptop as Phoebe practiced sitting up in her high chair and babbled in what sounded more and more like conversational patterns.He observed their daughter methodically dropping parts of her food onto the floor while examining the trajectory with scientific attention. "I see Phoebe has reached the 'everything must be explored and potentially eaten' phase of development," he stated."She is now in the stage of development where everything needs to be investigated and possibly consumed. Additionally, she has learned to pull herself up to standing in her crib, so we will need to lower the mattress and likely begin considering more thorough baby-proofing."Therefore the outlet

When Grace woke up on Phoebe's first birthday, Max was already in the kitchen making what looked like a festive breakfast as Phoebe sat in her high chair and mumbled happily at the colorful decorations he had attached all around their apartment."Happy birthday, Phoebe," Grace shouted as she sat down in the chair behind her daughter's high chair and saw Phoebe's happy reaction to the special attention and joyful setting.Max replied, "One year old today," and handed over a tray full of Phoebe's favourite meals, all presented in a joyous manner. "I can't believe it's been a year since she was born.""It's surprising that a year has passed by since she was born, Although I also find it hard to comprehend our lives without her. She feels as if she has been a member of our family for all time.Phoebe, who had recently learnt a few new words, like "mama," "dada," and "more," seemed to know that today was a joyous day and was responding to the celebratory atmosphere by being more controvers