Gratitude

The lovely spring weather that we're having is contributing to the lift in my spirits that I've felt over the last couple of weeks. It was not a miserable winter by any stretch, but the constant clouds and frequent morning sickness made for a challenging few months. We had one of the snowiest months of February on record for Ann Arbor, but March has definitely defied the old saying--it's arrival has been quite unlike a "lion," and much more like a "lamb."

I'm grateful for my continued healthy pregnancy, and for feeling like I've blossomed into my full big-bellied state. :) A few of our acquaintances at Zingerman's this morning didn't hesitate to talk about the new baby; in the eyes of other people, I guess I'm clearly past that danger zone of "do I or don't I assume she's pregnant?"

I'm deeply grateful for my cobbled-together work life. I have this lovely, variable, sometimes-unpredictable schedule that includes evening duties, weekend meetings (I have one at 1:00 PM today, for example), and the monthly honor of witnessing the birth of babies. :) I was reflecting on this with Brian and my Mom over the last couple of days; I feel deeply rewarded by my work in all its forms, but I'm also so grateful for the fact that I am able to be Maia's primary daytime caregiver. The balance feels just right, and I'm really looking forward to finding a new kind of balance with two kids rather than one. I have another five years of being a daytime "stay-at-home Mom" (whatever that phrase means!) ahead of me, and I'm anticipating the opportunity and all the new challenges that it'll bring.

I'm extremely grateful for our family's health. Just this week, Maia had her second or third inconsequential cold of the winter. She just seems to sail right through these illnesses without significant symptoms or disruption. She has plenty of contact with other kids and other people's germs, so I just think she has an immune system of steel. :)

All in all, I'm grateful for the time that I have to absorb the changing seasons, and the new ways that Maia interacts with the world every day, and the new kicks and movements in my belly courtesy of this new little person. Even when my days are busy and I'm moving from one thing to the next, I'm fortunate enough to be able to devote sustained amounts of time to the pursuits that matter to me the most (parenting, reading, friendships, enjoying the city in which I live, etc.). I know how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.

From Mid March