Rotation 1: Chapter 3: The Bray's

    Barbara is not an idle woman, she's a woman of action and quickly goes to make sure the cows are all situated. She can't help but smile as she fills the troughs as this is all she has ever wanted and it's made even better when knowing that her husband won't be interfering with her at all. He will be doing the selling and business side of things but she gets to be the one who makes the important farming decisions. 

    Once she knows her animals are good she turns her attention to the mammal she calls her husband, the two sharing a rather romantic moment. Hopefully bringing an important ambience into their home of love and hard-work!

    Time goes fast with these two and Barbara's time mainly passes with physical activity, taking care of the cows she dearly loves and reading alongside her husband whenever she wants to. They're quite different but they fall in a quiet and peaceful routine of their mundane country lifestyle. 

    But this mundane peacefulness is quickly interrupted with what Barbara feels is morning sickness, something she heard about from her mother and sister-in-laws. Being a family sim secondary this is great news but she isn't the type to want hella loads of kids, she just wants a happy and content family of healthy souls. William is quietly pleased with the news, taking it with a genuine smile full of glee but he was never the type to be loud and reactive. He is very much looking forward to the baby joining their family. 

    Once the news and joy wears off they fall into their old routines. Due to the lack of calves that means there is no milk and thus William has no responsibilities in a direct sense, thus he lives out his knowledge sim dreams focusing on skilling up. Barbara joins him whenever she wants but unlike him she reads for fun not learning, but she appreciates his thirst for knowledge. There's comfort in knowing with them as parents that her kids will likely have a very balanced youth. 

    William's friend, Nathaniel Estmore comes over and the two spend time chatting and playing games in the frontyard. The two discuss a wide range of topics including fatherhood, their work and what they aspire for. While William doesn't quite relate to Nathaniel's dreams of social prestige and success he does respect the thirst for success. Plus it helps to have a friend and it seems that the only other man of the town, Eddie Fairchild, is quite self-isolating. 

    Early pregnancy was full of sickness and now she's mainly exhausted all the time (as can be seen in the 2nd photo). Barbara overall has found contentment with pregnancy, it's nothing too bad or challenging although she does wish it would go by faster. She just likes having full range of her body and limitations, but it is what it is. As for her feelings on the sex of the baby she also quite literally doesn't care, I've noticed that Barbara lives far more in the practical than she does in the emotional or sentimental.

    All William cares about besides the health of his wife are his books and reading them while shirtless. He just enters into a mental flow of flipping pages then stopping to eat then returning to flipping pages, he dreams of being masterfully skilled. Most of what he's been studying is the Mechanical and Cooking skills. 

    Barbara ends up giving birth late at night to her healthy son who she decides to name Billie as neither William or Barbara really discussed names and she likes short practical names. But William feels as though his son needs a proper name and thus decides that William is sensible enough but Billie can certainly be his family nickname. The labor was relatively easy and Barbara is just relieved that her baby is strong and healthy. 

    William quickly falls into the groove of fatherhood, finding that he quite loves bonding with his little baby boy. Anytime he looks at Billie, William is reminded of his motivations and what he aspires for in Bourneford. That image of course including having a family that exudes success and knowledge, the latter being the most important to William. That man surely loves his books. 

    Barbara is quite literally a simple woman and even though she just gave birth she's ready to get back at it. A simple woman in all honesty, she just wants a roof, food, cows and to have moments with her husband. William has always appreciated her directness and certainly enjoys his wife's vigor and urgency, the two just seem to understand each other. They aren't overtly showy with their love and rather find comfort in just knowing the two are happy in their own little worlds side by side. Ordinary love. 

    Barbara enjoys spending time with her precious baby boy, she isn't that maternal but she does love her baby boy. Billie really has also been an easy baby and is quite privileged to be loved by two involved parents. I really think his childhood will be a sense of freedom but educational importance and light yet not domineering love. 

    Barbara has found out she is pregnant again but one thing about this girl is she doesn't care for rest and does whatever she wants. This includes making shortbread from her Aunt Joan's recipe and then digging up holes that get dug by wild animals. The holes quite bother her but she is glad that her cows have been okay, all four of them being pregnant by the bull. 

    Life with the Brays is just simply mundane and rather undramatic which makes sense for this couple. William and Barbara are just like an old couple who just respect each other's interests and give each other space. William has just been in pure joy at the mix of his time being with his books and his son. He really wants the next child to be a girl, just because he wants the full experience. 

    This pregnancy has not been good for Barbara's mental space likely due to the closeness of her pregnancies and the fact she didn't give her body or mind the time to recover. She just feels hungry all the time, moody, exhausted, angry and a bit depressed. Truly her want for this to become over with is strong. 

    William in noticing his wife's mood has been doing anything he can to help distract her and that does involve affection. It is in his arms that Barbara even for a moment finds a sense of peace. She doesn't often think intrusively, but it's these moments where he tries to make her feel better that she is reminded of how lucky she is to have a partner so understanding and willing to be there for her.

    Billie Bray ages up into honestly quite an adorable little boy. He reminds me so much of his mother yet has his father's hair and eyes. Hopefully he has a good and happy future ahead especially as he does seem like he will be a perfect little farm boy!

    Barbara, despite all attempts, still feels a bit emotionally strained and wild, but when it gets towards the end of her pregnancy she finally feels as though she has leveled out into a state of relaxation and ease. After this though she is certainly determined to let her body and mind take a break, plus she does find pregnancy quite restless. 

    Barbara just adores spending time with her son, even when it is late at night. She finds comfort in his eyes and stroking his thick hair, she also is quite comfortable with the fact he is a boy as she grew up with only brothers. But she begins to feel labor pains and fittingly gives birth in the nursery in a painful labor...

    The result is a baby girl who they name Ida Joan, Ida because it's a short and simple name while Joan is in honor of Barbara's aunt. Thankfully, Barbara comes out strong and is quite relieved to see that her baby is okay. The labor also was quite painful compared to that of Billie's and thus she is even more determined to wait before getting pregnant again. 

Disclaimer: My apologies to William for not showing up much he is just boring and literally only reads or plays with his son. But once again reminder is he's a man so that also is a valid explanation.