Baby 100: When love is deep, much can be accomplished

NOTE

Today is my birthday so as a birthday present for myself, as well as to all of my wonderful readers, I present baby 100!  

In the past, I regretted not doing this challenge faster but now I wouldn't change a thing.  I totally love how everything played out in this challenge, even if the beginning was a bit... sloppy.  And I'm especially happy to be finishing this challenge on my birthday.  Seriously, the best birthday present I could ever ask for.

The quote in the title is by Shinichi Suzuki.

Also, this is a shout out to a good reader of mine.  Hello, First Time Commenter!!  ;)

Before you read, I'd like to point out that this post, baby 100, is my 100th post on this blog.  I just thought that was so cool.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

As per usual, the kids aged up wonderfully.  Ursellia is now working at becoming an author of fantasy books.  She is combining her love of reading and her love for fantasy creatures quite nicely.

Jayda is an amazing teenager and even has a boyfriend already.  She's continuing to do her dance lessons and has won several awards.

Jed is quite the cutie and still has a growing fascination of the creepy crawlies.  He'd freak out if he knew that I had to kill a spider that was in the bathtub the other day.

Winston grows up to inherit a head of dark brown hair and blue eyes.  I haven't looked closely enough to tell if his eyes are mine or his father's.

The very last father in my challenge is none other than my ex-fiancé, Kendall Johnson.  I hear he's still single but not running into too many financial issues, so that's good.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The kids and I are in an intense game of Just Dance when the phone rings.  Distracted, we let it go to voice mail.

"Hey Calista, it's Adam.  Listen, I-"

"Pick it up!  Pick it up!" I nearly screech at poor Jayda as I run for the phone. 

Breathlessly, I talk into the receiver, "Adam, hey, sorry about that.  We were in the middle of game.  Can you make it quick?"

"Sure thing.  Could you come over or could I come over tomorrow?  I have a rather important thing to discuss.  With you," he adds.

"Sure, no problem.  Um, how about at my house?  It just makes it easier with the kids and all," I reply, my voice two times higher than it usually is.

"Great, see you tomorrow.  Love you," he says.

"Love ya'," I reply, dazed.

"Mom!  Mom, it's your turn to dance with Jed!" Jayda's calling brings me back to reality.

"Oh, yes, of course.  Which song are we doing."

"Fame, by Irene Cara."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

THIRD PERSON

Early morning the next day, Adam walks up the steps.  He's nervous at what he's about to tell Calista.  It's one of those things that only people who truly know you will understand.  He hopes that she'll understand and if she does, she's the one for him.

He doesn't have to wait long by the front door until she lets him in.  He notices that she's dressed up nicely, just for him and it makes him smile to think that she would go through all the trouble just for one guy, especially a guy like him.  

She's just as nervous.  Thoughts about what he's going to "discuss" with her are whirling around in her head.  Part of her hopes it's a proposal but part of her believes it's something else.

They walk into her bedroom, for some privacy, and he takes a deep breath before locking his eyes onto hers.

"Calista," he says.  "I've sold the house."

"Oh my god!  To who?"  She responds excitedly.  Despite the fact that she feeling disappointment inside, she's genuinely happy for him.

He purses his lips.  "To, myself."

"Wait... what?" Her confusion is attractive to him and he can't help but hug her and kiss her hair.

"I sold it to myself.  That first day we met.  You gave me more hope.  I didn't realize it at the time but I needed that house more than anything and selling it was not that answer.  I didn't know how special it was to me and to my family."

"Adam, that's so sweet.  I'm so glad you decided to keep it.  Oh, you don't know how happy I am," and she flings herself into his arms.

"I've got another surprise for you.  But you'll have to come to my house to see it."

She looks at him and says, "You and your surprises."  They share a kiss and say good-bye.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

CALISTA'S POINT OF VIEW

I'm extremely happy that I was somehow - without meaning to - able to convince Adam to keep his home.   I'm curious as to what his surprise it but he says I have to wait after the challenge.  These surprises of his, they're going to give me a heart attack from the anticipation of waiting for them.

The kids are growing up fast and so is my abdomen.  I feel like the closer I get to the finish of this challenge, the faster my life seems to go by.

I'm in the kids' room, cleaning and tidying up the area.  I pick up a stuffed animal or "stuffy" as I have heard them be called.  It's old but it's obviously had a caring life.  It must be hormones or something because a tear trickles down my face and lands on the bear's ear.  I hadn't realized it at the time, but reaching the end of this challenge has really triggered some emotional part of me that I never knew I had.  I quickly wipe the tears away and go to check on the kids.

I find them in the playroom, playing with each other.  It's so sweet to see them so calm.  It's unbelievable to know that I've gone from a novice mother, to an expert who will successfully raise 100 children.  It still blows my mind.

"Mom, do you need something?" Jayda asks, looking up.

"No, just visiting my awesome children."

I sigh and turn myself around to go relax a bit.  It's been nice being so close to finishing the challenge because I have so much more time to do what I want.  It's weird having freedom and I never realized it until now.

I sit down in the pool area where it's nice and calm.  After resting my head for a few minutes or so, I hear the latch of the gate to the pool open.  Standing right in front of me is a familiar red head: Luke.

"God, you scared the hell out of me.  Please don't do that.  And sorry to be a bitch, but why are you here anyway?"

"I came to… to tell you that I… I can’t let go of my feelings for you.  I know you’ve moved on, with that other man, but just hear me out."  He takes me hand but I pull away. 

"Okay.…”

Sighing, he continues.  "After we talked in the jail room, I knew we were just going to stay friends, but a part of me still thought you'd come back to me.  When I saw you with that man at that house, I knew immediately that you had forgotten me, and it triggered something in me.  I realized that I did indeed love you, not as a friend, but as a lifetime partner.  But it’s obvious that he and you are a thing.  So just to be clear, you’re not interested in being with me anymore?"

"Um… no," I say looking down because I know he’s hurt.  If I look him in the eye, I’ll probably break down.  "Luke, I still love you, but not that same way as I did before," I confess.  "Can we still be friends?  I mean, you once said we could be friends, right?"

"It hurts me to say this but I still love you, so seeing you would only hurt more.  I know I've said differently in the past but think about it, I was in prison when I saw you last.  I was desperate and telling you we could be friends was the only way I knew I could get you to come back to me.  But after some thought, I've come to the decision that it won’t work out for us to be friends."

"Luke, how-."  

Tears well up in my eyes.  The emotions I’m experiencing make me wonder, do I still have feelings for him?  And if so, has Adam been my way of coping?  

No, I do love Adam.  If that’s Luke’s decision, then I’m fine with that.

"One more thing," Luke says, interrupting my train of thought.  "Am I right about you and him?"

I nod, not caring that the tears are rolling down my cheeks.  Luke scrunches his face in pain and frowns sadly before opening the gate and walking out.  

“Good bye, Calista.  Perhaps we’re meet again when the, uh, circumstances are more in our favor.”

The gate clicks closed and I ball my eyes out like never before. 

A few minutes later, I hear the gate latch click again.

"Oh, so you’ve come back to change your mind?" I sass. 

"Um, no?"  A deep voice replies.  On a normal day I’d be instantly embarrassed or ashamed to be crying in front of Adam, but today I am utterly beyond caring. 

Adam comes over and stands beside me.  "What’s wrong?  I saw Luke walking out as I was coming in.  Did he hurt you?"

Shaking my head no, I wait for his hand to touch my shoulder so I can shy away from it but no such opportunity arises.  He must know me better than I thought.  I do like comfort but I prefer to be the one to choose when I get that comfort. 

"He said he loved me… I… don’t… anymore….  But he doesn’t… want… to… be… friends," I blubber incoherently.  Adam hands me a tissue that is still warm from being in his pocket, I assume. 

Then he reaches out to reassure me but immediately takes it back.  I take a deep breath and grab his hand back, putting it on my shoulder.  I pick up the other one and put it onto my other shoulder.  Then I stand to hug him and wrap my arms around his waist to hug him.  Tears are still leaking but I've calmed down a lot in the past five minutes.  He rubs my back as I explain the entire event that took place prior to his arrival.

When I finish, he asks, "Calista, you need to be 100% sure.  Do you still love him?"

"I don't know.  I thought I did but now that I think about it, I don't think I do.  I do still feel sorry when I hurt him like that but there's no love in those feelings.  I really do want to stay his friend, but that's not going to happen.  He made it very clear that he didn't want to go down that road.  I think I had such a terrible response to his actions because I lost a friend.  But you know what?  That crying let out all of those feelings that were built up inside of me.  And I feel so much better."

Adam caresses my cheek and we sit down.  "That's good.  Um, just wondering, but did you really mean it when you said we were a couple?"

"Yeah, why?  Do you think we aren't?" 

"I thought we were a couple the first day I asked you out.  It's just good to know we're on the same page," Adam smiles.  Then he adds, "So, would a lovely lady like to go out with me tonight?"

"Only if you're willing to let me clean myself up."

"It's a deal."

That night, we go out for dinner and afterwards, we chat.  I learn many more things about Adam.  For one thing, in addition to doing Sim Fu, he also loves soccer, running, and swimming.  He works out three times a week, hates asparagus, loves biology, and wants to travel a lot once he retires.  He's self conscious about his body hair and he learned to blow bubbles with bubble gum at the age of ten.  It's so different, my relationship with Adam.  I feel like I know more about Adam than I do Luke, even though I've known Luke much longer.  We chat until 1:30 am and then go to bad, promising to meet for lunch on another day.  

"Let's make it soon," Adam suggests.  "I can't stands being away from you for too long.  Love you, Cal."
  

His words put me in a good mood.  It's nice ending the day on a good note, especially considering today's events.  I'm in such a good mood that I don't even mind when Sunny wakes me up at 5:50 asking to be fed.

Many days pass and the baby's due date arrives.  The contractions hurt but they're familiar and somewhat comforting.  

I give birth to baby 100, a beautiful 6lb 8oz baby boy.  I name him Lukas (a variation of Luke's name) Kendall and I inhale his newborn baby scent.  

I snuggle him and feel contentment.  

My challenge is over.  

I have actually finished it.  

I think about the future.  Will I marry Adam?  Will we have kids?  Will we grow old together?  

The kids come in to meet the new baby and I shake my fantasies out of my head.  It's nice to dream but right now I need to pay attention to the beautiful moments happening right now.  

The future can wait... until tomorrow.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

NOTE

Calista Smith completed her 100 Baby Challenge with....

• 57 pregnancies
• 45 girls ♀
• 55 boys ♂
• 26 single births
• 20 sets of twins
• 10 sets of triplets
• 1 set of quadruplets

Here's a birthday card that a good friend of mine, Izzi, made for me.  It also acts as a reminder of how Calista started her challenge, and how she ended it.  Haha, I love how the words that I wrote in my first post and my last post actually work together. Thanks, Izzi!!!!!

djskfljdsklfjdsklfjsdklfjsklfjsd  <---- Is this what you're thinking?  Because it's definitely what I'm thinking.  I am so happy to have finished this challenge and I'm so happy you guys have been reading it.  Whether you've been reading from the beginning or nearer to the end (or somewhere in the middle) I want to give you all a big hug.

*tackle hugs*

I hope you all know how significant that hug was, particularly because I don't really hug much in real life.

Thank you so much for being here with me while writing and playing this challenge.  Honestly, this has been the best year and 10 months I have ever had.  It means so much to me to know other people enjoyed it too.

As if I haven't said it a million times already, thank you so much for reading and just an FYI, I will be planning another blog with the Smith family so this won't be the last you see of Calista.... :D

I hope you have a wonderful day!

❉♥♩✮☀♬★☺✾❄❦◈☼⁂♦☾♣♫❉♥♩✮☀♬★☺✾❄❦◈☼⁂♦☾♣♫❉♥♩✮☀♬★☺✾❄❦◈

Yes, I just copied random symbols... because I can.