Just humor me, will ya?

So it hits me just the other day... things might change. More specifically, the time Josh and I spend together. I've been treasuring my time with Josh even more so lately than I usually do. I think we have a relatively close relationship, in that we spend alot of time together when we are not working. We go running together, we visit bookstores and coffee shops together, we go grocery shopping together. We like movies, road trips, and parks with winding trails. We have a yoga mat and a tiny apartment. We have our little life and for the most part, we enjoy it.

So, how much longer will we have the freedom to tie on our running shoes and head out the front door for a quick run and conversation? Or stay up late watching X-files, listening to the Beatles, or pulling the couches together to watch a movie? As I cried over these questions yesterday morning, Josh hugged me and tried not to laugh at my melodrama. "Why can't we still do all those things?", he asked. It dawned on my that I had been piecing together this picture of the future "us" based on advice and stories from many people who, lately, have taken it upon themselves to warn me of the dreadful changes to come... It goes something like this:

My world will turn upside down. My sleep will be reduced to about three hours per night, if I'm lucky. My husband won't recognize me because I won't have any time to bathe, brush my teeth, or comb my hair. I'll also lose all sense of style, as I will continue to wear maternity clothes long after I've had the baby. This will happen mainly because I will not be able to lose any or all of the weight I gained while pregnant. We won't ever be able to leave the house without first spending two hours planning the trip (be it an errand to the corner store or a holiday vacation). Spontaneity will cease to exist. Our love life will shrivel up and die for at least 12 months, and our baby will do nothing but cry, poop, and sometimes sleep (but only for 30 minutes at a time). So eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you shall die.

I don't think so.

We plan to baby-wear, sling carry, and breastfeed this child. All of these things are designed for convenience. We will still need fresh air, exercise, and music. So, we also plan to introduce our kid to nature trails and the great man-made lakes of Texas asap, all while listening to the Beatles and U2 on the car ride up. We will still be the same quirky people who can't stand to be indoors or away from friends for very long. Why will things be so very very very different? So we'll have a baby who gets to come along and experience the same life we get to experience. So we'll learn to stifle our gag reflex when changing a poopy diaper. And we'll learn how to be a family instead of just a couple. Josh is right. There's no "end" in site, just new things to learn about and look forward to. This is going to be one cool kid, and he (or she!) is gonna have a blast in this world. I can't wait... :-)