It’s really hard not to wish a pregnancy away.
During the first trimester, you’re so consumed by the anxiety associated with potential miscarriage, or with the sickness that takes over your body, that you will the days away. You wish you could go to sleep and suddenly wake up at 13 weeks, when your chances of a healthy pregnancy are significantly increased, and your stomach gradually settles again.
In the second trimester, you can’t wait to look pregnant. You can’t wait to feel your child kick, flip, and roll inside of you. You can’t wait for the ultrasound that will reveal (if you choose) whether you’re having a son or a daughter. You look forward to 20 weeks because you’re halfway there; then you long for week 24, which marks viability.
Finally, when you’re in your third trimester, you count down the weeks and days until your due date, unable to contain the excitement you feel about meeting your baby. You can’t wait to see his or her face, to determine whether he has your nose, or if she has your husband’s eyes. You ache to kiss his tiny ear; you long to count her fingers and toes. You spend time standing in the nursery you’ve prepared, running your fingertips over the small diapers and socks, just waiting for the day they’ll belong to a baby. Your baby.
It is only when you step back and take a moment to breathe that you realize just how precious these months are. When it is over, you will never again carry your baby this closely to you. You will no longer feel every kick, every hiccup, every stretch. You won’t have your baby with you every hour, every minute, every second of every day.
And life, it is about to change. We will never again have the level of freedom to do what we want to do–with ourselves, with our time, with our money–as we do right now. (Or, we will… someday. But not for a very long time.) In a handful of weeks, it will no longer be just the two of us and our pup. There will be someone else here, a little someone who will dictate how things run around here.
When I think of meeting this baby, I am overwhelmed with excitement. But when I think of how things will change forever, I’ll admit to being somewhat scared. I feel such conflict over wanting to get to “three” so quickly while also wanting to so deeply cherish every minute that we have left as “two.” And perhaps a baby takes nine months to get here just to teach us that lesson. To learn patience in the face of anticipation, and to treasure the moments that we will never have again.
This pregnancy thing? It is beautiful.
We should not wish it away.
I’m really trying not to.
8 Responses to Cherish
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About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
Beautifully said. And you are so right. In every aspect.
Glad I am not alone in my worries and fears and nervous excitement.
Love this post. We are due in 2 weeks and I have loved being pregnant. I had severe morning sickness from 6.5 weeks-about 21 weeks and kept telling myself, “as long as she’s healthy she can make me as sick as she wants!” Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy!
Perfectly put!!!
That was written so beautifully. You can certainly tell you are a professional writer!
This is a beautiful post that is so full of wisdom and love and anticipation. I love your honesty and passion. I know that you will enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and really appreciate this intimate time with Michael, knowing that it won’t be just you two for much longer, but that once the baby is born your bond will be even stronger. I can’t even imagine what having a baby does to a relationship, what it really feels like to have created this person with your husband. It must be an totally amazing feeling and I can’t come up with adjectives to describe it. These are things I have taken for granted all my life, until now, when the baby conversations are starting. So so happy for you!
You made my cry. And realize that this is our last kid and I need to cherish this pregnancy a little more (even this really rough 1st tri!)
what a beautiful post!
Very profound post. I am an almost senior citizen but am amazed that you could write this. You have to be an exceptional mom to be! I had several mscarriages in the seventies and then infertility. Then with the grace of God and his blessing had a beautiful bambino. This child was blessed and is a parent now. I was scared to death during my pregnancy and had pains etc. not just fear. All the best to you and all the current Mommies to be!! Bella