Since finding out I was pregnant, my sisters-in-law have repeatedly told me to be extra careful during the first three months.
Gu Mingyue reduced the number of times she went out to a minimum, and spent most of her time staying at home.
On sunny afternoons, she would move a wicker chair to the window, lay out drawing paper, and quietly start drawing.
On the table were apples that Xia Qinghe had brought; they were freshly harvested this year, and the room was filled with their fragrance.
Gu Mingyue held the pencil, the tip gently sketching on the paper.
Sometimes it's a small style of baby onesies, sometimes it's a floral pattern on a child's bib; every stroke reveals an expectation for the future.
When I get tired of drawing, I lean back in my chair and rest for a while, reach out and touch my belly which isn't showing yet, and whisper to the baby inside.
"Baby, when you are born, Mommy will turn all these drawings into real little clothes."
Occasionally, Aunt Qin would knock on the door to bring some fresh vegetables, and when she saw her engrossed in drawing, she would always urge her to get up and move around.
"Don't just sit there. Come with me to the yard for a walk and get some sunshine. It's good for the child."
Gu Mingyue put down her paintbrush and followed Aunt Qin for a few leisurely walks around the courtyard, listening to her tell interesting stories about her pregnancy. Life was peaceful and fulfilling.
The sketches gradually accumulated into a thick stack, which Gu Mingyue carefully stored in a drawer.
This is not only preparation for future work, but also her first tender gift to her unborn baby.
Early that morning, Gu Mingyue remembered her mother-in-law's instructions on the phone, so she scooped out half a bowl of millet from the package, rinsed it clean, and poured it into a clay pot.
I added three times the amount of water to the pot and simmered it over low heat.
Soon, a faint aroma of rice wafted from the clay pot. The millet had bloomed and the porridge was thick.
She sprinkled a few more red dates that her mother-in-law had sent earlier, and the sweetness quietly seeped into the porridge.
Just as I poured the porridge into the white porcelain bowl, there was a soft knock at the gate of the courtyard.
When I opened the door, Lin Hui was carrying an enamel mug and walked in with a smile: "I guessed you should be up, so I specially made you a bowl of sesame paste. My mom said that eating this during pregnancy is good for your brain."
Gu Mingyue quickly ushered her into the house, pointing to the millet porridge on the table: "Perfect timing, I just cooked some millet porridge, let's eat together."
"No, Niannian is still at home. I'll go back now. You can close the door."
After Lin Hui left, Gu Mingyue drank the warm millet porridge. The sweetness of the red dates mixed with the aroma of the rice warmed her stomach comfortably.
Just as the dishes were being cleared away, Xia Qinghe's voice came from the courtyard gate, followed by a clear child's voice.
"Mommy, where is Auntie's baby?"
Gu Mingyue opened the door and saw Xia Qinghe standing at the door with Yangyang in her hand, the child holding a half-eaten apple.
"This child heard that you were pregnant and has been talking about coming to see you for days."
Xia Qinghe smiled and pushed Yangyang forward.
Yangyang tilted her little face up and carefully approached Gu Mingyue's lower abdomen, standing on tiptoe to try to see inside, but afraid of touching her, her little hand froze in mid-air.
"Auntie, is the baby sleeping in your tummy? Can it hear me?"
Gu Mingyue was amused by his serious expression and gently placed his small hand on her lower abdomen: "You can hear it, Yangyang, how about you say hello to it?"
Yangyang immediately lowered her voice and whispered to her belly, "Hello baby, I'm Yangyang. When you come out, I'll take you to pick the little flowers in the yard."
Xia Qinghe sat to the side, watching the two interact, and said to Gu Mingyue with a smile, "This child is usually very mischievous, but he's become quite reserved today."
As they were talking, Yangyang suddenly took out a milk candy from his pocket and stuffed it into Gu Mingyue's hand: "This is the candy I saved up. Give it to the baby. It will definitely help you grow taller."
Gu Mingyue held the milk candy, still warm from the child's body, feeling a warm glow in her heart. "Okay, Auntie thanks Yangyang on behalf of the baby."
After finishing breakfast, as Gu Mingyue was clearing away the dishes, she remembered the sketches she had saved in the drawer. She smiled and said to Xia Qinghe, "I have something I'd like you to take a look at." She turned around and took out a stack of drawing paper from the bedroom drawer, spreading it out on the table.
The drawing paper was full of small designs of baby clothes: there were floral onesies with round necks and small bows drawn on the cuffs.
The toddler shoes have blue checks and soft soles, with a simple tiger embroidered on the toe.
There were also several patchwork bibs, made of scraps of fabric in different colors pieced together to form the shape of a small sun.
Xia Qinghe leaned closer and gently tapped the sketch with her finger: "The pattern on this bodysuit is really pretty. It's a pity I have a boy, otherwise he would definitely like it."
Gu Mingyue sat to the side, picked up a pencil and made corrections on the drawing paper: "Luo Haiping gave me some scraps of fabric a while ago, which are perfect for making bibs."
The two of them stood head to head, pondering the matter back and forth.
The neckline should be made loose to make it easy for the baby to put on and take off. The pant legs should have some extra room, as children grow quickly. Even the buttons should be rounded fabric buttons to avoid rubbing against the skin.
Gu Mingyue would occasionally add a few strokes to the drawing, noting down both of their thoughts, her eyes filled with tender anticipation for their unborn baby.
Just as I was pondering the style of baby clothes, a clear child's voice came from the courtyard gate: "Mommy, Auntie's little flower is pretty!"
Gu Mingyue looked up and saw Lin Hui leading Niannian in, the child clutching a freshly picked daisy in her hand.
"This girl insisted on coming along, saying she wanted to play with her aunt." Lin Hui smiled and handed the things in her hand to Gu Mingyue.
Niannian had already broken free from her hand, ran to the table, and stood on tiptoe, peering at the drawing over the edge of the table.
"Auntie, is this a little outfit?" she asked, pointing to the onesie on the drawing paper, her big eyes sparkling.
Gu Mingyue smiled and lifted her onto a small stool: "Yes, when Auntie's baby is born, we'll dress the baby in this."
Niannian tilted her little head and reached out to touch the bow on the drawing paper: "Niannian has one like this too."
Lin Hui shook her head, both helpless and amused: "You child, always trying to get involved."
They were talking animatedly about the drawing when a sweet fragrance suddenly wafted from the courtyard gate.
Sister-in-law Qin walked in carrying a white porcelain plate: "I just steamed some osmanthus cakes, here are two pieces for you to try."
The osmanthus cake in the plate had a pale yellow hue, and the osmanthus petals sprinkled on top were still steaming, instantly filling the room with a sweet aroma.
"Sister-in-law Qin, you've come at the perfect time!" Lin Hui greeted her with a smile. Niannian had already moved closer to the table, staring at the osmanthus cake and swallowing hard.
Aunt Qin placed the plate on the table, her gaze falling on the drawing. She immediately noticed the rabbit that Nian Nian had drawn with a little carrot, and couldn't help but smile: "This little rabbit is so cute, Nian Nian, do you like it?"
Niannian nodded vigorously, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of Gu Mingyue's clothes.
Gu Mingyue had an idea. "I happen to have some fabric here. Let's make a doll for the child."
The group was amused and immediately divided up the tasks.
Gu Mingyue cut out the rabbit shape according to the drawing, Lin Hui found a needle and thread, and Xia Qinghe patiently taught Niannian to stuff cotton into the doll's body.
Niannian's little hands were clumsy, but she studied very hard, occasionally rubbing cotton on her face, which made the three of them laugh.
In no time, a plush rabbit with crooked ears was finished. Niannian hugged the rabbit tightly and wouldn't let go, saying "Thank you, Auntie" repeatedly.
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