"If you don't see the book on the shelf, write it." ~ Beverly Cleary
This picture was taken before.
Before we’d told everyone that I was pregnant.
Before our lives slowly started the transition towards parenthood.
Before the kicking, kneeing and turning that I feel.
Before we knew she was a girl.
Before the true excitement of meeting our first child – of becoming a mother and a father – really sank in.
Before.
We moved a bed, discarded a desk,assembled a new one, removed a dresser, made plans to pick up the new one, organized a closet, hauled a car load to Value Village, painted a room, and still our house looks like a tornado came through and disruputed the peace.
At least we’re the eye of the storm.
When I see most people for the first time after telling them that I’m pregnant they embrace me with a hug and congratulate Barry and me. A few people have rubbed my belly and, as I’ve mentioned before, many of my students are at the exact height where tapping on it seems to be a great way to get my attention.
On the eve of Thanksgiving Kara and Ryan stopped by my parents house after they finished their meal and were heading home for the evening. I hadn’t seen Kara in a couple months and she was smiling huge as she bolted towards me. Before I knew it, she gave me a quick hug and was down on her knees cupping my belly yelling in a ultra high-pitched voice, “Hi, Chica!!! Hi Chica!!!”
It was classic. Barry and I can’t quite get the right tone and are wishing that we had an audio clip to play because we’re pretty sure that little Chica loved the recognition from Kara.