A Milestone of sorts....37 weeks.

Last night, I hit a milestone. It's one I've been warned about but didn't really see it coming.

I've been attending Pre-natal Yoga and Water Aerobics as my main two forms of excercise since about 23 weeks of pregnancy. Pre-natal Yoga has been great in relaxation, stretching, and being with other women who share the same physical limitations as I do. Water Aerobics has been awesome for stregth training and cardio. I would have never imagined I could "sculpt up" my arms while pregnant, in the water, and surrounded by retired folk. Don't dog it until you try it they say...

Anyway, in the yoga classes, people have warned me that it's a strange day when you are the furthest along in a class. Class starts with us going around the room and saying our name, how many weeks we are, and what's frustrating us or what area is feeling stiff (this is great because the instructor incorporates stretches based on the class's needs that day). So, last night there was a pretty full class and we started as normal going around with introductions. Then it hit me...it was my night, my class, I was the furthest along of anyone. When I said 37 weeks the heads turned my direction. It was as strange as people had warned but not in the way I expected. There were several girls who had just found out the gender of their babies, several others who were approaching the 3rd trimester mark, and mostly all of them with smaller bellies yet bigger complaints as they are only just starting to realize the physical realities of what's to come. There were only three of us past 32 weeks and only me who is now at the weekly appointment, full term, ready to pop stage. I realized that many of the girls who used to look "so close" to me were probably at home with their babies as I prepared to do a modified downward dog. I realized that to them, my relief to be done with morning sickness at 23 weeks was probably distant as they were doing the same things I now have to do in order to stretch with a belly that always seems to be in the way. I realized that peeing all the time is no longer a "condition" for me. Strangely it's become an accepted way of life. Also, with all the throwing up in the first 23 weeks things like the commonly mentioned back pain, sleepless nights, and sore chests don't really seem to phase me. They're tiny compared to the constant burning of a throw up throat. Also, I'm a lucky one who somehow has escaped heartburn...and I even eat salsa and spicy food with the best of them.

Most importantly, I realized...and really felt for the first time (even though Angie's been encouraging me all along) that I'm not going to be pregnant forever. In fact, I'm almost done...it could be any day now. I could look around the room and remember being at the point of each of the girls in my class. In some ways, they all have a LONG way to go. In other ways, it all goes so fast. I'm going to be the one at home with our baby girl soon as they settle into the final trimester and realize they only thought they couldn't do the little things like bending over or reaching high. But that right when it doesn't seem so bad...they'll be days away from being done. Pregnancy really is a miracle. At some level, I think I really will miss the belly. And, for one emotional moment, I'll miss being the prenatal yoga matriarch who everyone else looked too to see what they are headed for....

37 weeks and not counting...just excited. She'll be here soon.