10 things I'll miss about being pregnant

Pregnancy is kind of a strange and crazy time. I spent a large part of it daydreaming about what was to come, and then the remaining time wondering where all that time went! What a silly roller coaster of not living in the moment.

There were some very distinctly rough aspects of pregnancy, of course, but as I'm at that point of just watching and waiting, I think it's a great time for me to focus on the good things. Maybe if I can keep SOME of my attention on the enjoyable side, then I won't go crazy counting down the next 19+ days to the due date (and possibly beyond!).

I may struggle to come up with 10, but let's see if I can recount all the reasons that I'll want to do this again in the future!

1. I am not exactly a social butterfly. I tend to err on the side of reserved and not very outgoing in social settings. Being pregnant, especially super visibly pregnant, has given strangers cause for conversation on several occasions, and I find interactions with strangers so much easier when there's an obvious topic of conversation. I haven't received a bit of rude or unsolicited advice or unwanted belly touches, either, and I had really kind of prepared myself for that. I enjoyed having a reason for people to smile or hold the door, other than pure southern hospitality, of course!

2. I relished racing while pregnant. Running races is fun regardless, but as a pregnant runner, you get some crazy looks and extra encouragement. For me, it encompassed an extra confidence boost to have the ability to continue to tackle 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, and beyond. When I was 7 weeks and running a marathon, obviously very few people knew I was expecting, but during that race, I tagged along with a group who was pacing very consistently and similarly, and one of the ladies mentioned pregnancy or something along those lines, and getting to mention being pregnant that early on was both a point of pride and a release from keeping the secret. Once I was visibly pregnant, again I expected weird looks or even comments on whether I should be running or not, but I was pleasantly surprised to not hear a single one.

3. I can't say I've slept very well for most of my pregnancy. Early on, it was more a racing mind and general anxiety that seemed to keep me up or even wake me up. Later, it became the leg cramps, restless legs, belly discomfort, and bathroom breaks that interfered with good sleep. BUT there is a shining light in all of the pregnancy sleep problems, and mine was having my awesome pregnancy pillow! Marcus would not agree that this thing is as awesome as it is, but I love that giant pillow. It doesn't work miracles or pee for me in the middle of the night (oh, the amount of money I'd pay for that!), but it does make side sleeping positions much much more bearable. I'm a stomach sleeper at heart and really needed the assistance to sleep on my side. This is the pillow I used, and I'd highly recommend it. I'll even miss it when I'm not pregnant, cause Marcus is certainly ready to evict it from our bed.

4. Let's be honest, pregnancy can be a get-out-of-jail free card in marriage. I don't think I've used this much, but it's definitely nice to know Marcus doesn't just find me lazy if all I've managed to do some days is move from the bed to the couch. This is likely the ONLY time in my life where it will be acceptable to do so little, as the next pregnancy go around will include an existing child to take care of. I think I'll look back on these days as the glory days the next time that pregnancy test shows positive.

5. This one is a big deal for this thin-haired gal, but I'll soon miss losing less hair during pregnancy! Supposedly the hair shedding cycle doesn't really occur while you're pregnant, and I've really noticed a difference in the thickness of mine. Postpartum, I am bound to lose a ton and I am gonna be a baldy. It's been nice to notice so few coming out in the shower and my brush, so I better relish that for these last few weeks as that'll be changing very soon. Rogaine for Women, here I come!

6. I have never been one to rock a ton of tight clothing, other than my beloved leggings, but this belly has given me reason to wear very light and airy items. I'm quick to wear a camisole out these days, and boy does that show off my bump. When else in my life can I be so proud of such a big belly? This time has been one of feeling beautiful and very lady-like, and I'm sure to miss that.

7. Right now, I truly wish I could be doing really vigorous workouts. I love a super intense HIIT session, and I miss those workouts and the feelings of exhaustion and accomplishment that accompany them. But I also know that the first few hard workouts I do are going to feel VERY hard, and I expect I'll miss my piece of cake water workouts and really easy paced running.

8. Let's leave this one brief, but I'd be a big fat liar if I didn't say I am going to miss not having a period! Simple as that, and can I get an amen?!

9. When I'm exhausted and sleep-deprived and Rhett is crying and awake at all hours of the night, I'm surely going to miss him just being in my belly. Right now, I have such a peace about this time because all I need to do is stay hydrated and nourish my body with the right foods and take my prenatal and fish oil and know that everything is all right. He's taken care of. He even reassures me with plenty of movement, and I've had very minimal worry. But once he is out in the world, there is so much I cannot protect him from. I will absolutely miss this time when he is so protected and safe.

10. I'm not a very observant person. I don't always take in details or small facts, unless I'm really really paying attention, and that can make me seem forgetful at times. It's not that I'm forgetful, it's that I never really took it in. "Pregnancy brain" is absolutely a real thing, but it's also a convenient excuse sometimes. I think people cut pregnant women slack in pretty much all areas by nature, but it's been nice to have something to blame some ditziness on! I'll be missing that, but I bet having a newborn works the same way. I can always blame sleep-deprivation later.

Alright, so 10 things that I'll miss was really tough, and some are kind of a stretch, but I'm trying to look at the bright side here! I plan to do another list of 10 things I WON'T miss next week, and I have a feeling that list will be much much easier to fill up. Are there any things you would add to this list? What else might I miss about this special time?