25 things I learned from pregnancy...

I hit 6 and a half months this week, so I thought I would take a minute to reflect on what I have learned so far:

1. There is never a perfect time for a baby. Whether you are 24 or 34, a child is a life-changing event that you never are quite ready for.
2. You cannot plan miracles. This is just one of those times in your life when you are dependent on God in his infinite wisdom and timing
3. Husbands are both long-suffering and insufferable during pregnancy. They love you, put up with your moods, and then say the most insensitive things, sometimes all in one day!
4. Our society has moved motherhood and pregnancy to the side-lines. I work with a team of nearly 80 professionals, more than 50% women, and only 3 are mothers. It is much worse in Silicon Valley because women wait until well into their 30s to have children. I was 29 when I became pregnant, and you would think I was like 19 the way some people reacted to how "early" we started a family.
5. The love of an extended family is key. I love my parents and in-laws, but we never really *needed* them until now.
6. Maternity clothes are there to cover you up as you grow, not to make you look great.
7. There are many days when you will wonder if there is ever an end to this journey. 9.5 months seems really short, but when your back is hurting and you have a terrible headache (sans Ibuprophen), you are counting the hours.
8. There are many days when you wish the journey could be just a bit longer. When you are staring at your baby's room filled with boxes and you just read about how painful labor is, you are willing to be pregnant for at least a few more months.
9. Daddies of babies do not feel the pregnancy is real until A) They see the ultrasound with a little person shape in black and white, and/or B) They feel the baby kicking beneath their hand. Out of sight, out of mind applies here...
10. Pregnancy lets you know that babies are about sacrifice. You give up caffeine and sushi, back pain free days, stretch-mark free body, and much more. But you also realize that some things are worth almost any price.
11. No matter what happens, this baby will always be a part of your family and your heart. Even from the first day we found out, I knew for sure, a part of my heart was reserved forever.
12. Babies, even those in your tummy, need a lot of sleep. Sometimes a nap is the best solution to a really, really bad day.
13. Always go on a Baby Moon. This is your last chance to remember the romance of being husband and wife before the life of mommy and daddy begins.
14. Having a baby is hard work. Your mom and dad deserve an extra hug next time you see them.
15. Part of the fun of parenthood is the surprise of not knowing everything. You can study for school, prepare for work, and plan for life. Nothing prepares you for the first time you look your baby in the eyes.
16. Giving your parents grandbabies is a wonderful gift, and if you play your cards right, you can get away with using it for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and more!
17. Babies keep you from becoming too selfish. No more last minute trips to Europe, but plenty of simple moments.
18. Having a big belly makes it hard to take baths. I never thought I would see the day I could not get out of my bath because I am too fat!
19. Husbands are helpful in pregnancy. When you cannot easily tie your own shoelaces without tipping over, it is nice to have someone who can do it for you.
20. Maternity leave is both too long and not long enough. I wonder what it is like to leave for 5 months and come back. Then again, it seems like 5 months so short in the life of your baby.
21. Pregnant bellies bring on a lot of curiosity. People ask to touch your tummy at odd times and places. They make strange comments about you being so small or so big or somewhere in between. It brings out their thoughts about your clothes, how you look and such in a way that always seemed taboo before.
22. Can you believe that your body can create a new little body? People have done this for thousands of years, but this miracle still seems so strange to me.
23. Giving birth sounds really scary. I told David it was like knowing you would be in a car accident. You know it will happen, but you just are not sure exactly when or how bad it will be.
24. Winnie the Pooh makes a good surrogate when you need to point your husband to where to rub your back since you can no longer reach most spots after awhile.
25. You *can* love someone you have never met face to face.