We're in the Home Stretch!

Well, yesterday marked exactly one month til the due date... I can't believe how quickly this flew by!  I remember before I got pregnant I would say things like these would be the slowest nine months of my life because I would absolutely hate it and I'd make the worst pregnant person ever.  I'm so glad I was wrong!  It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought, and in some ways kinda fun!  I haven't let it hinder my lifestyle too much - it's really hard not being able to do simple things like pick something up off the floor or lift/move large objects, but other than that I've gone to my fair share of wedding receptions and danced all night, I've still gone out with friends and had some great times, and still been my same old self for the most part.  It's odd though because while I feel I haven't changed that much, there are still some of those friends that have just completely vanished from my life since I got pregnant... but I've learned from other "pregos" and new mamas that that happens to all of us - you really do learn who your true friends are.  Somehow I'm okay with it... I've gotten to the point where nothing is more important to me than my new family now.

So pregnancy isn't a bad experience after all, but there are those who have told me I'm going to miss it when it's over.  I'm beginning to find that oddly enough I'm a minority in thinking that's crazy, how could I miss this?  While these past eight months have been fairly easy for me, I can't see myself missing not being able to lean forward or bend down comfortably, walk comfortably, lift things, the swollen feet, the swollen EVERYthing, this large protrusion in the way of everything I try to reach for, getting easily exhausted, not being able to lay on my belly, having to pee all the time, etc., etc., etc.... Yeah, I am to the point where I can honestly say I'm done doing this now.  It's been an amazing journey and an incredible learning experience, but I'm kinda worn out.  And I can relate to those that say they love being pregnant, but I can't understand missing it... I don't believe you!! haha :)  But, regardless, I am taking into consideration the words of the people who say they do miss it, and I'm trying to savor these final days of pregnancy rather than complain about them too much.  I'm especially savoring all his kicking and stretching and wiggling, as that is definitely a very cool experience, and might possibly be the ONLY part I might find myself "missing" when it's over.  But it's just going to be so much cooler to WATCH him kicking and stretching and wiggling on the outside, though! :)

Since Father's Day is this Sunday I wanted to give a little shout-out to dads too.  Those of us gals who are able to say their children have a good one are truly blessed!  I'm including myself in that category for sure, heck I'll run for president of the Wives with Husbands who are Great Dads Club!  Harlee isn't even technically here yet and Justin has already proven to be an awesome dad.  I can't get over how fortunate I am...  It's fun to hear different people's remarks about how Justin might just have more of a "pregnancy glow" than I do, and how he's just so excited and whips out ultrasound pictures every chance he gets everywhere he goes, and all the other good things people have to say about him whenever they run into him out and about.  And it's true at home too.  He's been so involved in this journey with me every step of the way, it's like I truly got to share this pregnancy with him and it was a team effort, rather than just me doing all the work.  I think that's one of the major reasons I've enjoyed being pregnant, too.  At first, before I really wrapped my head around everything, I was kinda bitter that we women really get the "shaft" - we have to alter our lifestyles, our bodies have to change drastically, our hormones have to be thrown completely out of whack, and what do men have to do?  Sit back and watch and continue on as normal.  Well I quickly found out that Justin wasn't just going to sit back and watch.  Heck, he's even got some of his own stretch marks on his "sympathy belly" to match mine! :)  Thanks to him, my mindset quickly shifted into a more positive one, and I've been able to look at this as the incredible journey that it is, and consider myself lucky that I get to embark on it, rather than continue to feel bitter about it.  I'm definitely very blessed to have such a fantastic partner, and Harlee and any future sibling he may have is very blessed to have him as a daddy.  He's planning on taking at least two weeks off from work after Harlee is born to stay home and help out, and while I'm bracing myself for these to be the hardest weeks of my life as we adjust to caring for a newborn, I'm still really looking forward to them.  It'll just be another step in the journey, another chapter in our book, and another opportunity for me to step back and look at my life and say, yes, I'm really lucky.  And to all you women who can relate to what I'm saying, high five!  We sure know how to pick 'em! :) ♥