The Maternity Series: 21 Weeks

We’re in the middle of this tradition right now, where each night before bed (as long as it’s not a random late night and we miss it) Chris tells a story to the wide eyes and little sponges tucked under their comforters and cradled by teddy bears and stuffed puppies. In good adventure-making fashion, each person get’s to pick their favorite color and favorite animal of the moment and the story-crafter creates the character with that… and this time there’s an epic adventure happening where we end each “chapter” with a cliff-hanger and two excited little ones begging for more. This time, it’s a series chronicling the adventures had by Penelope (our new puppy) and a group of brave souls created by our own “favorites” and imaginations.

And I love these times with our little ones, with their minds stretching and growing to infinity, where creativity and bravery, chance and choice, fighting for good and helping others is shaping their worlds. I want my children to grow up believing that anything is possible, even if for a minute they believe that Penelope is fighting for good with a flying unicorns and a special forces bunny. I want them to know that they can dream big, and then live it. As I lay there each night listening to the stories, recording them in my memory banks for later and rubbing my protruding, kicking belly, knowing that my own little bunny is growing familiar to daddy’s voice, I get excited about holding a small, cradled, milk-scented little one in my arms again. There’s almost a thrill in knowing that these moldable souls rely on us for everything, a thrill because it’s exciting and yet scary at the same time. But knowing that this new bunny will come into our world, into these night time rituals and daily dares to dream big, well, that’s just one big check mark in the “We’ve Got This” category.

Does everything end up in that category? Absolutely not, but as far as dreaming and reaching goes, we’ll continue to dream and reach over the rainbow… and over that formidable gumdrop mountain.

PS. Something else I’m loving right now? Little belts! The actually make me look like I sort-of have a waist, even if it has moved up a few inches and hits right below other growing body parts. Mama needs to find some more belts!