Reflections at 33

“So, how are you feeling?” It must be THE single most common question asked of a pregnant woman, and I have certainly gotten my share of it. Of course, it’s completely understandable, but for me, it belongs in a different class from the common “How are you?” greeting that people tend to ask one another on a daily basis. The *usual* answer people give is “I’m fine” (unless you’re the type who REALLY says how you feel), but I’ve found that during pregnancy, that answer is never so simple and depending on the day, can range from “I love being pregnant!” to “Get this bowling ball out of me!”

As the books and experts have predicted, now that I’m well into my third trimester, I’m experiencing the spectrum of emotions (Yay, this baby is coming!; Yikes, this baby is coming!) I’ve always tended to think of myself as a “go with the flow” person, but being pregnant has challenged that belief lately, as I work hard to embrace the whirlwind of change that is going on within and around me. I’m realizing that maybe deep down I DO like having a game plan and knowing what to expect from life, so delving into the unknown can be a bit unsettling. Yes, EMBRACING CHANGE is the central theme here, and I’m finding myself continuously repeating the old adage “Change is good”, as I work through this phase of accepting the huge modifications that this tiny person is bringing to our lives.

There are the body changes: This incredible gift of pregnancy has made me even more awe-struck of nature, and how my body can adjust and adapt on its own, without me really having to do much but keep myself generally healthy - It has all just magically happened before my very eyes! Every night before bed, I watch in amazement as my belly distorts in response to the movements of the munchkin inside, and anytime I see my profile in a mirror, I am astounded at how much elasticity my skin really has…with still 7 weeks to go, it better!

..and the life changes: The other day the reality check hit me that pretty soon, just “running out to the store to pick up a few things” will now involve a car seat, diaper bag and (duh!) a baby, and will likely take twice as long. The independent Me will now become a We, and that fact alone feels really heavy. I suppose I can’t even anticipate the multitude of other changes that are to come after November, but maybe that’s for the best. Our routine and lifestyle as we now know it WILL BE DIFFERENT – Happy Hour will become Hungry Hour, and Going to a Movie will really just mean popping in the latest Netflix DVD - if we're lucky. Maybe the key is to just learn to expect the unexpected, and remember that this next phase is a new adventure all its own – and it will be amazing.

'Till then, I'll keep repeating: Change is good, change is good…

Fortunately, the one constant thing that will NOT change is our incredibly wonderful network of family and friends to support us as our Maciukenas Duo becomes a Trio. It’s reassuring to know that there are so many other people in our lives, near and far, who have been through all of this numerous times themselves. We especially felt the love last weekend at our coed baby shower in Portland – thanks everyone! The theme included “barefoot” (need you guess why?), books and Italian potluck, with a few Ukrainian beet dishes thrown in for good measure. More photos can be seen at the Photos link up top, but here are a few highlights (thanks to the photographers!)

Sitting on the "throne"

Cookies by Mama B, Fed-Exed from NJ!

Barefoot theme

Beautiful quilt by Elizabeth

Practice for times to come?