The Pregnancy Look

Dear Diary,

If any of you reading this has been pregnant, or has spent a lot of time with someone who is pregnant, then you probably know "the look" that random strangers give your belly in passing. Garrett actually pointed it out to me the first time it happened when I was pregnant with Addalyn. We were walking through Target and he noticed this random woman look straight at my belly, then to me, then to Garrett with a big smile on her face. Kind of like saying "Awe, look at them, they are having a little baby," without ever actually saying anything at all. Once he pointed it out to me, I started noticing it happening all the time. It was always women and it was always the same look - a big smile first to my belly, then to me, then to Garrett.

It may be because I have been a bit distracted this pregnancy with the toddler I am always toting around with me, but it wasn't until last night at dinner that I noticed "the look" for the first time. As we were leaving we passed a table where not only did the woman give me the look but she nudged her husband to look as well. Neither said anything, they just smiled, looked at my belly, looked at me, and then to Garrett. Because we didn't have Addy with us, I am sure they thought it was our first child. So instead of thinking "Awe, look at them, they are having a little baby," they should be thinking "Oh my gosh, look at them, those crazies are having kids 18 months apart!" =)

I don't mind "the look." In fact I have probably given "the look" to plenty of pregnant women myself now that I know what being a Mother to a new little baby is all about. It is amazing to me that strangers everywhere share a similar experience. No one can really understand until you've gone through it yourself, but once you have, you feel as though you are connected to mothers everywhere, whether you know them or not. Pretty cool!

Speaking of being a Mom, I had a Mom moment this morning:

Ever wonder why things happen the way they happen? Why someone offered to do something? Why you made a last minute decision? Why you chose the place you chose? I guess I never really thought about it because when it comes to the little things in life, for the most part, I don't consider what the past had to do with the present. But today, as I woke up in my warm, snugly bed, I realized that life is pretty good. Even though the past few days have seemed extremely ordinary, I think it all happened purely for the satisfaction I felt at 8:00 on this Sunday morning. Silly?... Maybe. But because Ryan and Laura offered to babysit last week, and because we decided to go to 4:30 Mass last night, and because I insisted Addy stay up later than normal to get her bath in, and because I was far too tired to make Addy stay in her own bed when she woke up upset, I got to wake up later than normal next to my adorable sleeping daughter and my awesome husband. Normally I don't tolerate Addy in the big bed with us, but this morning I was thankful. The three of us (well four if you include Philly), got to spend the morning in bed together! As they say, "It's the little things," and that is exactly right!

So Thank You Uncle Ryan and Aunt Laura for offering to babysit. Thank You Sacred Heart for offering a 4:30 Saturday night mass. Thank You Olive Garden for a great waitress and an even better Chicken Parmigiana. Thank You Garrett for stopping at Dairy Queen on the way home. Thank You "germ-a-phobe" personality for insisting Addy get her bath and throwing off her sleeping schedule. Thank You Addy for waking up at 3:00am and insisting on sleeping with us. And Thank You God, for this awesome, blessed, amazing life you have given me!

Sincerely Yours,