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Maddie dragged herself slowly out of bed mid Sunday morning. She wasn’t surprised that Chimney wasn’t in the bed next to her. Even on his days off he was an early riser. With the new baby, he had taken the morning feed and change shifts which she very much appreciated. Pregnancy and post-partum brain just made her so sleepy.
She could already smell coffee brewing which she basically floated to. One cup a day was simply not enough during her pregnancy, and especially not now with two kids. Maddie was happy to be back to her regularly scheduled 4 cups of coffee, the occasional 5 with dessert.
She almost didn’t notice the giggles coming from behind her as she took her first sip.
“What are you doing up already? We thought you’d be sleeping in.” Chimney said, coming over to where Maddie stood in the kitchen. Before she could turn around, Chim had wrapped his arms around her to keep her facing the coffee pot.
“Well good morning to you too.”
Jee-Yun giggled in the background again, and Maddie could hear the jingle of Kevin’s bouncer with the little animals above to keep him entertained. She just wanted to go scoop up her babies and cuddle.
“What are you three up to? Don’t my babies want to come cuddle with Mama?” Maddie’s voice was exaggerated, clearly trying to reach her girl in the living room, and Jee came running into the kitchen clinging onto her leg.
“Mama, mama! Surpri—” Chim picked her up and tried to shhh her, but she persisted. “Surprise, Mama!”
Maddie was confused. But when she turned around it all made sense. All over the dining room table were flowers, balloons tied to each of the chairs.
“What’s all this for?” she asked, welling up slightly as she looked at Chimney.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Mads.”
She had completely forgotten. With everything going on in their lives recently—having a baby, Chimney stepping up at work, Jee-Yun starting school—all of it had fried her brain. She had completely forgotten that Mother’s Day was this week—that Mother’s Day was today. But Howie hadn’t. And clearly neither had Jee, because she wiggled herself out of her father’s arms and ran back to the living room where Kevin was bouncing.
“Look, Mama!” Jee said proudly as she spread her arms to present the scene in front of her. The coffee table was covered in Legos that had spilled onto the ground and were scattered throughout the living room. In the center of it all was a mostly completed Lego set of a bouquet of flowers, surrounded by piles of Duplos and Legos that didn’t look like much of anything.
“Did you do all this for me?”
“Mhm! Helped daddy with flowers! And made mine own!”
Maddie took her coffee to the couch and sat down while Jee excitedly ran around showing off all the things she had made. Chimney smiled down at the girls, sneaking off for just a moment to return with a slice of coffee cake for his wife as he sat down next to her.
“The flowers would have been done, but Jee—”
“Howie, they’re perfect.” Maddie kissed him softly. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for being such an amazing mom, Mads. I couldn’t see myself doing this with anyone else.”