Chapter 2: The First of Many...

A few short days after Tanya realizes she is going to become a first time mom, she starts to show and gets put on maternity leave.

She's then gets a surprise offer to do a commercial and is excited to find that it has increased her celebrity status.  Another pleasant surprise is an offer to write a biography on the baby's father.

Tanya starts to wonder how she is going to support the baby once it comes.  The royalty checks she receives just isn't enough and she still needs to buy several things for the baby.

She gets lucky with a couple more appearances and writes another book.  This earns her enough to paint the walls and install some nice flooring throughout the house.

Tanya heads to the local bookstore to purchase some books on pregnancy as well as a few to read to the baby.  Before she knows it she's spent over $2,000 on books!

Good thing her last appearance gave her a huge bonus check, which she uses to buy a few stuffed toys.

She also sees beautiful yellow (gender-neutral) crib with a butterfly pattern on it that she just has to have.  Tanya has decided she wants to be surprised when the baby comes and doesn't want to know the sex beforehand.  As long as the baby is healthy, she'll be happy.

Tanya is just beginning to realize how expensive having a child will be.  And if that isn't enough, things around the house are starting to break left and right.

First the shower, then the toilet, and finally her computer.  She can't work without her computer, so she has to get it fixed immediately.  The only problem is she doesn't have the money to pay for a repairman, so she has to do it herself.

She's a little nervous about fixing the computer on her own, she's heard all kinds of stories about the unskilled being electrocuted by trying it.  She studies the computer for several mintutes before she goes to work on it.  After carefully tinkering with the computer for a couple of hours, Tanya is successful.  Finally she can finish that last chapter before the repo man comes to claim that new crib.

Wait!  What's that feeling?  It's time!  The baby is coming!  Tanya decides to stay home and give birth, the hospital is just too far away to make it in time.

Tanya can't believe how painful this is, she's read the books but they didn't prepare her for this in the least! She had no idea!  There are no words for the pain.  She just has to push through.  Just a few more pushes!  I can do this, she tells herself.  She knows it will be worth it when she gets to hold her new baby for the first time.

She doesn't have to wait long, just an hour after she goes into labor Tanya meets her son for the first time. She takes one look at him and knows instantly that he is an Anderson.  The name suits him perfectly!  Tanya is overjoyed at Anderson's arrival into the world and just holds him close for several hours.

As the adrenaline starts to fade, Tanya realizes that both she and Anderson are exhausted.  She cuddles him close one last time before placing him in his crib, then collapses into her own bed.

She can't wait to tell everyone she knows about Anderson, but that will have to wait just a little longer...