The No Longer Pregnant Hat

I seriously never thought it would ever really happen.  I couldn't ever imagine being pregnant, enduring labor, and actually having a child of my own.  As it occurs, I have accomplished all three of these things, but as I write now, in the wee hours of the morning because I have resorted to carrying my little one in my Moby Wrap as a soothing measure, and I surely cannot sleep with baby all wrapped up against me, I find it difficult to believe that I actually was pregnant and I actually did endure labor.  Pregnancy came and went so briskly that now it seems as though I dreamed the entire process.  While my body has very nearly returned to its pre-pregnancy state, it is difficult for me to believe that my belly actually did protrude so much so that I had trouble getting into and out of bed, tying my shoes, and taking a bath.  I suppose that belly growth occurs so rapidly so near to the end of a pregnancy, that when it is all over, it seems as though it happened in the blink of an eye.  How ironic, really, because just a little over a month ago, I was praying for my baby to arrive so I could be finished with my pregnancy...it couldn't happen soon enough, and now that it is all done, I cannot believe I was ever pregnant to begin with.

Now, I have entered what they call the fourth trimester...which is a clever designation for the parental experience of a child's first three months of life.  This part is an adventure I hope to savor.  It is difficult.  Far more difficult than pregnancy was, but at the same time, it is a precious time in my life.  I treasure it, in a distorted, sleep deprived way.

Now, I am going to wake up the husband, as he will relieve me of soothing duties so I can have a sleep shift.  I would love to say there is more to come on the topics of labor/delivery and parenthood, but who knows?  This new life of mine is rather unpredictable, and I have learned I cannot really make plans for much of anything at present.  But I would like to write more on these topics, and if I have another Moby Wrap soothing night in the near future, I will.