"Life's Little Surprises"

Ashley lay in bed, her stomach churning with a familiar wave of nausea. She was 22 weeks pregnant now, and the morning sickness that had plagued her in the early days had returned with a vengeance. She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but her queasy stomach made it impossible to settle. Avan was already up and getting ready for work, his tie knotted tightly around his neck as he checked his phone for what felt like the hundredth time. "Hey, I'm running a bit behind," he said, bending down to kiss her forehead. "But I'll make sure to be home early for the reveal party. Your mom and dad are coming over, right?" Ashley nodded, trying to smile despite her queasy feelings. "Yeah, they're coming over at 2 pm. And your parents are bringing that big banner with the baby's sex on it." Avan grinned. "I'm so excited. I've been trying to guess all week, but I'm completely stumped." Ashley laughed, feeling a pang of affection for her husband. "You're going to have to wait and see, just like everyone else." As Avan headed out the door, Ashley felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Today was a big day - they were finally going to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. But with her nausea and Avan's crazy work schedule, she was worried that the day might not go as smoothly as they'd hoped. She dragged herself out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen, where she made herself a cup of ginger tea and sat down at the table. The nausea was making it hard for her to eat, and she'd been surviving on crackers and toast for days. She felt frail and weak, and she couldn't wait to get through this trimester and start feeling like herself again. Just as she was starting to feel a little better, her phone buzzed with a text from her mom. "Hey sweetie, just checking in! Can't wait to see you today and find out if it's a boy or girl! Love you!" Ashley smiled, feeling a surge of love for her family. She texted her mom back, promising to see her soon, and then settled in to wait for the rest of the day to unfold. As the hours ticked by, Ashley's nausea came and went, but she was determined to make it through the day without incident. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her stomach, and focused on the excitement of the day ahead. She was going to find out if she was having a boy or a girl, and she couldn't wait to share the moment with Avan and their families. At 1:45 pm, Ashley's mom and dad arrived at the door, bearing gifts and big smiles. "Hey kiddo!" her mom exclaimed, giving Ashley a hug. "We're so excited to find out if it's a boy or a girl!" Ashley laughed, feeling a little more energized now that her family was here. "Me too," she said, smiling at her parents. Just as they were all chatting and getting settled, Avan walked in the door, looking frazzled but happy. "Hey everyone," he said, dropping his bag on the floor. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a nightmare." Ashley smiled, feeling a little relieved that he was here now. "It's okay," she said, taking his hand. "We're just getting started." Together, they gathered in the living room, surrounded by balloons and streamers, and prepared to find out the biggest surprise of their lives.