Generation 1: Chapter 5

Little Jack was such a sweetie, and a blessing to us both. Hal would constantly go and play with him, and when he got home from work he would immediately go through to the nursery to give his son a hug and a kiss.

Of course, I gave the little guy plenty of hugs and kisses too. I was so protective of him I hardly let him out of my sight, except for when I was in the bath, or cooking.

Having a baby, of course, had it's drawbacks. Hal and I were up at all hours of the morning keeping him happy. We barely let him cry for one minute. He certainly kept us busy!

Soon - too soon - it was little Jack's birthday Our little baby boy was going to be a toddler! I felt so happy yet so sad at the same time. The days just seemed to fly by.

Aw! He looks a bit dopey at the moment but I'm sure that will change.

I have decided that it will be customary to give each child a makeover when they grow up. Straight after his, Jack went to play with his xylophone. He seems gifted - I'm sure he's going to be a good musician when he's older!

Now that Jack was older, I talked to Hal about having more children. I always wanted a big family and I think this would be good for us. Luckily, he agreed...

...and we got right down to business! It was fun the first time, and it was fun the second time. I don't think I'll get sick of this in a hurry...

Hal is an amazing parent! When he wasn't working, or improving his Logic skill, he was playing with Jack. That kid is so spoiled, but what can I say? He's our first child.

I had started throwing up again, and this time I'm pretty sure what it is...

But of course, a possible incoming baby didn't stop us from teaching Jack some important life skills...like talking and walking. He didn't seem too hot on his feet, and it took him a while to get the hang of walking, but he eventually managed it, though he still falls over a bit.

Soon (and predictably) enough, I woke up with a baby bump! I could hear lullabies and violins in my head, and grinned with delight. I was pregnant with my second child!

Now that I was pregnant I was having strange cravings for things like spaghetti and ice cream...and watermelons. I would go through about six watermelons a day. I don't even know why, I wasn't all that fond of them! But at least it was healthy. I would try to eat my spaghetti and ice cream sparingly but the less I ate, the more I craved it. However, I would succumb to my desire of watermelons daily, to keep my waistline in check.

I was really starting to show! My belly was getting more and more prominent daily, and I was being forced to waddle everywhere. Jack was beginning to call me "pengin-mommy"! He still hasn't been able to pronounce some words properly, and "penguin" is no exception. He's a chatty kid, though, and kept us entertained for a while each night, telling us "stories" while he drank his milk.

It was late at night again when I went into labour. Hal was at work so he couldn't call a cab, and neither could I so I had a home birth. I didn't want to leave jack on his own, either. I was hit by wave after wave of contractions, and it hurt so much!

"Just...a little...longer..." I wheezed to myself as I pushed. "Spin and pop...just spin and pop..."

I tried to contain my screaming, as there was a toddler almost next door. I didn't want to worry him, so I stayed as quiet as possible.

I was blessed with an adorable baby girl! I was so happy, I could cry. I held her in my arms, never wanting to let go. I had wanted a baby girl all my life, and finally, I had her.

My little Pandora Houston...

Generation 1: Chapter 4

Not long after the night we got married, I began to feel sick and started throwing up. Hal, being the amazing husband he was, was extremely concerned and suggested we contacted a doctor.

"No, Hal, it's fine," I would say, smiling and telling him that he was overreacting.

He would ask if I was sure, and I would reply that yes, I was, and would immediately hug him.

I woke up a couple of mornings later to find my stomach was swollen ever-so-slightly. I was, of course, confused as I hadn't been feeling up to much eating what with my stomach bug, but it seemed different - not like fat swollen, more like...baby swollen?

I gasped audibly. Sure, it was jumping to conclusions, but I had all the signs. I was absolutely thrilled, and I woke Hal up right away to tell him the news.

"You're what!?" he exclaimed, a look of utter shock on his face.

"Pregnant!" I repeated.

"Honey, that's...I'm gonna be a dad! Oh my...This is just so..."

"I know!" I squealed.

Nothing could have made me happier at that moment, not even if someone had given me a million Simoleans.

Hal and I had saved for a rainy day for ages, and so we decided that it was raining cats and dogs! We expanded the house so we had more room, and so the child (or children - eek!) could have a better place to grow up in. Let's do the grand tour!

This is the newly expanded living and dining room, complete with a stereo and a small TV so we weren't bored out of our wits. Hal's job was pretty stressful and pregnancy was taking its toll on me, so we both liked to unwind in front of the TV after a hard day.

We upgraded the kitchen a little, too. That trophy is an award I got for styling lots of Sims in Riverview, and I was very proud of my achievement.

Here's Hal and I's bedroom. Not much has changed but it's a little bigger. Heck, we needed space what with my balloon belly! It hasn't changed a lot because we ran out of money, but we're working on that.

This is the bathroom! It was so cramped in our old one and we didn't have a shower, but now we can have baths as well! It's nice to just lie in the bath rubbing your tummy, imagining a little baby in there. It's really relaxing, even without bubble bath or rubber ducks!

And finally, the nursery! We aren't sure if the baby's a boy or a girl so we decided on something neutral that was a little more interesting than your basic yellows and greens. The baby's sure going to be lucky!

Pregnancy was difficult on me, but thankfully Hal did amazing massages, and he did them for free - unlike the salon. We just didn't have enough money for a professional massage, and why would I spend that money when Hal would give me perfectly good ones for no cost at all?

I had found another way of passing the time - gardening. It was very calming to watch my plants grow, just like the child inside of me. Sure, maybe the weeding was tough, especially later on in my pregnancy, but it was OK, since I was cheered up by the fact that I was going to have a family!

 Late one night, I was awoken by the sharp pains in my stomach. It was the most painful thing I had ever experienced, and I stood up, confused as to what it would be. Looking back, it seems stupid that I didn't know what it was, but hey, it was 1 in the morning.
"HAL!" I screeched.
"What?" he groggily mumbled.
"The damn baby's coming, that's what!"

Hal leaped out of bed and panicked.

"What do I do!?" he yelled.

"Take me to the hospital or something!"

"OK! OK, um, hospital...hospital! Right! The hospital!"

"HAL!" I yelled at him. "Hurry UP!" The contractions were coming harder and faster now, and it was hardly bearable. He dialed the cab number on his phone with trembling fingers while I huffed and puffed, clutching my stomach.

"Oh, it hurts! HAL, IT HURTS! Do something!"
"Hello? Hello, my wife's in labour! You have to take us to the hospital, quick!" He rattled off our address.

"The taxi will be there as soon as possible," he informed me.

"How soon is as soon as possible?" I wheezed. The pain was unbearable.

"I don't know!"

'As soon as possible' turned out to be about 30 seconds. The cabbie must have heard my screechings over the phone and decided it would probably be best to get there faster than he had ever driven before.

Finally, we arrived at the hospital, where I gave birth...

...to a bouncing baby boy! I was so proud, and Hal couldn't have been happier, even though he had wanted a girl.

Jack Houston, my little Prince!

Generation 1: Chapter 3

I finally saved up enough money to buy four walls! Unfortunately, it was just an outhouse, but it was something, anyway. It was cramped and a claustrophobic's definition of hell but at least I would get some privacy. I was proud of myself and ever-so-slightly smug.

And I got a promotion! Sure, the outfit's hideous (Helloo!? I'm meant to be in the stylist profession. I'm meant to be making a good impression on the clients. Dressing like a granny is not the right way to go) but the pay was more and, who knows? Maybe I'll get to expand my four walls if I save up enough! Note to self: Walls are expensive.

I started seeing more and more of Hal. I went to visit him quite often and we were quite the loved-up pair, though we weren't officially going steady. One day I went to his house and asked him. He was unsure at first but one look from my pleading eyes made him cave in and he accepted. He does have commitment issues after all.

Now that we were officially a pair we would go out to The Little Corsican Bistro every Sunday to have some food. We'd look quite odd together, him with his muscles and we with my neon hair and granny clothes. Still, it was fun and we were really going strong. Sometimes we'd even watch the sunset together.

I had saved up even more money and bought myself a double bed. I was pretty sure this would come in handy some time...*wink* It was slightly more comfortable than my old bed and it had more space so I wouldn't find myself falling out every so often.

I invited Hal over, to have some alone time with him. I asked him to stay the night and flirted with him practically all night. Then this happened.
      It was absolutely amazing. As I kissed him for the first time, fireworks were going off in my head and I was finding it hard to stop. So I didn't. I barely stopped kissing him that entire night, save for the time we spent catching some Zs.

I woke up to find Hal gone. I decided that he had probably gone to work and thought nothing of it. I was feeling great - I had a day off today, the sun was shining, I had just had my first kiss - things were going pretty well. I made myself some breakfast and thought about what to do. I couldn't just sit here twiddling my thumbs, so I got up and went to the pool.

I stood at the water's edge, staring out at the ripples dancing across the surface of the water. I don't know why I came here if I wasn't going to swim, though it wasn't as if I was a hydrophobic or anything. I think I just came here to look cool and show off my bikini bod so I went and sat down on a deck chair...

...next to this woman who was clearly dressed in attire suitable for swimming. Hot. I watched two people having a hold breath contest, and some kids having an argument over an inflatable dinosaur.
"I want the dinosaur!"
"No, I want the dinosaur!"
"Give me the dinosaur!"
"Get your own!"
"I want my mommy!"
"I want my mommy!"
"Waaaaaah!"
"Waaaaaah!"
These kids were seriously putting me off my lifetime dream to raise five kids from babies to teenagers, so I promptly left since I couldn't seem to nod off.

***

A few months later, I called Haland asked him to meet me at the art gallery. I don't know what made me change into my formal dress, but I did anyway since it kind of suited the occasion. Me and Hal were closer now, if that was even possible, and I was ready to do something life-changing. I sure hoped I was up for it. Together, we perused the rooms of traditional and modern works of art, marvelling at the talent of every single artist displayed there, until we were finally outside again, and it was dark. My heart drumming louder than a herd of elephants doing the tango, I got down on one knee.

"Hal," I said, reaching for the little velvet box that was kept in a hidden pocket in my dress, "I know this is kind of backwards but I figure if I don't do this, neither of us will. Hal, I knew from the second I saw you that you were the man I loved. And so, one thing leads to another, and our love seems to be stronger than ever. Hal Breckenridge, I love you. Will you be my husband?"

Hal was so excited that he started hopping about from foot to foot when he saw the ring. "Oh my Plumbob, AJ!" he yelled. "Oh my Plumbob!"

"So I'll take that as a yes, then?" I asked as he hugged me delightedly.

"Of course!" he replied enthusiastically, kissing my neck. Finally, after many months of passion, Hal was my fiancé, and I wouldn't have any other guy in his place.

The next few weeks whizzed by in a whirlwind of wedding plans, promotions and love. I would call Hal up regularly to check that everything was ready for the wedding, and he would reassure me that yes, everything was ready, and that I had picked just the right spot for our wedding. And finally, the date arrived.

"With this ring I thee wed..."

 "With this ring, I thee wed..."

...And so, we shared our first kiss as husband and wife. I was perfectly happy right then and there, and nothing could have put a dampener on my mood. I was married!

 Cherry Blossom Chapel was definitely the right place to get married. It was just built two years ago, according to some locals, so it wasn't too old for my tastes. Traditional weddings aren't my style.

 After all the guests had gone we had some alone time before going home...

 ...which we immediately expanded! Sure it was tiny, but we only had about 6,000 Simoleans to spend and that wasn't going to buy us a palace. So we made do with what we had. After all, it was cosy.

 We were both hungry after the adrenaline rush that was a wedding, and so I prepared Mac and Cheese - something cheap, since we only had about 81 Simoleans between us - and ate it together. After that, well...

 ...Enough said.