What I’ll Miss

It probably goes without saying that at 38 weeks pregnant, I’m ready to have this baby. But there are things I’ll miss about being pregnant, and here are just a few…

– The way making it to each new week feels like a major accomplishment.

– Talking about baby names. Talking is the easy part. Choosing one is hard. (And no, we aren’t sure what we’re naming this little one yet.)

– The way Sky and Micah ask to “see the baby” and then kiss and hug my belly.

– Daydreaming about holding a brand-new, hours-old baby.

– That no one expects me to have a flat tummy. Or look good in skinny jeans.

– The way people are always telling me to sit down and put my feet up. Or to go home and take a nap.

– Eating more. Especially more dark chocolate.

– The way total strangers are excited we’re having a baby. Yesterday a man in the grocery store actually came over and blessed me.

– The way our friends and family are excited we’re having a baby. This morning my Bible study girls threw me a surprise baby shower! They stocked us up with diapers, wipes, baby wash, and one extremely cute outfit. I am so thankful for our church.

– Feeling those tiny hands and feet moving around inside me.

– Knowing that every day we’re closer to this baby’s birth, and all the drama of how and when it’ll happen. Someday soon we’ll be looking back on the story of baby #3’s labor and delivery, but for now it’s a great big secret.

– Shopping for baby clothes.

– Knowing that this new little life is a miracle God is shaping completely on His own, without any help from me. Pregnancy comes with responsibility, but not anything like the responsibility of parenting.

– The way this baby is constantly nourished and held, and I don’t have to think about feeding schedules or napping strategies or whether or not to give her a pacifier.

– The fact that I can get away with wearing just about anything I want in public, including pajama pants. I don’t, but I could. And that’s just nice to know.

– That Adam does all the dishes. And most of the cleaning. I do feel slightly guilty about it. And I’m honestly looking forward to getting back into my normal routine—cooking, cleaning, and everything else. But wow, it’s been nice to have a break.

– Thinking about our experience with infertility, and how I once thought I might never be pregnant at all. Our God is a God who performs miracles, and it’s pretty cool to walk around with one growing right inside me.

Of course, there are plenty of things about pregnancy that I will definitely not miss. But you can probably guess what those are without me listing them out for you. =)