Easing Into It...

I remember the day that I found out that I was having a boy like it was yesterday.

It was a lot like Christmas morning...filled with expectation, nostalgia, lots of love, and a little... (dare I say it??) Disappointment.

Some say that they don't want to know the sex...that they want to be "surprised." Oh, I was surprised alright! It just wasn't on the day of the birth...it was its own special day, reserved simply for the preparation of something a little unexpected.

See, I always knew that I would have a little girl.

I knew it like I knew that I would always find a way to sing...she was a part of me before she was even a twinkle in my eye. But, a boy??? What would I do with a boy???

I had some sort of strange epiphany on the way to the doc's office...I just knew. I called my best friend and really, with such naivety, said those exact words. "I know it's a boy. What will I do with a boy???"And, not knowing what (who!) I know now, I was a little sad...mourning the temporary loss of my little baby girl.

A lot of women that have boys have mentioned that they're not really "girly girls" so they wouldn't know what to do with a girl.

But see, I AM a girly girl.

My favorite color is and always has been pink. I wear makeup every single day and really enjoy putting it on. I love glitter and bling and flashy earrings and when I'm not post partum (and believe me, I STILL am), I would rather wear a dress and heels than anything else.

The ultrasound was so unlike every unreadable ultrasound I'd seen before...plain as day, a penis and little bum crack. So easy to spot that the technician actually said sarcastically, "So, what do you think that is?!"

The first thought I had was, "well, I guess I'm having two, not just one."

Then, I started having visions of my older brother at about age 12 with his grimy, skinny, dirty friends with goofy haircuts and silly clothes. I pictured my boy with a Dennis the Menace mischevious look about him and a pocket full of contraband complete with the slingshot and rocks. I was preoccupied with the idea of a pre-teen that lies, pushes little girls in lampshade dresses, and responds to taking his filthy shoes off in the foyer before entering the house with an "aw shucks, mom."

I told my mom about these horrors and she reminded me that I wouldn't birth a conniving, school skipping, gritty teen, but a baby; a beautiful baby boy.

My mom told me that's why they come to mothers as babies...so moms can "ease into it."

Ease into it??? "But, Mom, boys are so...dirty. They're so...mean."

"You'll deal with issues as they come and you'll love that little boy more than you've ever loved anyone in the whole world."

Really???

Really.

Wow. I love my little boy more than anything in the world.

And, here I find myself doing exactly that...easing into it.

Owen's runny nose doesn't even phase me. And wiping his bottom? I'm so pumped I don't have to change that nasty diaper, I practically jump at the chance...plus, there's the praise I get to shower him for making it to the potty!

Today, while he was running around in his Super Grover helmet and cape yelling, "hi-ya!" I wasn't remotely annoyed. I was touched.

So, I guess I'm easing into things...

Just like I ease into all of these other parenting queries...

Like, for instance, pondering the phrase "use your inside voice, honey." What does this mean exactly?? To me, it means think it over and don't speak out loud. But, I've recently learned that it actually means to not yell indoors like you do at the playground.

Who knew?? And, furthermore, how useful!

There is other crazy talk, too.

Like "nipple confusion" and getting on a community pool waiting list that's 5 years long and knowing that whatever your kid does, someone is bound to blame it on teething. Yes, crying, pooping, growing, sucking, chewing, drooling, diaper rash...this is all, at one time or another, apparently due to teething.

I'm also still researching what exactly a "growth spurt" is and how I can identify one in action.

But, as far as easing into having a boy...I've never felt so blessed or had so much fun.

God really knows what He's doing, doesn't He?

It doesn't matter what my little boy does...it's cute and perfect and all things wonderful.

Even thoughI know with 100% certainty that he, at this very moment, has a pocketful of plastic bugs (see pic above, or a handful of bugs), may be picking his nose, and can't keep that newly freed from diapers penis of his alone, I still find him simply charming.

The idea that I may be filled with delusional thinking about how wonderful, my dirty little future 12 year old will be also suits me just fine.

And my baby girl??? She's here now, too. Just like I knew she would be...

Things have a way of working out perfectly, don't they?

Yes, yes, they do,

Cheri