Pre-baking a baby

Or should it be par-baking? Anyway.
Getting pregnant should be exciting. And it is, don't get me wrong. It's an amazing new step in you and your partner's life together, but mostly? It's weird. Physically and mentally weird.

You begin by taking special vitamins that are advertised to make your body ready to carry a tiny human. But really, they're gigantic horse-sized pills that I believe to taste like something you'd find on the bottom of your shoe after you mow the lawn or do some heavy duty weeding. Plus, apparently, according to the internet (thanks a lot!) you have to find ones that are all natural, have vitamin X, but not mineral Q, and preferably don't cost the same amount as a very nice meal out. Good luck with those, by the way.

Then, it's the mental conundrum. As a female in her mid-twenties, for the past 10 or so years, I had a constant stream in the back of my head, "Don't get pregnant. Getting pregnant would be terrible. Condoms condoms condoms." While useful in high school, college, and beyond, having that voice interrupt my thoughts now, when I'm happily married, employed and able to care for a child is totally unfortunate! And in case you're wondering (probably not, but anyway), asking your husband, "Are you sure?!" in a panicked voice kind of ruins the mood, if you know what I'm saying. That mental shift from wanting to have a baby in a hypothetical sort of way to actually trying is really difficult. I suppose part of me still thinks of myself as a 19 year old girl, out of high school, traveling through Europe with my whole life ahead of me. But I am ready. Scott and I both are. Just getting out of the mindset is proving to be more difficult than I expected.

When you're trying/thinking about trying/longing to try, prepare to see babies everywhere. Ikea is apparently not only a Mecca for DIY-ers and those who don't want to spend more than $100 on a couch, but also for those who are VERY pregnant. Everywhere I looked there was another mama-to-be, pushing a cart laden with any number of organizational materials. Apparently, Ikea is the one-stop-shop for those who nest.

But it's not all weird. It's a wonderful, intense, emotional time in a couple's lives. Preparing to prepare for a new member of your family is a crazy and lovely thought. Making the dream you've been dreaming of for years actually begin to happen is the best feeling ever. Second, I imagine, only to holding your new baby for the first time.