favorite times

okay, alexandria. i guess you're kinda cute in the fall.

there are things about this pregnancy that i will miss for a long time. i will miss the magic of the first few weeks after we found out, how fragile it all felt, how blessed i knew we were every single moment of the day. i'll miss knowing that every step, every new week, was going to be brand new (to us) and mysterious. how would the baby grow in there? was my body really capable of carrying another human being around for 10-ish months? i'll miss the way joey's hand rests gently on my stomach at night while he prays. i'll miss the little wiggles in the morning as i busy myself in my classroom and the way my students stare in wonder as little limbs glide across my stomach while i teach. i'll miss knowing i have a tiny miracle inside of me wherever i go right now. i'll miss the anticipation, the excitement, the guessing each night before we go to bed if it's a boy or a girl. when will he/she come? what will she/he look like? will he be as stubborn and anxious as his mama or as happy and carefree as her daddy? these are all things i paint on the wall inside my head and use as focus points to keep me moving through the day.

this week is my last week of work before the baby comes. the last few weeks at school have been hard, and the chance to slow down and breathe a little before our lives get turned on their heads with midnight feedings and other all-day-long infant needs is something i've been counting down towards in seconds. only 10 more work days. 45 more class periods. 6 more days of student a. 4 more days until friday. 3 more teaching days left. it doesn't escape me that i'm exerting far too much energy counting  my life, this pregnancy, these last few precious days away. i'm guilty of looking ahead to find solace, and more now than ever i realize how important it is to find peace where i am.

over the weekend joey and i took some time on saturday to explore alexandria a little bit and stretch our legs. mine have been antsy lately. i don't think it's nesting, not yet, i just think i've convinced myself if i keep moving - even if it's in circles - i won't feel so overwhelmed and cumbersome. it doesn't seem to be working, but at least i know i'm not alone. this seems to be common for women so close to due date. far be it for me to stray from the norm ;)

today i have a 38 week appointment with my midwife. i'm hoping she'll shed some light on the next few weeks for us, but more likely she'll smile and ask me to continue to be patient. easy for her to say. but fine, i'll try ;) have a good one!