Wow, 9 months sure went fast! I've been thinking and reflecting a lot lately as my pregnancy is drawing to a close.
There will be plenty of things I'll miss about being pregnant:
-having a good excuse to take a nap or put my feet up when I feel tired
-getting treated extra special
-prenatal yoga
-not having my period every month
-hormonal stability
-feeling my baby on the inside
-new and hand-me-down maternity clothes
-eating whenever I want to
-my husband's intrigue with my bodily changes, and talking to my tummy
-dates and dinners out as a couple
-imagining what features our baby will have
-my glowing skin and shiny thick mop of hair
-feeling warm in thin layer of clothes in the winter
-the extra buoyancy in the pool, and how great it feels to be gravity free in the water
-appointments with my obstetrician
-ultrasounds and heart rate checks of the baby
-quiet time to myself
Then there are a few things I've missed and I'm looking forward to again:
-wine, oh how I've missed you.
-soft cheeses and deli treats
-lying on my tummy and flat on my back comfortably
-snore free sleep with a normal number of pillows
-sex in a variety of positions
-using my mountain bike, skis, and climbing gear
-fitting into my regular clothes again
-average sized breasts
-breathing with a full lung capacity
-absence of heartburn
-my innie belly button
-abs
-wearing my wedding rings
-ankle bones and foot arches
-being able to see my bikini line
-cutting my toenails and shaving my legs
-being able to fit behind the steering wheel to drive and fully twist to shoulder check
There are also all the new things to be discovered and learned:
-the experience of labour and giving birth
-meeting baby Silver and discovering his/her own unique patterns and personality traits
-breastfeeding
-how to function on minimal sleep
-coping with hormonal upheaval
-baby care (diapering, dressing, washing)
-play and learning
-watching growth and development unfold
-worrying about the baby's well being and whether I'm a good mom
-baby groups and classes
-having something in common to talk about with other moms
-???? yet to be determined
All good things must eventually come to an end. Change is what keeps life interesting. I'm really looking forward to embracing this next life stage of being a mom -something I've dreamed about and wished for since I was a young girl. When I compare the middle list with the last one, it really pales in comparison. Wine cheese and pregnancy ailments compared to the joys and challenges of parenting a new little life. What an amazing opportunity, and how lucky are we to be able to experience it.
I remember feeling the exact same way and compiling a similar list. I loved being pregnant and I remember being sure I was going to miss being pregnant and that I would be sad to no longer have the baby in there.
ReplyDeleteI don't. At all. It's so much more amazing to have him outside and real (even when he's driving me nuts!) and it's so nice to be able to eat what I want (I had lots of food aversion issues, in addition to the stuff you're not "supposed" to eat), to be able to sleep comfortably, to be able to move around easily, etc.
I once said that being pregnant was the most amazing thing I'd ever done. I now change that to being a parent is the most amazing thing I've ever done. That I don't think will change. So excited for little Silver to arrive!