Joel Waters-Baker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
just_another) wrote2015-06-24 06:40 pm
just_another) wrote2015-06-24 06:40 pm
Entry tags:
[open - baby meeting!]
Dane has been home for exactly thirty-seven hours and a few minutes, give or take, when Joel looks at the clock on the wall as he paces the length of the library, the baby in his arms. He's been fussing today, more than he has yet, and he and Spencer have been taking turns walking with him around the house once they've established that he doesn't need to be changed and he isn't hungry. They've been given their space after the initial invasion, his parents choosing to stay at a hotel for the duration of their time here rather than taking over the house. As much as he loves having his parents here, as much as he's loved seeing them with their grandson, he's also extremely grateful for it.
Ellie, though, had called that afternoon and suggested Joel try flipping Dane over onto his stomach. She'd said something about colic, told him that holding the baby on his stomach might help, and since then Joel has been carrying a peaceful Dane around the house, his little cheek resting against Joel's wrist. He's fast asleep for the time being and Joel can't imagine putting him down. He's a warm, comforting weight on Joel's arm and although he's tired, although he knows there's still a lot of adjusting to be done, he's also never been this happy.
Spencer is napping. At least he hopes he is. Joel had all but forced him to go upstairs and lie down. They sleep when Dane sleeps, that's the way their lives are meant to go now, and now that Dane actually is sleeping, Joel is debating heading upstairs and joining Spencer. The thought of crawling into bed with his husband, settling Dane comfortably on his chest and just lying there for a little while is somehow even more appealing than actually getting to sleep.
If he sleeps, he's bound to miss something, and Joel doesn't want to miss a moment of this.
That's exactly what Spencer is thinking as he lies wide awake in their bedroom. He'd tried more than once to close his eyes and keep them shut, force himself into a sleep that just won't come, but for once he's not being kept awake because of the nightmares he fears might plague him; it's because he knows that just downstairs are the two people he loves more than anything else in this world.
It's only been a day and a half since they've been allowed to bring Dane home, since they'd been overly careful in placing their baby, their tiny, beautiful baby, into his car seat for the drive home while Erin and her husband tried to hide their laughter behind their hands as they'd watched.
"Definitely brand new parents," her husband had commented, and it hadn't been with any ill intent. Spencer had only smiled and shrugged, as if there was nothing that could be done about it and really, there can't be. He's a father now, he's partly responsible for someone's life for the rest of his own, and as daunting as that may be, Spencer has never been happier. The only comparison he could possibly make would be to the day he and Joel had gotten married, and it's with that thought that he finally gives up and rolls out of bed to join his family.
They'd texted friends earlier in the day to mention when a good time would be to drop by to meet the baby. It's getting to be just after noon now, and he's absolutely exhausted, but the promise of getting to see Dane again gives him a burst of happy adrenaline. He'd be happy to stay this way for the rest of his life, at home with just his husband and their child; but he supposes having company over wouldn't be so bad.
After all, there's something appealing about being able to say that today, he and Joel are going to be introducing their son.
[Time to meet the baby. Tag Joel or Spencer or BOTH, but just indicate in your tag what you'd prefer. If both, the order will be your pup, Joel, Spencer.]
Ellie, though, had called that afternoon and suggested Joel try flipping Dane over onto his stomach. She'd said something about colic, told him that holding the baby on his stomach might help, and since then Joel has been carrying a peaceful Dane around the house, his little cheek resting against Joel's wrist. He's fast asleep for the time being and Joel can't imagine putting him down. He's a warm, comforting weight on Joel's arm and although he's tired, although he knows there's still a lot of adjusting to be done, he's also never been this happy.
Spencer is napping. At least he hopes he is. Joel had all but forced him to go upstairs and lie down. They sleep when Dane sleeps, that's the way their lives are meant to go now, and now that Dane actually is sleeping, Joel is debating heading upstairs and joining Spencer. The thought of crawling into bed with his husband, settling Dane comfortably on his chest and just lying there for a little while is somehow even more appealing than actually getting to sleep.
If he sleeps, he's bound to miss something, and Joel doesn't want to miss a moment of this.
That's exactly what Spencer is thinking as he lies wide awake in their bedroom. He'd tried more than once to close his eyes and keep them shut, force himself into a sleep that just won't come, but for once he's not being kept awake because of the nightmares he fears might plague him; it's because he knows that just downstairs are the two people he loves more than anything else in this world.
It's only been a day and a half since they've been allowed to bring Dane home, since they'd been overly careful in placing their baby, their tiny, beautiful baby, into his car seat for the drive home while Erin and her husband tried to hide their laughter behind their hands as they'd watched.
"Definitely brand new parents," her husband had commented, and it hadn't been with any ill intent. Spencer had only smiled and shrugged, as if there was nothing that could be done about it and really, there can't be. He's a father now, he's partly responsible for someone's life for the rest of his own, and as daunting as that may be, Spencer has never been happier. The only comparison he could possibly make would be to the day he and Joel had gotten married, and it's with that thought that he finally gives up and rolls out of bed to join his family.
They'd texted friends earlier in the day to mention when a good time would be to drop by to meet the baby. It's getting to be just after noon now, and he's absolutely exhausted, but the promise of getting to see Dane again gives him a burst of happy adrenaline. He'd be happy to stay this way for the rest of his life, at home with just his husband and their child; but he supposes having company over wouldn't be so bad.
After all, there's something appealing about being able to say that today, he and Joel are going to be introducing their son.
[Time to meet the baby. Tag Joel or Spencer or BOTH, but just indicate in your tag what you'd prefer. If both, the order will be your pup, Joel, Spencer.]
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He feels like his heart might just burst from how utterly happy he is, how lucky he feels to be able to now say that he has a son and a husband and a life that has turned out to be beyond all expectation. He doesn't think anyone in this town would have thought he'd one day be the one to settle down and start a family, and he's sure there are still some here who think he shouldn't have the right; but that doesn't matter to him in the slightest, not when his focus is on the life he and Joel are responsible for now. That's so much more important than worrying about the occasional naysayer who doesn't even know him at all.
"Anyway, Lara, you absolutely do not have to put Les up to such a thing, alright? And your offer is very much appreciated but believe it or not, I think we definitely overprepared for the baby's arrival. We're up to our necks in diapers and formula and all the essentials. Then again, it's only been a few days, so who knows what we'll be begging for this time next week."
And frankly, he thinks, that's the beauty of it. Every day will bring something different, something new, and Spencer selfishly wants to experience every bit of it right now.
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"Well the offer is always open. Les needs something to keep him busy." She teased. Spencer looked so comfortable with Dane in his arms and Joel was the picture of a proud husband. It was adorable. "How has he been since you've been home?" She asked, stepping close to look at him. Lara might not be the most maternal person in the world, but she could recognise a sweetie when she saw one.
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"If you want to hold him, it's probably a good time," he says. "When he's quiet like this."
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He shifts just slightly, careful not to wake the baby as he holds Dane out a bit and lifts his head to see if Lara wants to take him. It's still hard to let the baby go, no matter how short of a time it's for, and he'd taken seriously internal issue with it when the nurses had whisked Dane away for a bit the day he'd been born. He'd known it was important, especially because Dane had been born so early, but Spencer is still very much aware of how panicky and pouty he'd been with every passing second Dane hadn't been returned to them.
"He's lighter than you might think," Spencer warns, "he was three weeks early. But if you keep him turned over like he is now, he should be fine. If he's not, well, you have the luxury of being able to give him right back to us."
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"Gimme!" Lara said quietly but enthusiastically in response to Joels offer to hold Dane. Lara dumped the rest of the bags on the floor instantly and made grabby hands. She might not be the most maternal seeming person in the world but even she knew how to hold an infant. And if Levi had his way, she was going to need all the practice she could get.
Moving slowly, she took Dane from Spencer, freezing when he grumbled a little before settling over her arm like he had been before. Judging by the look on Spencers face, she'd better make the most of it. "Wow. He really is light." She murmured, humming a soothing note when he gave a scrunched up face for a minute. "How are you two doing?" She asked looking between them. "Sleeping at all?"
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"He's tiny, but he's perfect," Joel says, gently brushing his fingers over Dane's soft, fine little curls. They're so dark against his skin already and it's so strange to think their baby is going to grow up with his hair.
He blinks then and looks at Lara sheepishly. "Maybe not as much as we should be. We have a bad habit of staying up and watching him whenever he falls asleep." He's sure it won't last long, eventually they'll get too tired for that, but as of right now he can't imagine doing anything else.