My doctor’s office is right down the street from the hospital, so it doesn’t take us long to get to there and park. We head to the south wing where the maternity ward if and find Jimmy and Tiff in the waiting room when we get there. I hurry over to Tiff and give her a big hug. She’s a bundle of nerves, I can feel it through the hug. I bet Jimmy is the same way.

“Do you have any updates?” I ask her after finishing my hug.

Tiff shakes her head, “They brought her in this morning because her water broke. We got the call about two hours ago. They don’t want us back there, but everybody knows the situation so they are going to get us a room set up when they have one free on the recovery floor.”

“The birth parents don’t want you to see them at all?” Wes asks.

“No,” Jimmy replies this time. “According to the adoption counselor, they just prefer that everything is kept anonymous. I guess the dad isn’t even here. I don’t think they’re together anymore.”

“That’s sad,” I say with a frown.

“I know. I did a lot of reading about things moms need after giving birth and I put together a care package for her.” Tiff points over to the gift basket sitting on the ground. “I hope that it’ll at least give her a bit of comfort.”

Being from the small area of North Dakota that we are, Tiff and Jimmy never expected to adopt from a family nearby. Nobody knows the entire story, but apparently, they are from around here. I think they said she’s sixteen and they did not want to keep the baby. Since Jimmy and Tiff were close by and a young couple with no other kids, they picked them.

The adoption will be completely closed and the records sealed. Mom will be signing over parental rights right after the baby is born and the newborn will be placed with Jimmy and Tiff. Although the entire family is over the moon excited, we still feel a bit sad that these kids have to go through this.

About an hour after we arrive, the rest of the Brown family shows up as well as Candy, she is best friends with Tiff. Annabelle was with Betsy, so they drove her into town. She’s holding a new teddy bear and even she looks nervous.

“Come here, Banana,” Tiff waves Annabelle over to her. She takes a seat in the spot between Jimmy and Tiff and holds the bear tight.

“Whatchu got there sweetheart?” Jimmy asks his niece.

“It’s for the baby,” she says softly, holding up the bear for Jimmy to see.

“Oh yeah? I bet they’ll like it. You excited to be a cousin?”

She nods, finally starting to smile a bit, “Uh huh. I’m gonna hold the new baby ALL the time and teach it how to walk.”

I lay my head on Wes’s shoulder and smile. He rubs my leg and we have one of those conversations with each other without saying words. Annabelle is going to be so excited to be a big sister and she’s going to be so good with a new baby.

Finally, Jimmy and Tiff get called back. We’re currently in labor and delivery, they’re actually moving up a floor to the maternity recovery ward. We gather all our belongings and move from one waiting room up to another. Bobby and Tyler make a run to the local sandwich shop to get everybody something to eat while we continue our wait. After four hours of being at the hospital, Jimmy comes out the doors with a huge smile on his face.

“She’s here.”

“She?? Oh my god did you say she?” Candy jumps to her feet.

Betsy’s hands cover her mouth and she gets tears in her eyes. “I get another granddaughter?”

“Yep! A little girl! Oh, she’s absolutely beautiful too.” Jimmy has the biggest smile on her face, he is already so proud to be a new dad.

“Yay I’m so excited!” I clap my hands together.

“The baby is a girl?” Annabelle asks with joy in her voice. “What is her name?”

“Well, why don’t you all come back and meet her and Tiff will introduce you?”

Everybody gives Jimmy a hug as we travel through the halls of the recovery floor as a strong family unit. Candy and I are almost jumping up and down as we walk, we’re so happy for them. We file into the room and see Tiff sitting on the bed with the smallest little baby curled into her arms. She still has on the white hospital outfit, but she does have a pink hat with a bowtie on it.

Annabelle gasps “Can I see?”

Tiff smiles and scoots over on the bed a bit, “Of course, Banana, come here.” Annabelle climbs up on the bed and Tiff pulls the blanket back just a bit for Annabelle can see her face.

“She’s a cutie, Auntie Tiff. Do you think she’ll like the bear?” Annabelle holds it up again.

“I think she’s going to love the bear. I’ll put it in her room when we take her home, okay?”

“I would like that a lot!”

“Me too,” Tiff leans over and gives Annabelle a kiss on the cheek.

Betsy stands impatiently at the foot of the hospital bed. “So, the suspense is killing us, Tiff.” Everybody makes statements of agreement and Tiff laughs.

“Alright, Calm down, I got it.. Everybody say hello to Sadie Joy Brown.”

A group of collective “awws” is heard throughout the room. Betsy moves a little closer and runs her finger down the side of Sadie’s precious face. “Sadie Joy. The perfect name for my second granddaughter.”

“I’m Annabelle Mae Brown!” Annabelle speaks up so proudly.

“You are! And now we have Annabelle Mae and Sadie Joy.”

I look up at Wes and he has a huge smile on his face and nods his head. “What do you think, Grandma Betsy? Is grandbaby number three going to have a great matching name too?”

All their heads swing towards us and one by one you can see that what we just said it registering in their brains. Raymond is the first one to speak up. “Holly, Are you saying what I think you’re saying because I don’t think Grandma Betsy can take such a joke.”

“No joke here, grandpa.”

Wes puts her arm around my waist and brings his other arm around the front, placing his hand on my stomach, “Holly and I are adding to our family!”

“Eeek!!!!!” Tiff passes Sadie to Jimmy and runs over to pull me into a big hug. Her hug is followed by Candy and then Betsy who is already in tears.

“I’m so happy for the two of you. I should have known when you were talking about the cabin and moving in!” Betsy says after hugging her son.

“Actually Mama, she surprised me after I asked her to move into the cabin,” Wes places a kiss against my temple. “That’s why I told all the guys we needed it done by a certain date.”

“Annabelle, do you know what this means?” I bring my attention to Annabelle who has been pretty quiet about the news. She slides off the bed and wraps her little arms around my waist the best that she can..

“We’re going to have another baby in the family?”

“Not just that, baby girl,” I put my hand on top of Wes’s, “but this new baby is going to be your little brother or sister.”

She takes her finger and asks Wes to kneel down and get close to her. He obliges and she whispers in his ear. He grins at me. “Well, you’ll have to ask her.”

“What are you wondering, sweetie?” I put my hand out and she places her hand in mine.

“Does this mean you’re going to be a mommy?”

“It does.”

“Does that mean that you can be my mommy too?”

I fall to my knees and pull her into a tight hug as my eyes fill up with tears. “Oh sweetheart, I would love to be your mommy if that is what you want.”

She pulls away for a second and nods her head before throwing her arms around me again. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, Annabelle.” I guess Tiff wasn’t the only one that became a mom today.