If someone would've told me a year ago that I'd be engaged by the end of 2015, I wouldn't have believed them. It was definitely a crazy and beautiful year, and I was looking forward to the next one, and the fifty ones after that.

I tried to contain myself at least a little bit during the party at Buck's, keeping my left hand somewhat out of sight. I didn't want to be the center of attention right now, and I knew for a fact John didn't either.

Maisy was the only one I told about our engagement, but I had the suspicion that she already knew.

"You were in on it," I gasped when I caught her and John exchange knowing looks. "You and John were totally scheming together!" I giggled, imagining what those two goofballs could get up to when they started putting their minds together. It was a terrifying thought.

"I didn't know he was goin' to propose! He just wanted me to distract you for a couple hours! I didn't know what for!" Maisy gushed.

"I wasn't gonna tell ya, you would've told her!" John argued, chuckling.

"No I wouldn't have!" Maisy gasped.

"You probably would have," I laughed.

"Fine, maybe I would have accidentally given it away..." Maisy sighed, giving me another hug and surprising John by flinging herself at him too. Looking mighty awkward, John wrapped his arms around her and patted her on the back. "Congrats!" she beamed.

It was almost three in the morning on January 1st when we got home and I collapsed in bed. In the dimmed room, illuminated only by the lamp on John's side of the bed, I found myself staring at the ring again.

"You like it?" John asked as he stripped out of his clothes and pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants. He climbed into bed next to me and let his head rest on my shoulder. He draped his arm over my belly and started tracing little patterns on my bump with the tip of his fingers.

"It's beautiful," I whispered. "Did you measure my finger when I was sleepin' or somethin'?" I asked playfully; there was no way he could've guessed my size so perfectly.

"I stole one of your rings from your jewellery box a couple weeks ago," he admitted a little sheepishly, his breath warm against my bare shoulder. "I didn't know if it was one you liked or wore often, so I was terrified out of my mind you'd notice it missin'," he added, opening his eyes just long enough to look at me.

"I didn't," I giggled, glancing towards the jewellery box on my dresser. "So that means you've been thinkin' about this for weeks?" I asked him, stunned. I didn't know marriage was even a thought on his mind until he got down on one knee about ten hours earlier. We never talked about it before.

"I'm not Maisy, I can keep my trap shut," he smirked.

We were quiet for a while before John shifted in bed again so that he could stretch his arm back to shut off the lamp. I turned onto my side, the only position I could comfortably sleep in these days.

"Happy New Year," I said in the darkness.

"Happy New Year," John whispered back, kissing the side of my neck.

January was a big month for John. He started his EMS training at Brookhaven College so that he could get recertified as a paramedic, which meant he was traveling back and forth almost every day of the week. I still hadn't found someone to pick up the slack at Atwood Ranch, so my cousin and a few other guys were coming around to help pro bono for the time being, which made me feel really guilty, since I wasn't in any position to pay them except in pizza and beer.

It was also a big month for my baby bump, and if I didn't have Maisy to compare myself to, since she was only three weeks ahead of me, then I'd be convinced I was carrying a secret twin. I was getting so huge, and I was starting to feel it too.

I wanted to tell the past Carly that was excited for her bump to start showing to kindly fuck off. It really wasn't as pleasant as I thought it would be, certainly not when all of this excess mass was enough to keep me up at night. The full body pillow John got me for Christmas was a huge help, but it meant John had to share his spot with the thing, and that really wasn't convenient for him.

I didn't blame him when he decided, one night a few days into his program at Brookhaven, to sleep in the loft instead of with me. He needed his sleep if he wanted to do well, especially with all of the extra driving he was doing lately.

Seriously though, it was a good thing John was amazing at giving backrubs, otherwise I don't know what I would've done with myself.

"Nothin' fits me anymore," I grumbled on the day of our next appointment with Sally Nesbitt. I turned this way and that, examining my expanding reflection in the mirror. "I look like a baby whale," I sighed.

"Baby whales are cute," John smirked.

"Shut up," I giggled, throwing his shirt - technically it was mine now, since I liked sleeping in it - at him. I aimed for his face but missed by about a foot so it landed in a heap on the bed. "You're supposed to tell me I'm skinny and beautiful!"

"You're beautiful," he grinned.

"And skinny...?" I asked expectantly.

His gaze trailed down my body.

"Eh," he shrugged.

Dr. Nesbitt was running a little behind, so we had to wait almost half an hour before our turn came up. We were directed to the same exam room as last time and Carly climbed into the same chair, looking as nervous as I felt.

We were finding out whether we were having a son or a daughter today.

Dr. Nesbitt came in and started going over the standard questions, making sure mama and baby were both doing alright. She asked whether or not Carly was still feeling nauseous, whether she was having any contractions or vaginal discharge, and whether or not we'd felt the baby move yet - we hadn't, but it was only the seventeenth week and Dr. Nesbitt said that was natural for first time moms.

They weighed her and examined her belly, listened to her heart, the baby's... Carly's blood pressure was normal now, which was good since last time it was a little too high.

Then came the moment I was particularly excited for. We got to see our baby again and the change since the last ultrasound was mind-blowing.

"Cookie Monster's been doin' some growin'," I said excitedly, inspecting the new ultrasound on the screen, trying to make out different body parts, specifically a little something that might reveal whether or not I was having a son. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell an arm from a leg, let alone an arm from a penis.

There was a reason I wasn't studying radiology; as far as I was concerned, my kid looked like a creepy alien... or the evil puppet from Saw.

Carly glanced at me and smiled. I kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand.

"Looks like his mama don't he? Little alien head," I smirked, looking up at the doctor to find her fighting back an amused smile. She was a pretty woman with blue eyes and dark hair twisted into a high bun. She was a little older than I was but not by much, probably in her late thirties or early forties.

"He's been insultin' me all day," Carly told Dr. Nesbitt, rolling her eyes at me. "He refused to tell me I was skinny," she added, giving me a playful poke in the ribs.

"I'm sorry darlin', but I ain't ever lied to you and I'm not gonna start now," I laughed.

"You're so mean," Carly giggled.

Dr. Nesbitt smiled, moving the wand around so that we could get a better - and less alien-like - angle of our baby. We could see Cookie Monster's features a lot better this week than the last time we were here, which made it so much easier to imagine holding him or her in my arms in just over five months' time.

"So what's the verdict, doc? Boy or girl?" I wondered.

"What do you think?" Dr. Nesbitt asked; there was a knowing smile on her face. I was on edge, my foot tapping restlessly against the floor. I couldn't wait much longer.

"My best friend is havin' a little girl... so I'll go ahead and say girl too," Carly guessed, squeezing my hand so tight I was sure I'd start losing feeling in my fingers. This was good practice for when we'd be in the delivery room.

"I'll say boy," I said with a shrug.

Dr. Nesbitt smiled.

A/N: Boy or girl? Leave your guesses down below! :)