Thursday, February 12, 2009

Confession

So, I have a confession to make. I've been working on a secret project for about four months and it's really been tiring me out! Well, weirdly, it's the kind of project you can *work on* while you're doing other things, like writing, walking, etc, because it doesn't require that you really think too much about it, though it's kind of hard not to. Well, kind of. Sometimes I'll forget about it for hours at a time and then suddenly remember:

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"Oh yeah, I'm pregnant."

"Oh. I'm growing a tiny human. Neat."

It's so cool.

Really, as projects go, this one has been pretty easy. (I hear tell the hard parts come later.) I don't really have to do anything but take care of myself -- my body's got it covered. Somehow the tiny fingers and toes and eyelashes just happen, right when they're supposed to. And that little hummingbird heartbeat is its own metronome. Yes, I get tired a lot, and I may think about cheese more than usual . . . but otherwise, the past four months have been like any normal four months. With more excitement and more anxiety, as you might imagine.

At first, there was quite a lot of anxiety, because of last year, and Jim and I were very subdued and tried to hold off on getting attached to anything. But, you know. Good luck with that!

So, if this announcement sounds kind of subdued, let me interrupt myself to say:

I'M PREGNANT!

WOO HOOOO!



We are very excited, though there's this strangely superstitious part of me I didn't know existed that feels anxiety about announcing it, like I'm tempting fate. Of course, I don't BELIEVE in fate. I don't even believe in LUCK, not really, not beyond mere chance. I don't believe in things; you may know that about me. But to quote myself, which I hope is not obnoxious:

"...strange twinges of belief had a way of intruding into one’s cultured disbelief, like trick cards in a deck to be drawn at random..." -- Lips Touch

So. I'm at 16 weeks now, with a beginner's bump; I hear tell I'll start to feel *fluttering* in the coming weeks and I CANNOT WAIT for that. I can't even tell you. And in a month we'll find out if it's a boy or a girl. Funny about that, forever I thought I really wanted a girl, but when I was pregnant last year I found, to my surprise, I more and more hoped it was a boy. Now, I 100% don't care. I just want a baby, and that part is closer to being a reality every day! Our midwife did say the heartbeat was "girly" but there isn't exactly scientific foundation for that! She has been delivering babies for over 30 years though, and says that she has seen a pattern . . . So maybe!

Do you want to see something incredibly adorable? Lovely blogger Brittsoucy had twin girls just a few weeks ago. They're so lovely! They're even cuter than this:
And, holy cow, check out this; I'm almost sure this a real koala and not a toy:
Almost sure. It doesn't seem possible, really.

So. THAT is my secret project!! If you're just skimming this post and not reading it you may think from the images that I am building a marsupial, but all signs indicate it is in fact a human baby.

Marsupials are just for decor :-)

68 comments:

T. said...

Oh wow, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I hope the next months to be as easy for you, as the past ones.

Good Luck, you three!
Sefarina

Carrie Harris said...

YAY YAY YAY! Congratulations!!!

Sara said...

You secret agent lady, you! Your news makes me so happy. Congrats to you and Jim and to Awesome Baby (who doesn't even know yet how lucky he/she is.)

Lisa Schroeder said...

Oh those twin babies are just the cutest. And the baby koala - ahhhhh!!! Are you sure you don't want to build a marsupial? :) JK!! Of course you are growing a cute Laini-Jim babyroo who is going to have the neatest life EVER with the two of you.
<3

Alysa Stewart said...

Congratulations! This is so fantastic. It's hard work growing a baby! And I know how you feel when you say you were anxious to announce it. I too would've been happy with a baby of either gender this past year, and in fact secretly wanted a boy, just a bit. When I found out a boy was headed our way though, while excited, I did have a strange mourning for that possibility of a girl. Oh well! Just have to have more babies I guess! Hooray for babies!

Em said...

oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Congratulations! :)

And to celebrate, here is a fun blog all about furry newborns..yes, furry. :-)

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/

lizardek said...

By the end of the post, I was hoping it would be a marsupial with a pink pelt. How awesome would that be? Only as awesome as the two of you having a BABY!! Holy shit, a BABY!! I'm so happy for you!!

Sarah Beth Durst said...

Yay!!!!! Congratulations, and best wishes! I am so excited for you two (soon-to-be-three)! I'm sure he or she will be even cuter than that little koala. (I want that koala. Off to hint to husband for Valentine's Day...)

Sending you many hugs. YAY!

tone almhjell said...

....Me too, sweetheart! Me, too! 14 weeks! Congratulations times two gazillion! Love in buckets from me. But how can you write with this going on? My brain has been placed in gel and stored in a jar.

jama said...

Congratulations!! Yay for tiny humans and adorable marsupials too. :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Very fun news! And I'm sure you will love a boy or a girl!

Debbie Barr said...

Oh, yay! I actually said out loud (rather loudly) "Laini's pregnant!" My husband gave me a funny look, but I'm so excited for you!

Best wishes in the coming months. :)

R.J. Anderson said...

Oh, FANTASTIC news! So thrilled for you!

xegbp said...

Congratulations Laini and Jim!

Libby said...

congratulations, and best wishes to all three of you!

Unknown said...

I'm so happy for you. Babies are so amazing. Did you know that you have to double your blood volume to grow a baby? Its really hard work.

Heather said...

So wonderful!

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

Congratulations, fabulous news!

Q said...

Squee! That is so awesome! Congratulations!

S R Wood said...

Congratulations! Great news!

Amber Lough said...

Woohoo! You're almost half-way there to baby-time!

Maybe we'll have to do a Writing Mama Playgroup sometime.

Welcome to the world of nap-time writing. It's challenging, but wonderful.

Kjersten said...

That is a really awesome secret project.

CONGRATS to you and Jim!

And many blessings to your growing little one.

Lexi said...

YAYAYAYAYAY!

Bonne chance, Laini!

Christine Fletcher said...

Congratulations!! And as cute as the marsupials are, your little project is going to be cuter. If only the pink hair was heritable! ;)

Tricia said...

Woot! Woot! I'm so happy for the two of you. You'll get lots of prayers and good thoughts from me for a happy, healthy pregnancy.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful, Laini! Many congrats!! Be extra-special good to yourself!

Charlotte said...

congratulations! I'm so happy for you! I am immediatly thinking of all the fun you and baby will have doing Crafty things together...

Anonymous said...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
And did I mention...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!??
I was wondering when I would read this post! I knew one day you'd be a mom! Knew it! I'm so excited for you! This is so AWESOME. Congrats to you and Jim!
*more screaming*
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Emily J. Griffin said...

OMG, that's so exciting. Congratulations!

violetismycolor said...

Congratulations. And Portland is a great place to raise kids. Great news.

jaecy bells said...

*GASP* OMG! That is like the best news ever! I'm so happy for you, even though I've only met you in, you know, Internet-land. But still! A baby! Congrats! And good luck too!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

lkmadigan said...

Wheeeee!

Ahh, maybe a little Laini's (and Jim's) lady.

Or lad.

xo

Rachael King said...

Wonderful news, Laini. I've sent you a message via Facebook.

Rachael

liz elayne lamoreux said...

i am so happy for you both! yippppeeeee!

sending big hugs and blessings...

persnickety_jen said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You must be so thrilled... I hope the next 5 months are as easy for you as the first 4!!!

I hope you're prepared for all the impossibly cute baby things that will soon flood your house/life. :)

tanita✿davis said...

Hey, congratulations to Laini's Little Lady or Lad!

Deirdre said...

I had a feeling ... Congratulations! I'm so happy for you both.

Deirdre said...

Richard sends his congratulations to.

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Laini! What amazing news!
You and Jim will be wonderful parents. I send blessings to you and to the little life getting ready to know your love on the outside...
It's the best adventure of all in this life! (Get lots of sleep now. Seriously. Sleep. A. Lot. Store it up. It's probably the only thing you'll miss!)
I'm so happy for you!!!
Namaste Namaste (the light in me recognizes and acknowledges the TWO lights in you!!)
Lee

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

ahhhhh - im so happy for you. :) thx for sharing it with us. I wont tell a soul.

Anonymous said...

CAN'T WAIT!!!! I need to be an auntie again.

- Cyst

Stephanie Perkins said...

I am so happy for you, Laini. Congratulations again! You have a very lucky baby -- you and Jim will be amazing parents.

:) :) :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! That's absolutely wonderful news.

Liana said...

Congratulations a million times over!! :)
And I love that quote about belief creeping into cultured disbelief. Love. :)

Anonymous said...

"Whoo hooo!" is right! I'm so happy for you! Babies are so much fun!

Wyman Stewart said...

Congratulations!!! Wish you three-to-be the very best in the coming months and the coming years.

Anonymous said...

Awww, Laini, Congratulations to you and your husband!

gomomyourock said...

Super news. I've been hoping to hear this news. Congrats!

Claudia said...

:-)

paris parfait said...

Oh Laini...happy tears. Such wonderful news! xo

Anonymous said...

What lovely news Laini! Congratulations to you and Jim, your baby will be so lucky to have parents like you.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous news. Chuck and I am so happy for you.

Anonymous said...

I have been lurking for around 9 months... and have to delurk to say CONGRATULATIONS! And, I am sorry about last year. And, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! I can't wait to hear all about everything. Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS!

Enna Isilee said...

Bwahaha! As soon as I saw that you had been working on a "project for four months" I felt pretty sure I knew what was coming next.

I'm so happy for you, Laini! I wish you the best of luck, and hope that (despite their cuteness) you don't give birth to a koala. ;)

Neil said...

mazel tov!

Jen Robinson said...

I know I emailed about this already, but I just want to say it again. I'm SO SO happy for you and Jim!! Congratulations!!!! Talk about a baby who will be blessed.

Anonymous said...

Oh WOW!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, LAINI AND JIM!!!
I saw some line in your top post about getting something out in the open, and suddenly I just had this lovely hopeful feeling - and YES! That's what it is! I'm so very happy for you both - and I'm sending LOADS of positive thoughts and wishes your way for you and your little one. HOORAY! XOXO

Elizabeth O Dulemba said...

So, so happy for you Laini!
:)
e

KJ said...

Ooooooooooooooooooh! Yay! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Woot woot woot! Woot woot! Woot!

Anonymous said...

Happy baby building! :)

Anonymous said...

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! Lucky baby. Seriously. Deeply, deeply lucky baby (not that I believe in luck, right?) x

Jamie said...

Congratulations, Laini. What wonderful news. What a magical mom your little one is blessed with. Sending happy vibes to you and Jim and the little one.

Jordan E. Rosenfeld said...

Glorious, glorious news. I'm so glad you shared it. Motherhood is the wildest ride I've ever been on!

Anonymous said...

Congrats!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats!!!!!!!

Vivian Mahoney said...

Oh! Laini! This is the best news! I am so happy for you!

Unknown said...

aaawe, thanks for mentioning me. I feel like I got my 15 seconds of fame and didn't even know it 'til now:) I'm finally catching up on all the good reading. I love the new book cover! at first i thought it was talon and magpie. I can't WAIT to read it!! I'm so happy for you guys and your little project. It's so crazy that we can grow people inside us, huh?

xo
B