Freedom in The Day To Day Ramblings

I visited with a close friend today and got to meet her newborn baby boy. He was so cute and sleepy and snuggly. She seemed to appreciate the chance to have two free arms for a few hours & I happily fed him a bottle, changed a diaper or two & kissed his round, soft cheeks.

With so many friends having babies right now (six since Jan 1st and 26 more Facebook friends currently pregnant! Ahh!) I am getting a lot of baby time in. It has helped settle me, ironically, and has given me a healthy perspective on my life right now. Seeing firsthand all the time required to care for them & the sacrifice in every part of your life has made me appreciate where my life stands in the present.

Tonight, for instance, a coworker texted to ask if I wanted to go out for happy hour. I had the day off and a free evening ahead so after a quick conversation with Rob about feeding the dog when he got home from work but before he heads to the gym, I happily agreed to go out for drinks.

On my drive I realized what a unique time in my life this is. I am happily settled down & doing well personally/professionally but not yet pregnant or needing to arrange care for a child. I'm just "free", in many ways. Obviously I don't meant to imply those who are pregnant or with kids can't do happy hours or dinners out with friends but the spontaneous aspect of it is a little more tricky.

So while I wouldn't have picked these struggles or these issues that we're going through with getting pregnant or the 14 months & counting that we've been trying, I am oddly thankful to them for the perspective gained as to how fortunate the right now is that I so often overlook. I spend so much of my time looking forward, longing to be pregnant, wishing to 'keep up' with my friends, frustrated that I can't do all of these big things with them, aching to take this next step & grow our family. When I step back, however, I see how precious all of this time really is - how short this period will likely be in the big picture, what a gift this flexibility is, what a wonderful chance to live so fully in the moment as we actively take steps to change everything about it.

So I cheers'd with my cold glass of hard cider & I texted my hubby as he walked into the gym & I actively, consciously, deep down to my bones took a breath & a pause to be thankful for all of this right now. In the hustle & bustle of always living in Tomorrow, tonight I'm remembering to live Right Now. What a gift perspective can be :)