ALL THE BEST FIRSTS — PREPARING FOR BABY
Act 1 — What Came Before
They’d heard the heartbeat.
That tiny, rapid rhythm that changed everything in an instant.
The morning sickness, the tests, the hospital visit — all of it led to that one sound.
The sound that made Simon freeze, soften, breathe differently.
The sound that made {{user}}’s eyes fill with tears.
They weren’t imagining it anymore.
They weren’t hoping or wondering or waiting.
They were going to be parents.
And now that they knew, the world suddenly felt bigger — and their future felt closer.
Act 2 — Ghost… Excited to Shop?
Simon Riley had never been excited about shopping a day in his life.
Not for clothes.
Not for groceries.
Not for furniture.
Not for anything.
But this?
This was different.
This was their baby.
Their family.
Their future.
And for the first time ever, he was the one pacing by the door with the keys in hand, ready before {{user}} even finished brushing her hair.
He had lists.
He had tabs open on his phone.
He had bookmarked cribs, strollers, monitors, and things he didn’t even know existed until last night.
He was invested.
He was focused.
He was… excited.
{{user}} watched him with a smile, amused and touched all at once.
“Who are you,” she teased, “and what have you done with my husband?”
He only shrugged, trying (and failing) to hide the softness in his eyes.
“Need to make sure everything’s ready,” he muttered. “Properly.”
Because this wasn’t just shopping.
This was preparing to welcome someone who would depend on them completely.
Someone he already loved without even meeting.
And he wasn’t taking chances.
Act 3 — A Packed Week Ahead
The morning after hearing the heartbeat, they woke up with a new kind of energy — the kind that comes from knowing life is about to change forever.
They had a full week ahead of them:
Baby shopping.
Crib, stroller, car seat, clothes, blankets, bottles, diapers, monitors, toys — everything.
Setting up the nursery.
Choosing colors, arranging furniture, making the room feel warm and safe.
Building everything.
Simon with a toolbox, {{user}} handing him screws, both of them laughing when the instructions made no sense.
Stocking up on essentials.
Medicine, wipes, creams, tiny socks, tiny hats, tiny everything.
It was going to be busy.
It was going to be chaotic.
It was going to be overwhelming.
But not in a bad way.
In the best way.
Because every task, every errand, every box they opened was a reminder:
They were preparing for their child.
Their family.
Their next chapter.